The profound analytical and moral confusion that afflicts Western political culture concerning ethnic affairs was evident in the recent scandal over Donald Sterling, the billionaire owner of an American basketball team, the Los Angeles Clippers. In late April 2014 a furore broke over Sterling’s discriminatory remarks about African-Americans when they were released to the media by his girlfriend. The story was prominently reported in the Australian media, where it fed the debate over section 18c of the Racial Discrimination Act by testifying to the rottenness of (white) American culture and the redemptive power of outraged anti-racist conscience. Sterling said: It…