The Killing of Renee Good and the Unravelling of America's Racial Contract
The tragic death of Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three from Minneapolis, has sent shockwaves through the nation, forcing a stark reckoning with the precarious nature of state protection for white women in America. Shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents on 7 January, Good's case has been mired in controversy, with initial claims of self-defense quickly debunked by harrowing footage of the incident. In the aftermath, a torrent of dehumanising rhetoric from conservative figures has laid bare a disturbing truth: the social pact that ostensibly safeguards white womanhood is tenuous at best, contingent entirely on adherence to a white racial order.
A Vilified Victim: The Right's Assault on Good's Legacy
Following the public outcry over Good's killing, the Trump administration and its allies launched a concerted campaign to tarnish her memory. Fox News host Jesse Watters mocked her queer identity, while Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem falsely labelled her a domestic terrorist. Personal adviser Laura Loomer callously declared on social media that Good "deserved it," and JD Vance dismissed her as a "deranged leftist." Donald Trump himself justified the shooting, citing disrespect to law enforcement. Adding insult to injury, the Justice Department announced a criminal investigation into Good's grieving widow, Becca Good, prompting six federal prosecutors to resign in protest. This relentless character assassination underscores a pivotal realisation: when a white woman's death challenges the narrative of state violence as a protector of whiteness, she is swiftly recast as unworthy of sympathy.
The Sacred Status of White Womanhood in American Lore
White women have long occupied a hallowed space in the American imagination, often depicted as virtuous figures in need of rescue from perceived threats. From cowboy westerns to urban crime dramas, this trope has been weaponised to justify genocidal policies and pro-law enforcement propaganda. Good's killing disrupts this carefully crafted mythology. As a white woman living in a multiracial inner city—just blocks from where George Floyd was murdered—she did not conform to the expected script of fear and deference to white male authority. Instead, her daily routine and lack of gratitude towards ICE agents sent to "protect" her from Somali immigrants positioned her as the "wrong kind" of white woman, thereby invalidating the state's narrative of protective violence.
Birth of a Nation: The Cinematic Blueprint for Racial Fear
The origins of this racialised protectionism can be traced back to 1915, with the release of D.W. Griffith's Birth of a Nation. This silent film, based on Thomas Dixon's novel The Clansman, portrayed Reconstruction as a nightmare scenario where Black men, depicted in blackface, threatened white women's purity. It glorified white women who sacrificed their lives to preserve racial hierarchy, directly fueling the resurgence of the Ku Klux Klan. The film's message was clear: Black political power is inherently dangerous to white womanhood, and white women must remain loyal to white masculinity to maintain their virtue. This racist iconography has persisted, shaping modern political discourse and justifying state violence against marginalised communities.
The Fluid Rules of Victimhood in a Racist State
Good's death highlights the arbitrary nature of who qualifies as a "good" victim in America's racial hierarchy. While Black and brown individuals like George Floyd are often vilified posthumously based on their race alone, white women like Good require more nuanced demonisation. The right's swift assault on her character served as both a warning and an invitation to other white women: loyalty to white supremacy is non-negotiable. This dynamic was echoed in the similar treatment of Alex Pretti, another white Minneapolis resident shot by ICE in January, whom Stephen Miller labelled a "domestic terrorist." Ultimately, the state's racial mission prioritises upholding hierarchy over protecting individuals, rendering race and gender as mere indicators rather than absolutes in determining victim status.
White Women's Political Role in Upholding Supremacy
Historically, white women have been instrumental in reinforcing white dominance. The ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920, just four years after Birth of a Nation debuted, saw white suffragists leverage racist fearmongering to secure voting rights while excluding Black women. Since then, white women have consistently voted in alignment with white men, often supporting conservative policies that harm immigrants and communities of colour. This political fidelity is essential to maintaining white control, as evidenced by the lack of a cohesive "women's bloc" among white voters. Good's killing underscores that white women's protection is conditional on their complicity in this system; those who deviate, like Good, are sacrificed to preserve the broader racial agenda.
In conclusion, Renee Good's tragic death has peeled back the layers of America's racial contract, revealing a system where white womanhood is valued only insofar as it serves white supremacy. From the silver screen to the streets of Minneapolis, this pact remains as fragile as it is cruel, demanding unwavering loyalty in exchange for fleeting protection.
