I think each interpretation is true. We’ve never had a “discussion” on race; we’ve had one-sided lectures, so it’s nice to see a range.
There is no black monolith, and examples belie a system. There is a black middle class and an upper middle class building wealth, one hopes, and an upper class.
I think each interpretation is true. We’ve never had a “discussion” on race; we’ve had one-sided lectures, so it’s nice to see a range.
There is no black monolith, and examples belie a system. There is a black middle class and an upper middle class building wealth, one hopes, and an upper class.
Witness the Prince Harry-Meghan Markle-Oprah interview: Oprah is a billionaire and savvy businesswoman; the interview was taped in the garden of anchor/host Gayle King’s Montecito estate. The interviewee, an actress, had married a prince of England and recently signed several multi-million dollar media deals. That’s quite a capsule. If any one of these things isn’t raging success, nothing is. Nonetheless, the lens for all three was race and complaints.
Often the people banging that drum seem unaware that their own lives or careers disprove their case -anchors, lawyers, the former first lady of the United States, academics, physicians, black-owned businesses. Times have changed -- are changing, in some cases, mightily. The ‘everything is racist lens’ is too wide. Recently, Michelle Obama saw racism when a clerk ignored her to serve the person behind her. Raise your hand if that has happened to you at least 20 times, and you’re white. Oprah’s fawning audience was mainly white. Early on, she acknowledged the man who had recognized her talent and given her a chance. He was white. Mentioning either now would be bad form. “White savior,” instead of simply someone who gave a young person a chance.
Biased media ignore moderate, classic liberal, and conservative black intellectuals and writers, and that’s cheating the public of some of the sanest, most interesting, and least ideological voices around. People are finding them and their podcasts through other writers on social media and Substack. Bari featured a few here.
Part of what has brought us to this point is the explosion of “diversity, equity and inclusion ” consultants and officers, the industry that grew out of black studies. DEI perpetuates race as a business. It has broadened "white supremacy" to include almost everything. A few years ago, a BLM individual trying to force groups to adopt CRT said she was going to “go into race.”
Some aren’t seeing the change. Once, maybe ten years ago, I took the wrong exit and got lost in the heart of a decayed urban city. It was midnight on Christmas Eve. I had left a lovely, warm home with three Christmas trees, a table groaning with antique china, good food, and good wine. The neighborhood was ablaze with Christmas lights.
The city was pitch black—not a Christmas light in sight. A 7-Eleven, surrounded by spotlights and a high chain-link fence, was the only place open. Black teens hung around the parking lot, on Christmas Eve. I drove into the lot, rolled down the window, and asked a terribly thin, shaking old man how to find the highway. He kindly told me. It was devastating because the contrast was so stark. No way out without a guiding hand. No hope. I called a few organizations at the time, and came up empty. We know culture, family and home life -----lack of any or dysfunctional or violent home life - plays the life-launching role. It determines who and what one is going to be. How to get an economy there? We;ve had several programs that were to do just that. The city and schools are run, lousily, by Democrats. How do young teens get from that grim streetscape to college or a good job? These kids need mentors. They need substantive, interventionist, concrete solutions. In that context, indulging Kendi’s “anti-racism” schtick is asinine.
I think each interpretation is true. We’ve never had a “discussion” on race; we’ve had one-sided lectures, so it’s nice to see a range.
There is no black monolith, and examples belie a system. There is a black middle class and an upper middle class building wealth, one hopes, and an upper class.
Witness the Prince Harry-Meghan Markle-Oprah interview: Oprah is a billionaire and savvy businesswoman; the interview was taped in the garden of anchor/host Gayle King’s Montecito estate. The interviewee, an actress, had married a prince of England and recently signed several multi-million dollar media deals. That’s quite a capsule. If any one of these things isn’t raging success, nothing is. Nonetheless, the lens for all three was race and complaints.
Often the people banging that drum seem unaware that their own lives or careers disprove their case -anchors, lawyers, the former first lady of the United States, academics, physicians, black-owned businesses. Times have changed -- are changing, in some cases, mightily. The ‘everything is racist lens’ is too wide. Recently, Michelle Obama saw racism when a clerk ignored her to serve the person behind her. Raise your hand if that has happened to you at least 20 times, and you’re white. Oprah’s fawning audience was mainly white. Early on, she acknowledged the man who had recognized her talent and given her a chance. He was white. Mentioning either now would be bad form. “White savior,” instead of simply someone who gave a young person a chance.
Biased media ignore moderate, classic liberal, and conservative black intellectuals and writers, and that’s cheating the public of some of the sanest, most interesting, and least ideological voices around. People are finding them and their podcasts through other writers on social media and Substack. Bari featured a few here.
Part of what has brought us to this point is the explosion of “diversity, equity and inclusion ” consultants and officers, the industry that grew out of black studies. DEI perpetuates race as a business. It has broadened "white supremacy" to include almost everything. A few years ago, a BLM individual trying to force groups to adopt CRT said she was going to “go into race.”
Some aren’t seeing the change. Once, maybe ten years ago, I took the wrong exit and got lost in the heart of a decayed urban city. It was midnight on Christmas Eve. I had left a lovely, warm home with three Christmas trees, a table groaning with antique china, good food, and good wine. The neighborhood was ablaze with Christmas lights.
The city was pitch black—not a Christmas light in sight. A 7-Eleven, surrounded by spotlights and a high chain-link fence, was the only place open. Black teens hung around the parking lot, on Christmas Eve. I drove into the lot, rolled down the window, and asked a terribly thin, shaking old man how to find the highway. He kindly told me. It was devastating because the contrast was so stark. No way out without a guiding hand. No hope. I called a few organizations at the time, and came up empty. We know culture, family and home life -----lack of any or dysfunctional or violent home life - plays the life-launching role. It determines who and what one is going to be. How to get an economy there? We;ve had several programs that were to do just that. The city and schools are run, lousily, by Democrats. How do young teens get from that grim streetscape to college or a good job? These kids need mentors. They need substantive, interventionist, concrete solutions. In that context, indulging Kendi’s “anti-racism” schtick is asinine.
:::::looking around::::::
I know that feeling. I thought I was reading Bari Weiss’ substack but somehow ended up in Cuckville.
Moreover, Meghan Markle is NOT "black" and built an acting career based on playing white and Hispanic roles.