There has been pushback from my claim that systemic racism isn't real in America. Most people have some vague idea that they were taught why its real and have never really questioned it. But this is exactly why I say its not real. Its a meaningless term used by people to assume the blame [or more realistically, spread the blame on everyone else not as woke as them] without needing to specifically state why they should. Of course there is good intention behind it, but that doesn't make it valid and doesn't make it helpful. Thomas Sowell has repeatedly taken this position and as one of the foremost economists and thinkers of our times with regards to race relations in America, I feel confident repeating it:
"It does remind me of the propaganda tactics of Joseph Goebbels during the age of the Nazis," Sowell, who is black,
told Fox News host Mark Levin on his show,
Life, Liberty and Levin, during a Sunday airing. "It's one of many words that
I don't think even the people who use it have any clear idea what they're saying. Their purpose served is to have other people cave in."
Economist Thomas Sowell expressed the belief that the term “systemic racism” has “no meaning” and that it reminds him of Nazi Germany.“It really has no
www.washingtonexaminer.com
If you want more of this amazing man here you go, 45 minutes worth of discussion and references to real data:
And as even obvious within this thread, to suggest that systemic racism isn't real in 2020 America brings out the orthodoxy who immediately attempt to marginalize that position without having anything real beyond insults and vague references to past wrongs and definitely make zero attempt to quantify exactly to what degree this unquantifiable term of systemic racism is the issue (but its the biggest issue, they know that for sure!).
From Booker T Washington to Clarence Thomas to Malcolm X to Morgan Freeman to Thomas Sowell there have been many black voices within their community reiterating this idea that the only real and effective way for the black community to improve their position is from within. Its not racist to say that, its not fringe to say that and its not denying past wrongs to say that. What is racist is suggesting that because I'm white, I'm somehow contributing to and responsible for, "systemic racism". What is racist is claiming that because some redneck is playing racist music in bf nowhere, "We [whitey] need to do better". What's racist is thinking that black people are so fragile they can't be expected to participate in society like adults, because whitey just stacked the deck against them.
I treat everyone I meet with respect, every person as a person. I do my best to help my fellow man regardless of color, when I can. This doesn't require me to submit to this cultish and perversely white supremacist idea that the main issue faced by the black community comes from whitey. White supremacist because that position basically tries to elevate white people to the position of savoir, which is obvious folly. I refuse to participate in the game of being assigned some unquantifiable amount of guilt for wrongs that I had zero part in, by [usually] a less educated, less informed - you guessed it! - woke white person who graduated with a degree in journalism and thinks Al Gore invented the internet. As MLK said, "Judged by the content of their character" meanwhile the latest fad is judging by the color of their skin. That's what this systemic racism is about right? If you are white, you are guilty.
Blaming systemic racism doesn't empower black people, it strips them of their agency and ability to help themselves. It makes white people the condescending saviors and black people dependant on whites for how they feel. Empowerment is how we fix this, not making their comfortable existence in our society dependent on coffee shop Karen feeling guilty enough for - again - unquantifiable racism. This is paraphrasing Malcolm X so if you think its racist then you think Malcolm X was a racist too. Be a good person, help those you can of any color and act with respect to those you meet and you make society a better place. This horse has been beaten into diatomaceous earth at this point so congrats to those that made it this far.
www.idahostatejournal.com
