Just as black anger often proved counterproductive , so have these white resentments distracted attention from the real culprits of the middle - class squeeze - a corporate culture rife with inside dealing , questionable accounting practices and short - term greed ; a Washington dominated by lobbyists and special interests ; economic policies that favor the few over the many . And yet , to wish away the resentments of white Americans , to label them as misguided or even racist , without recognizing they are grounded in legitimate concerns - this too widens the racial divide , and blocks the path to understanding .