Innocence and guilt are the key issues in Shelby Steele’s theory presented in his essay “I’m Black, You’re White, Who’s Innocent”. First he explains what he calls the power of innocence and according to him innocence equals power.

He claims that races aren’t just anymore but competing power groups: if one race, either black or white, can convince the society that it is innocent and a victim it automatically places the guilt on the other race. So that innocence can then be used to cause guilt that ultimately leads to power or, in other words, the less you are blamed for your situation, the more power you will have. To be a victim – to be innocent – is actually to be powerful.

Most blacks see themselves as presumably innocent due to their past oppression and whites have never been able to avoid feeling guilty about blacks’ past suffering. The source of blacks’ innocence is actually their victimization that they have endured for so long.

According to Steele, nowadays whites refuse to accept that guilt and many of them a

One of the most prominent bargainers, in Steele’s opinion, is Bill Cosby. He gives us a version of the African-American dream and that in turn gives whites the chance to witness what some might feel they have accomplished. He does that by showing how a black family can succeed in today’s society – of course if they follow the rules. Whites appreciate it and let Cosby into their world because he doesn’t challenge their innocence.

It’s not whites’ fault that blacks aren’t succeeding but their own, Steele claims. They ignore individual responsibility to keep themselves from facing the failure while they protect their own self-esteem from being further damaged. Instead of taking the victim role blacks should only ask the rules in the society to be fair and from that fairness blacks will hold their individual responsibility and gain power.

On the other hand many see Jesse Jackson as a challenger by instinct and a bargainer by political ambition. They even describe him as too ostentatious and opportunistic, a person who has “character” problems. Jackson tried to run for the Democr

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