Racism is imbued in America’s DNA. It’s never easy to root out something so foundational. It takes a real hard look in the mirror and, let’s be honest, when America looks at itself in the mirror it isn’t for self-reflection.
Members of labor unions, and unorganized unskilled workers, will sooner or later realize that their government is not even trying to prevent wages from sinking or to prevent jobs from being exported. Around the same time, they will realize that suburban white-collar workers—themselves desperately afraid of being downsized—are not going to let themselves be taxed to provide social benefits for anyone else.
At that point, something will crack. The nonsuburban electorate will decide that the system has failed and start looking for a strongman to vote for — someone willing to assure them that, once he is elected, the smug bureaucrats, tricky lawyers, overpaid bond salesmen, and postmodernist professors will no longer be calling the shots. A scenario like that of Sinclair Lewis’ novel It Can’t Happen Here may then be played out. For once such a strongman takes office, nobody can predict what will happen. In 1932, most of the predictions made about what would happen if Hindenburg named Hitler chancellor were wildly overoptimistic.
One thing that is very likely to happen is that the gains made in the past 40 years by black and brown Americans, and by homosexuals, will be wiped out. Jocular contempt for women will come back into fashion. The words ‘nigger’ and ‘kike’ will once again be heard in the workplace. All the sadism which the academic left has tried to make unacceptable to its students will come flooding back. All the resentment which badly educated Americans feel about having their manners dictated to them by college graduates will find an outlet.
Achieving our Country by Richard Rorty (1998).
America isn’t alone in its racism, it’s everywhere.
By no means is it alone but it is absolutely unique in having imported millions of slaves across an ocean, predicating its initial society and economy on a race based caste system. Yes a civil war was fought but, even afterwards, many supported continuing this race based caste system and so it persisted in the form of segregation, which existed during the lives of our parents and grandparents. Without a legitimate act of national reflection and reconciliation these wounds and fault lines won’t heal.
That uppity bitch wearing pants at a pro-segregatuon protest. We’ll fix her.
wait. they were protesting for segregation?
Yep, they are protesting for a real cause/s
the civil rights movement has been incredibly whitewashed in US education. Americans were overwhelmingly against de-segregation, there was tons of violence against black Americans, and that violence was not solely committed by police officers.
The Klan might seem like a relic of the past now, but the KKK was incredibly powerful during the 50s and 60s, to the point where in my home state, 1/3 of men were Klansmen and were a significant political bloc. They weren’t just voting in politicians that supported their vile views though, they were lynching people and burning crosses on lawns and shit.
1/3? Man, those are rookie numbers. Something like 80% of my home state were members at one time.
(Which makes sense, as back then we had actual laws on the books that made us a ‘whites only’ state.)
It’s so unbelievably fucked up to me that this is a surprise for you.
Yes. Many baby boomers (and their parents) are racist as fuck. Especially in the south.
The baby boomers are a mixed bag, some have learned to change their perspective. The ~1920s - 1940s generation, not many left now, were often racist to the core and only believed that certain people of color were “one of the good ones.”
Yup. My grandmother was born in 1922 and the amount of casually racist things she dropped was crazy.
Imagine how embarrassing it would be to be related to anyone in this picture.
I imagine it’s a point of pride for many americans
it is and they only express this pride when this think that it’s safe from being shared w the general public.
The NSDAP also was as American as apple pie in some ways.
They were comparatively progressive. Nazis thought concepts like the one drop rule were “a bit much”.
These are the people in power now. There should be an international year or celebration when the last person born before the year 2000 dies, with minor celebrations for each decade leading up to that year.
Those are the folks demanding “state’s rights” while supporting invasion of states by federal troops and downplaying the 2nd amendment.
“Leftists” will be arguing ideological purity while getting ambushed in the woods
Purity testing like not doing genocide, not doing economic warfare or regime changes
“Leftists” will be inadvertently getting leftists ambushed in the woods by inviting fascists and liberals into their organizations.
European settlers when they pretend to be distinct from Europeans:
That guy wrote cursive on his sign.
What’s the argument here? Is it that America has always been that? YES, WE KNOW, WE WANT THAT TO CHANGE.
I DON’T BELIEVE THAT IS TRUE.
You’re both right because there is no We in America.
That is the problem we must solve.
Perhaps there should be no “america” at all. Seems like that option would save the world from a lot of death, and destruction and economic rape.
