Partially reacting to groups like Jews, Blacks, Native Americans, and Hispanics who, in the face of oppression and attempted annihilation have embraced their tribal identities, some working class white Christian Americans have developed their own “endangered” tribal narrative. In recent years many non-college educated, working class whites have experienced a diminution in their ability to find work that is as well compensated as it had previously been. Angry and aggrieved, many working class whites have come to believe that they are being displaced from their deserved, economically secure positions due to the increased presence of browner immigrants, advocacy groups like Black Lives Matter, and the Jews.
In actuality, the disappearance of well compensated working class jobs stem from other factors such as globalization where manufacturing jobs move overseas to where the cost of labor is low and environmental regulations are minimal; the decline of labor unions; and probably the biggest factor — advancing technology. While advanced technology produces massive productivity gains for owners[1], and record high compensation to those at the top of the corporate hierarchy[2], its effect on workers has been detrimental.
Disenfranchised and displaced, workers are understandably aggrieved but their plight is not the fault of the groups they blame — they have been misled and confused by populist politicians and by social media designed to maximize their online engagement. Many non-college educated, working class whites are expressing their resentment with increasingly violent rhetoric, sometimes through violent acts, and by supporting populist, authoritarian leaders who stoke xenophobia.
It is ironic that working class white Christians who belong to the mainstream, hegemonic culture would regard themselves as endangered, but cultural backlash is partially an unintended consequence of tribalism and identity politics.
[1] https://stacker.com/stories/4068/how-us-labor-productivity-has-changed-1950
[2] See Economic Policy Institute publication: CEO pay has skyrocketed 1,322% since 1978 https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-pay-in-2020/