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| Success is the product of a good education |
There are many facets to this problem not all of which are based on bias to actual skin color. Although that is the obvious ‘trigger’ in much of racism in all its various forms. I do not believe that the vast majority of Americans see skin color as an issue at all. And are in fact color blind that way.
If we are ever to approach the promise of ‘a more perfect union’ discussed in our founding document: The Declaration of Independence, we need to change a few things. Although ‘all men are created equal’ we have a long way to go before that is fully realized in this country
This became a front burner issue when George Floyd, a black man was killed by a cop who ignored the humanity of the man he was brutally detaining. A man who suffocated while pleading for his life. The assumption is that under the same set of circumstances a white man would not have been treated this way. The sad joke of being guilty of ‘driving while black’ speaks the truth about how black men are treated when approached by police. They often assume guilt.
That being said, a lot of white men might have had this kind of experience. Probably a greater number of them than black people. But black people are treated that way in far greater proportion than their percentage of the population. I don’t think that is arguable.
The question is why? Why are there so many instances where police treat black people they encounter that way? Is there systemic racism in police departments all over the country? Is it just about the color of their skin? The answer to that question is complicated. One might answer both yes and no.
Skin color is the trigger. But not the reason. It is a trigger because a lot of crime is generated by a culture of poverty and crime in many black neighborhoods. A situation which is caused by a variety of factors some of which is based on societal racism. But a more important reason is the lack of good neighborhood schools that would motivate their young. Even after decades of trying to improve those schools by pouring tons of money into them - the culture of poverty and crime persists
It becomes pretty hard if not impossible for parents to motivate their children to study in a culture like that. When after spending years in school without gaining anything their young see some black people in their neighborhood doing well by way of criminal activity - the appeal of fast and easy money becomes an all too frequent way out.
But there is another black culture that is nothing like that. The great black middle class. Which is growing relatively quickly. There are also many successful black people that do quite well and live very comfortable lifestyles. Succeeding in the full panoply of careers available to anyone with the determination to pursue and succeed in them. If that were not the case, we would never have elected a black President. We would have no black doctors, dentists, lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs, athletes entertainers, media people, law enforcement professionals, academics and many others in other fields. There is not a profession in the world that is closed off to any person regardless of color in this country. President Barack Obama has proven that. Twice.
But at the same time when one of these successful black people gets stopped by a cop, they may get the same treatment George Floyd got. Just because their skin is black. This is not racism. It is a misdirected perception problem. Judging people by the preponderance of black crime stemming from the impoverished neighborhoods that police have to deal with daily.
There is not the slightest doubt in my mind that if those impoverished neighborhoods did not exist - and instead only the middle class black neighborhoods existed, there would be no measurable racism in this country. Not even by the police.
But they do exist.
What this tells me is that at the core prejudice by the police is not about skin color in and of itself. It’s about doing their jobs and dealing with crime. A lot of which stems from those impoverished black neighborhoods.
So how do we change the paradigm?
I really believe that education is the key. Parents in those neighborhoods must be given the incentive to educate their children by giving them the opportunity to seek a quality education outside of their neighborhood schools. If there was ever an argument to made for school choice via a voucher system, this would be it. The traditional government approach of throwing good money after bad into failing schools is not the answer.
Although that is what a lot of teachers unions would like to see continue. Despite claims to the contrary, I believe that those unions are a lot more about protecting their union members’ jobs than they are about providing students with a decent education..
If parents in those neighborhoods are given the opportunity to choose which the schools to send their children to - the chances of lifting those children out of a life of poverty and crime and into the great black middle class would increase significantly in my view. The more that happens, the more societal attitudes will shift towards seeing black people the way they see themselves.
There is not a doubt in my mind that as a people Americans are not inherently racist. But the factors I outlined impact how many Americans might react in ways that seem racist. Change can only happen if we strive for that goal by thinking out of the educational box that has served those impoverished black neighborhoods so poorly.
These are some of my thoughts about the source of racism in America and how to eventually eliminate it. It won’t be easy. But I think it is the best way to go.