Racism in America: Ignorance and Its Impact

The issue of racism in America is complex and multifaceted. One aspect that particularly disgusts me is the ignorance that often accompanies it. In my experience, the tendency to blame the left for racism or to refuse to acknowledge systemic issues is deeply counterproductive and damaging.

Blaming the Left for Racism

There is a prevailing narrative that many people, particularly those on the right, blame the left for perpetuating racism. However, this is a highly simplistic and misguided argument. The ignorance behind such claims is evident in the various instances where this narrative is perpetuated. For instance, Fox News often portrays professional athletes taking a knee during the national anthem as a left-wing attack on America, leading to angry and dismissive reactions from people who refuse to engage with the actual issues being protested.

Racist Symbols and Statues

A recurring example of this ignorance is the debate around Confederate statues. When these monuments are removed, they are often framed as an attack on history and heritage. The reality is that these statues glorify figures like Nathan Bedford Forrest, the first Grand Wizard of the KKK. This ignorance not only perpetuates harmful symbols but also detracts from the conversation about systemic racism in American society.

Nathan Bedford Forrest and the KKK

Nathan Bedford Forrest’s prominent statue in Tennessee, which stood for over a century, is a glaring example of how racism is perpetuated through ignorance. Forrest was not only a military hero but also the founder of the Ku Klux Klan, making the continued glorification of such figures deeply troubling and counterproductive.

Ignorance After George Floyd’s Murder

The murder of George Floyd in 2020 highlighted the ugly face of ignorance in America. The refusal to watch or acknowledge the video of Floyd’s death by those who claimed that he was at fault is a clear manifestation of this ignorance. It's infuriating to encounter people who are so deeply invested in maintaining their preconceived notions that they willfully refuse to engage with evidence before them.

Systemic Issues in American Institutions

The Chicago Tribune once published an article examining discriminatory housing practices in Chicago, revealing that housing data included information about the racial makeup of neighborhoods to determine the price of apartments. This sadly systematic form of racism is a stark reminder of the legacy of prejudice that persists in modern American society.

In the 1960s, segregation was still a very real and pervasive issue. The use of separate buses for blacks and whites, even as recently as my father's time, underscores the depth of the racial divide that existed and still exists. These examples of racial segregation demonstrate how deeply ingrained systemic racism was and continues to be in American institutions.

Conclusion

Ignoring racism and attempting to conceal its existence is not a solution; it only perpetuates it. Acknowledging and addressing these issues is crucial for true progress. The continued existence of harmful symbols and the perpetuation of systemic biases only serve to remind us of the far-reaching impact of ignorance in American society.