Views on this have changed in recent years, according to Pew Research Center surveys. In 2019, 57% said people overlooking racial discrimination was the bigger problem, while 42% pointed to people seeing it where it really didn’t exist. That gap has narrowed from 15 to 8 percentage points.
In surveys like this, I find it most useful to look at what Black people think, you know? Since they’re the ones getting shot by the cops? I’m as interested in white conservatives’ views on racism as the Taliban’s views on feminism.
Words with contested meanings are also really hard to get info on through surveys. Some people are thinking structural racism, and some are thinking “public accommodations are integrated, what more could be needed.” Of course they’re going to answer differently. They’re effectively answering different questions.
I seriously don't understand the folks who don't get this.
First we had slaves.
Well, some say, US slavery ended with the civil war.
Even IF it were reasonable to say that slavery ended and therefore the ripples it sent forward in time aren't still being felt, there are two things that are true - One: We didn't root out those who most staunchly refused to relinquish it and enact power structures to encourage equity going forward.
Well, some say, the confederate states were physically and economically destroyed by the end of the war.
Two: We as a nation enacted laws and social norms that turned black folks into a permanent underclass, and have been dogwhistling about it for a century.
These inflection points on our nation's psyche persisted at least through the passage of the civil rights act, and some feel Sundown Towns exist even today. These laws and social norms influenced legislative policy, police and justice department culture, and generations of Americans - both white and black people.
To deny that there is still an impact today seems willfully ignorant.
I’m just sick of being labeled racist just because I’m white. When I was younger I didn’t give a shit and would speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist I find myself not speaking to or very carefully choosing my words before speaking to anyone that is not white. So in the end the constant accusations have turned me racist because I am changing my words and actions based on race.
No, it’s probably the people they’re talking to. I’m White and I’ve never been accused of racism by anyone that knows me, but I’ve been told by plenty of overzealous “SJW”-types that my privileged position in society makes me inherently racist, even if I don’t harbor any overtly racist views. Likewise, I’ve been called a “racist cracker” when I’ve simply refused to give someone change on the street when asked for it. Being racist has become a kind of White stereotype in our culture. I totally understand what the other poster is talking about. Sure, maybe it is something they’re doing, but I could easily see it not being that.
No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. I can’t even figure out how you got that from what I was saying, and I’m not going to wreck my brain about a comment that seems on its face to be in bad faith to begin with.
They could also be one of those people who thinks talking about racism of any form means that automatically all white people are the ones being racist and that helping specifically anyone of any specific race is racist against white people.
When I was younger I didn’t give a shit and would speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist I find myself not speaking to or very carefully choosing my words before speaking to anyone that is not white. So in the end the constant accusations have turned me racist because I am changing my words and actions based on race.
I'm in my 50s. When I became aware that many PoC might have reason to view my actions differently than intended, I took that as a sign to be mindful of my biases, and to think about the possibility that I could be using words and phrases that I grew up believing to be fine, but which could be hurtful to the people around me.
To my knowledge, I've never been labeled a racist.
speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist
Were you saying racist shit?
I’m guessing you are one of those “I’m not racist, I hate everyone” assholes. Which is a long way of saying "I’m racist, but it doesn’t count because I’m a jerk to my friends (who are all white).
My uncle doesn’t think he’s racist, meanwhile the few days he stayed with me I heard the N word more times than I’ve heard others say it in the past 10 years. He used it not only to describe people but instead of the word black to describe the color of objects. I’m guessing having to rethink what they mean really means they don’t say the n word around black people but are being called out by white people they feel they should be able to get away with it around.
You want to foolishly “solve” racism with reverse-racism.
But of course reverse-racism is just code for racism toward whites. Which is simply racism.
Say it right and stop hiding behind some altruistic bullshit. Of course the only thing that reverse-racism does is create more hatred, more animosity, which ultimately breeds more racism.
Congrats, you clown, you just fell for what the elites want you to fall for… a race war.
I hate forced introspection, and I’m proud of white people for fixing racism. We did it! Fuck the elites making us pretend like there are still historic injustices to correct! Reverse racism is the real issue that we should focus on now. We white people have been shit on for long enough!!
I’m just glad to have found another enlightened individual to discuss this with!
It’s such a broad term that encompasses a lot of behaviors. From micro aggressions we don’t even realize we’ve done to outright xenophobia. Maybe this metric has some value over time.
And because of the electoral college, odds are decent that their votes count more than yours do. So actually, their views are more relevant than liberal views. Because "democracy".
We shouldn’t ignore rural voters entirely (which I don’t think anyone is saying). I agree that they are overrepresented and that’s a major problem.
We also have places like DC and PR that basically don’t get any representation. And big states often don’t get nearly as much representation per population as small ones. The US is extremely undemocratic with how they chose to implement things.
Right!! So we keep putting them on TV to see what they think.
Yet they’re only a fraction of the population. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a segment where they interviewed urban voters. Lots of Joe the Plumber, not a lot of Jane the marketing manager
In fairness, interviewing Joe the Plumber makes for much more interesting TV. Who wants to listen to Jane the Marketing Manager? Even her ex-husband noped out of that once he realized his mistake…,
I won’t argue that, but I will simply point out that the goal of the news media is to get eyeballs, not to inform. They will go with whatever story gets eyeballs that they can then sell insurance and beer to.
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