When Niki Haley stared into the camera at the 2020 Republican convention and said, “there is no racism in America,” she sealed her fate as an idiot, a liar, and with a soul destined for Hell. There is no question that every aspect of American society has racism. Not only is it amoral and unfair, but it is outdated. The question is what to do about it?
The first step at elimination is to recognize it, of course, and that is no easy task because there is so much denial, bias, and (still) hate. And the Black Lives Matter movement, formed in response to racist police murder, will help but it won’t solve the problem in its current incarnation. There are two reasons for that – 1) the roots of the problem run too deep and are too insidiously subtle for a movement that basically is aimed simply at exposing the most horrific aspects and 2) the movement lacks centralized leadership that can inspire all citizens like the MLK civil rights movement did. In the 1960s the racial issues were dominated by blatant inequities, such as voting rights and segregation, which were easier to rally around. Now, the issues are much more subtle (for outsiders, not for those struggling within them), such as housing, education, credit, opportunity, environmental justice, health care, and even nutrition, so that deniers can resist with confusing arguments and do-gooders don’t know what will be effective.
The Jim Crow arguments that blacks are somehow inferior or even just different as humans has long been dispelled, although many still believe it. But although the genetics are no different, much of the culture is different, which can be misinterpreted or manipulated as something more than superficial. Unfortunately, Trump’s current tribal culture enflames the hatred of “different” while the more enlightened part of the globalizing world is becoming more integrative. America is being left behind.
America is currently in a very bad place to tackle the social and economic upheavals required to root out all of the subtle repressions of racism. That is why a stronger movement is needed, particularly at this time. Ending slavery, segregation, and voter restriction were obvious milestones of a “more perfect union.” The next phase of truly ending racism and the impacts of bias will be very challenging.
In order to be in a position to really fix racism in America, the Black Lives Matter movement needs a more centralized, powerful, charismatic leadership and a relentless, insightful agenda. Patrisse Cullors did a great thing to help found the movement, but just as with so many startups, it is now time for the founders to step up to professional management. The money has been pouring in after the past year’s blatant injustices. Now is the time to really do something.