Systemic racism seems like a catch all term for two seperate phenomenon that feel connected: that white people are still racist and the feeling that Black people continue to experience disproportionate outcomes in policing, sentencing and punishment for low level criminal activity (ie drug possession offenses).
The fixation that Black people go to jail more often, while getting harsher sentences, for possession of marijuana is a widespread fairy tale, especially as states legalize weed dispensaries (that by and large appear to be managed by whites).
There was also the notorious Will Smith slap that did have white people clutching their pearls for months. Many people on Twitter pointed out that white people overlooked instances of violence from whites at the Academy (historically) as they dished out disproportionate treatment to not just a Black man, but the sort of Black man who has been perceived as nonthreatening his whole career. Now, he is functionally irrelevant.
I also read a Pew Research study that showed that like a vast majority of Black people think American institutions arent designed for them. It was like over 60% of Blacks believe this. There's also another study that shows many Blacks believe that race/racism is the most important issue facing us today.
White people's racism is an ongoing project that may never come to an end. And it doesn't seem like Black identity activists are delusional and white appointed Black intellectuals havent figured out workable solutions to this reality other than embracing some flavor of racelessness.
I am amazed at survey findings and how despondent they come across about racial life. I oftentimes don't recognize my life which is fine. As you know, if there are over 40 million black Americans, there are over 40 million stories, experiences, and perspectives. One's perception of life isn't defined by survey results. Part of my reason for writing is to offer a non-conforming take on life. For example, I prefer the words prejudice and bigotry since I care about human dignity, being treated like everyone as an individual and just being me. Racism seems to be too strong a word for today. Racism seems appropriate for harm due to state action as I discussed earlier.
Maybe some Black identity activists are delusional/smile? We could have a good back and forth on that point. The jury is out on that point but I am always open to thoughts and arguments. Who are white appointed Black intellectuals? Just curious. Maybe I might recognize a name or two.
Thanks for the Pew Research study findings. I'm not moved by the beliefs of others as you know. I look at life on my own and draw my own conclusions. For me, race is not the most important issue facing me today. I care more about growing old, my knees, my fading hair line, declining Dad and mundane stuff of life. Race is pretty low on the totem pole of my concerns as you know from reading my essays. I care much more about a great book for my birthday than race/smile. Them + Us was an amazing read. https://twyman.substack.com/p/the-human-condition
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. If there are over 40 million Americans...well, you know the rest. Best,
White appointed Black intellectuals are actually most Black thinkers today, but most notably Ibram X. Kendi and Ta-Nehisi Coates .
During the Civil Rights movement, many famous Black leaders, thinkers and activists worked on behalf of Black people and came to be known for that work specifically. They also did press and have interviews about their ideas (James Baldwin comes to mind).
Today, Black intellectuals function as little more than avatars for white hand-wringing about race while being unknown (or disliked) by the vast majority of Blacks. Briahna Joy Grey and Candace Owens come to mind - the first largely only popular with white leftists and conservatives and the second disliked by Black leftists (but seems to have no influence on Black conservative thinking while being of great interest to whites).
Any Black influence on the politics of race is upheld and perpetuated by whites. It doesn't matter if Black people know or care about Glenn Loury for example. And it's not clear how many Black people are familiar with any of these people who arent deeply invested in American politics.
Yeah, the 40 million includes the Black poor, inmigrants, mixed people who ID as Black, Black middle class and the Black elites. So there are a lot of competing narratives though we tend to only hear from college educated leftists.
Systemic racism seems like a catch all term for two seperate phenomenon that feel connected: that white people are still racist and the feeling that Black people continue to experience disproportionate outcomes in policing, sentencing and punishment for low level criminal activity (ie drug possession offenses).
The fixation that Black people go to jail more often, while getting harsher sentences, for possession of marijuana is a widespread fairy tale, especially as states legalize weed dispensaries (that by and large appear to be managed by whites).
There was also the notorious Will Smith slap that did have white people clutching their pearls for months. Many people on Twitter pointed out that white people overlooked instances of violence from whites at the Academy (historically) as they dished out disproportionate treatment to not just a Black man, but the sort of Black man who has been perceived as nonthreatening his whole career. Now, he is functionally irrelevant.
I also read a Pew Research study that showed that like a vast majority of Black people think American institutions arent designed for them. It was like over 60% of Blacks believe this. There's also another study that shows many Blacks believe that race/racism is the most important issue facing us today.
White people's racism is an ongoing project that may never come to an end. And it doesn't seem like Black identity activists are delusional and white appointed Black intellectuals havent figured out workable solutions to this reality other than embracing some flavor of racelessness.
I am amazed at survey findings and how despondent they come across about racial life. I oftentimes don't recognize my life which is fine. As you know, if there are over 40 million black Americans, there are over 40 million stories, experiences, and perspectives. One's perception of life isn't defined by survey results. Part of my reason for writing is to offer a non-conforming take on life. For example, I prefer the words prejudice and bigotry since I care about human dignity, being treated like everyone as an individual and just being me. Racism seems to be too strong a word for today. Racism seems appropriate for harm due to state action as I discussed earlier.
Maybe some Black identity activists are delusional/smile? We could have a good back and forth on that point. The jury is out on that point but I am always open to thoughts and arguments. Who are white appointed Black intellectuals? Just curious. Maybe I might recognize a name or two.
Thanks for the Pew Research study findings. I'm not moved by the beliefs of others as you know. I look at life on my own and draw my own conclusions. For me, race is not the most important issue facing me today. I care more about growing old, my knees, my fading hair line, declining Dad and mundane stuff of life. Race is pretty low on the totem pole of my concerns as you know from reading my essays. I care much more about a great book for my birthday than race/smile. Them + Us was an amazing read. https://twyman.substack.com/p/the-human-condition
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. If there are over 40 million Americans...well, you know the rest. Best,
White appointed Black intellectuals are actually most Black thinkers today, but most notably Ibram X. Kendi and Ta-Nehisi Coates .
During the Civil Rights movement, many famous Black leaders, thinkers and activists worked on behalf of Black people and came to be known for that work specifically. They also did press and have interviews about their ideas (James Baldwin comes to mind).
Today, Black intellectuals function as little more than avatars for white hand-wringing about race while being unknown (or disliked) by the vast majority of Blacks. Briahna Joy Grey and Candace Owens come to mind - the first largely only popular with white leftists and conservatives and the second disliked by Black leftists (but seems to have no influence on Black conservative thinking while being of great interest to whites).
Any Black influence on the politics of race is upheld and perpetuated by whites. It doesn't matter if Black people know or care about Glenn Loury for example. And it's not clear how many Black people are familiar with any of these people who arent deeply invested in American politics.
Yeah, the 40 million includes the Black poor, inmigrants, mixed people who ID as Black, Black middle class and the Black elites. So there are a lot of competing narratives though we tend to only hear from college educated leftists.