It depends on if you are talking about the entity or the people in the entity.
If the former, I do not disagree. There need not be states at all in fact, as a matter of preference.
If you are talking about the people, well, it sounds like you are talking about more death and destruction so no thanks.
Strongest Reader in America Award 🏅
Why don’t you re-read my comment and see if I said “America” or, “Americans”.
Take your time, I’ll wait.
That is very kind of you. I am a strong reader; in fact I’m not too humble to mention that I was the recipient of multiple Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizzas in my youth, as recognition for my excellent reading skills, and so it is touching for you to recognize it.
My fellow strong readers will be well aware that there are multiple ways for a country to cease existing. Some peaceful, and some violent.
As thoroughly insightful, erudite, and compellingly written as that gem of a comment was, it did not specify. And given your server, it seemed prudent to seek specifics.
Thank you for the helpful response.
“Communists want to kill all americans”
You got it buddy, I’m against human death and destruction, EXCEPT for americans somehow. Because they aren’t people? Or something?
Yeah that would be a weird contingency, especially because it was never stated or suggested. This strawman, conceived entirely of your preconceived notions, that you started arguing against, would indeed be illogical. Great shit sherlock.
So keep your medallion, you’ve earned it. And I’m glad we wasted all this time appealing to your nonsensical and delicate sensibilities. You’re superior mind is exactly why commies want to kill you. You’re just too motherfuckin smart.
Ah yeah, you’re right. Let’s back the faschists together! 🩷
We’re in .ml it’s a Russian psyop
Cringe
Any evidence?
I think they’re just hoping because if y’all do it for free it gets a little sad.
I pay dues to the org I work with, I don’t think it’s sad at all to want the working classes to finally be liberated, and work towards that goal.
Nah, in this thread no less that 4 users on ML basically said wipe America out, despite millions protesting, despite the systemic issues like vote suppression and first pass the post that allowed them to win you put all of the sins on the general public which is problematic at best.
I’m not saying that America is good, under its current leadership it is absolutely a destabilizing force in the world. But to pass those sins onto the general public is troublesome.
I want you to imagine if people said the same thing about Russia or China or Israel. Do you understand how many innocent people would die for the actions of their government? There would be no nation left because no nation is without guilt.
It cannot change as a nation. Any movement for federal reform is a lost cause. Certain states and municipalities could change, and that is where the future is for some citizens.
You’re canadian. Perhaps you can see it clearer,
But americans DON’T see this. Their eyes must be pryed open.
The land of refuge for SS division Galizien, the trucker convoy, starlight tours, etc…
As a European I had the wrong idea that Canada was better/different, boy was I wrong.Canada IS in many ways better and different than america. The problem is that the bar is DISTURBINGLY low.
true, they have more rights for their citizens, etc…
somewhat European, but the right-wing influence is on American level.When comparing 2 countries you can’t just focus on “Politics”. Theres much more like levels of education, wealth disparity, like how the judiciary functions to consider too.
There are many realms of life where canada rofl stomps america.
Yes the right wing political influence is bad. It is a present threat and it comes from america. But you have to see that it also doesn’t have widespread support. Canadians hate that shit and refuse to tolerate it more so than americans.
And in a period of post-covid economic struggle, canadians succumbed to the brain worms and immigrant blaming that you see world wide, but they ultimately overcame it.
They didn’t allow right wing rhetorician who would inevitably make things worse to seize power. In fact he didn’t even win his own seat during the last election.
(This is not to say canada is perfect or even great for it’s citizens, but again if you are comparing to america it is bar none superior)
When comparing 2 countries you can’t just focus on “Politics”.
I don’t.
Yes the right wing political influence is bad. It is a present threat and it comes from america
Now that I totally disagree with.
Of course influence from the US is never good but Canadians have ample racism and fascism all by their own doing.
Not in the least by the Ukrainian influence.They didn’t allow right wing rhetorician who would inevitably make things worse to seize power. In fact he didn’t even win his own seat during the last election.
Plenty other politicians from your parties have shown awfully racist behavior.
Also they still support and even arm israeli genociders, help the US and other regimes in war crimes, etc…
Not to mention the eternal racism against natives.Obviously compared to the US Canada is less bad, still it’s despicable and unacceptable in many ways and you portraying it favorably is a lot of wishfull thinking at best, if not delusional.
Maybe you’re Canadian and have no frame of reference except the shithole taht is the US.
