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Chilblain Edward Olmos's avatar

Good thing they have you to speak for them. How virtuous!

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Jeremy Spilsbury's avatar

Who is the “them” that you think I am speaking for? As far as I know, I only speak for myself.

Dismissive remarks like that don’t advance the conversation. I joined FAIR because I believed they would be a positive voice that would help to bridge the divide. I found this article very lacking in that regard.

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Melissa Knox's avatar

Jeremy, I believe the point Mr. Olmos is making is that the author’s childhood lack of awareness is not an indication of intractable racism. It is an indication of ignorance. Right now I am ignorant of crimes taking part in my smallish German city, crimes which may or may not be reported in the local newspapers. These usually report crimes involving racism but not, for example, suicides. My ignorance is not a sign that I am part of a system of oppression. It is just ignorance.

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Jeremy Spilsbury's avatar

Melissa, he doesn’t have to engage in the system in order for the system to exist. I think his ignorance is a sign of white privilege. If you were black in the South during Jim Crow, you didn’t have the luxury of being ignorant. The threat of racial violence was thrust upon you.

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Melissa Knox's avatar

In those days there really was American apartheid. There really isn’t now. There’s still racism and unfairness but not a system of white supremacy anymore

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