I pushed Stoll to ask this question a month or so ago, but it never happened as the mood here devolved into something unworkable.
A lot of Republican-ish folks are outraged at accusations of racism. As I said previously, it might be worth some additional conversation and introspection from those on the receiving end.
Yes, you're not burning a cross. You have African-American friends. You just want to make decisions that wholly eliminate race from consideration. How can you be a "racist"?
I can't speak to whatever is said about any given individual, but I think it's fair to point out what people might be saying when they throw out the 'racist' word.
I'd encourage others to weigh in (and this isn't about saying you agree with the 'accusation') because it bears further explanation.
(1) Lots and lots of people are concerned that unarmed black people have been gunned down by police when they really didn't deserve it. In the wake of those killings, there was usually no consequence because police were either following procedure, genuinely "scared", or evidence was (theoretically) just a bit murky for purposes of meeting 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standards. As examples mounted, Black Lives Matter formed. I certainly have a hard time saying their concerns are wrong-headed or illegitimate. Yet, in response, lots of Republican-ish voices said BLM was absolutely wrong, they should shut up, and that "All Lives Matter." Nobody ever denied that all lives matter (of course), but BLM was instead saying that black lives were particularly undervalued. Thus, when folks countered BLM, they were saying there's NO basis to say that black lives were undervalued. That wasn't a neutral statement. "All lives matter" was an affirmative statement undermining black lives. That sure seems like a racist sentiment to the recipients even if the speaker isn't burning a cross or has black friends or wants to be 'race-neutral'.
More to come, but that's the first example.
A lot of Republican-ish folks are outraged at accusations of racism. As I said previously, it might be worth some additional conversation and introspection from those on the receiving end.
Yes, you're not burning a cross. You have African-American friends. You just want to make decisions that wholly eliminate race from consideration. How can you be a "racist"?
I can't speak to whatever is said about any given individual, but I think it's fair to point out what people might be saying when they throw out the 'racist' word.
I'd encourage others to weigh in (and this isn't about saying you agree with the 'accusation') because it bears further explanation.
(1) Lots and lots of people are concerned that unarmed black people have been gunned down by police when they really didn't deserve it. In the wake of those killings, there was usually no consequence because police were either following procedure, genuinely "scared", or evidence was (theoretically) just a bit murky for purposes of meeting 'beyond a reasonable doubt' standards. As examples mounted, Black Lives Matter formed. I certainly have a hard time saying their concerns are wrong-headed or illegitimate. Yet, in response, lots of Republican-ish voices said BLM was absolutely wrong, they should shut up, and that "All Lives Matter." Nobody ever denied that all lives matter (of course), but BLM was instead saying that black lives were particularly undervalued. Thus, when folks countered BLM, they were saying there's NO basis to say that black lives were undervalued. That wasn't a neutral statement. "All lives matter" was an affirmative statement undermining black lives. That sure seems like a racist sentiment to the recipients even if the speaker isn't burning a cross or has black friends or wants to be 'race-neutral'.
More to come, but that's the first example.
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