I can’t seem to find a place where we disagree. You seem to want to bloviate on about how canada is complicit in global death and destruction and suffering. These facts are undeniable.
My point is and always has been, that canada is not as bad as the us. Literally not that canada is good, which you seem to be misconstruing it as. So either argue for canada being worse than the us, or lets agree to agree and fuck off.
Doubt it was most grandparents. Somebody trying to keep the pot stirring.
If you don’t think most white Americans are racist I have a bridge to sell you
I’ll only buy it if a black neighborhood was bulldozed in order to build it
You’re racist
Many scholars in sociology and Black Studies define racism not just as personal prejudice, but as a structural system that requires power to enforce racial bias. This framework argues that for prejudice to function as racism, it must be backed by societal power which leads to real-world consequences and material disadvantages for marginalized groups. From this perspective, a society where institutional power is held by white people, only white people can enact racism.
Anyone, regardless of race, can hold bigoted or prejudiced views, I do in fact hold prejudiced views of white people as racist.
Prejudice implies it’s an unfair characterization when it’s really not, but that might be the prejudice talking
I couldn’t imagine a better response to such an infantile attack lol. Thanks.
Calling someone racist because they hold prejudice views against white people is infantile–got it lol
If you’re gonna bait you gotta do a better job lol
Just stating facts. Feel free to try to convince me that hating on a group of people based on the color of their skin isn’t racist. I don’t buy this argument that one group of people can do it to another, but that group can’t do it back. Not one single bit
Like I said, you’re racist. It only takes one asshole to begin turning groups of people against others based on the color of their skin, and here you are doing it.
Boo hoo, cry some more of your white fragility tears
Lol
White people are invented it and are mostly all already doing it. You have all the power and we have none, You have a child’s understanding of the world.
Bruh, everybody has oppressed everybody at some point. Just accept that everybody can be racist against everybody, and it’s happening right here in this Lemmy thread
It’s hyperbole, but most white people back in the day opposed the civil rights movement
True most just shared the beliefs without protesting
Heyyy that photo was taken a couple miles from where I am sitting. Terrifying.
When I moved here, we rented a house in an all-black neighborhood. They weren’t um, super warm. In my “post-racial white savior” mentality, I’m like, this is odd, I’m trying to desegregate this place! Eventually one neighbor took the time to kindly educate me. Many of those older folks had family, grandparents and uncles, who were lynched in pubic. Many of them remember that photo being taken, most knew the Little Rock Nine personally. Their neighborhood was about safety, about a place they could be without constant worry. They reflexively did not like seeing young white folks move in. Holy shit I suddenly got it. As a gay guy I could imagine that applying to my own minority status.
I live in a gayborhood now and sure enough, as the house next door goes on the market, we’re trying to make it clear conservative straight folks are not welcome.
Perspective is interesting. I keep my mouth shut and my ears open when it comes to race, cause I grew up in a literally all-white town.
I’d be careful about saying you “got” it. You got a glimpse of it.
I remember going into a segregated laundromat in 2005 in Alabama. It wasn’t legally segregation, but they absolutely had a black and a white laundromat, and I (white dude) went into the wrong one and felt very uncomfortable with all the looks I was given. I was eventually approached and told to leave and go to the white one, which happened to be much nicer, of course.
I thought at the time that I suddenly understood it. But black people deal with thay every fucking day, and I do not “get it” because of 10 minutes of racial discomfort in my 20s.
Racism is very American, ICE is very racist, but ICE is also quite new. We did fine without them for more than 200 years.
US America never did “Fine” It is an evil place and an evil settler population.
The US always had la migra, it is just in the news now. They used to be called the INS. The US has been harassing and deporting people for decades. Before that they lynched people, Before that they literally wiped 95% of all the indigenous people out of the country.
Also, many sketchy “suicides” resembling lynches still happen in the US, authorities refuse to investigate, so while we can’t say it with complete certainty, lynches still happen
I’m sure its totally legitimate that all the Boeing whistleblowers committed suicide by shooting themselves in the back of the head
LMAO yup
We had open borders with no restriction on immigration for like the first 100 years, the first laws restricting immigration were because of anti-Chinese racism in the late 1800s.
I try to view the liberal “this isn’t us” and “wow, this is just like [other country]” as a sign of progress because it means that not only do they acknowledge it’s bad, they are trying to form a national identity that explicitly rejects these values.
It’s far from perfect, but it’s a lot better than condoning it.
