2y ago

Americans are divided on whether society overlooks racial discrimination or sees it where it doesn’t exist

www.pewresearch.org

Views on this have changed in recent years, according to Pew Research Center surveys. In 2019, 57% said people overlooking racial discrimination was the bigger problem, while 42% pointed to people seeing it where it really didn’t exist. That gap has narrowed from 15 to 8 percentage points.

34 comments

These studies really need to stop asking racists if they think they're racist.
- That defeats the entire point of having a survey.
  
  What are we hoping to learn here?
- It's an interesting metric. It tells you more about the person asked than the question asked.
  Do you think you're racist? I probably am, a little bit. But I end up overthinking it, like "shit, I hope that didn't seem racist."
- It’s such a broad term that encompasses a lot of behaviors. From micro aggressions we don’t even realize we’ve done to outright xenophobia. Maybe this metric has some value over time.
- Why? It seems useful to track
- Reminds me of the constant need to check in with rural voters at a diner
  If these people had anything good to say they wouldn't be in a rural diner
  
  Those folks get to vote, too, though. So their views are relevant, no matter what you think of them.
I seriously don't understand the folks who don't get this.
First we had slaves.
Well, some say, US slavery ended with the civil war.
Even IF it were reasonable to say that slavery ended and therefore the ripples it sent forward in time aren't still being felt, there are two things that are true - One: We didn't root out those who most staunchly refused to relinquish it and enact power structures to encourage equity going forward.
Well, some say, the confederate states were physically and economically destroyed by the end of the war.
And to that I say, "Andrew Johnson."
Two: We as a nation enacted laws and social norms that turned black folks into a permanent underclass, and have been dogwhistling about it for a century.
Well, some say, No we didn't.
Yes, we did. Jim Crow, separate but equal, the origin of most controversial confederate monuments and statues, the very existence of Sundown Towns, and The Negro Motorist's Green Book, the foundation of the State of Oregon, and events such as the Tulsa race massacre, are all factual details about our country.
These inflection points on our nation's psyche persisted at least through the passage of the civil rights act, and some feel Sundown Towns exist even today. These laws and social norms influenced legislative policy, police and justice department culture, and generations of Americans - both white and black people.
To deny that there is still an impact today seems willfully ignorant.
Why not both?
Edit: Didn't see that it was also a question of which is the greater problem. Overlooking is the greater problem.
In surveys like this, I find it most useful to look at what Black people think, you know? Since they’re the ones getting shot by the cops? I’m as interested in white conservatives’ views on racism as the Taliban’s views on feminism.
Words with contested meanings are also really hard to get info on through surveys. Some people are thinking structural racism, and some are thinking “public accommodations are integrated, what more could be needed.” Of course they’re going to answer differently. They’re effectively answering different questions.
The average MAGA does both.
There is little division on Lemmy.
So many clowns on this site want to see racism where it doesn't exist that being race-baited is their pastime.
- Nothing makes me madder than people trying to right historic injustice and make a better, more inclusive world for everyone.
  I wish people would stop making me pay attention to the systemic oppression of minorities; as a white guy, I'm pretty sure we solved racism.
  
  “Sesame Street in the 90’s told me racism was solved and I never actually asked anyone if their lives were better.”
  
  right historic injustice
  Say it the right way you coward....
  You want to foolishly "solve" racism with reverse-racism.
  But of course reverse-racism is just code for racism toward whites. Which is simply racism.
  Say it right and stop hiding behind some altruistic bullshit. Of course the only thing that reverse-racism does is create more hatred, more animosity, which ultimately breeds more racism.
  Congrats, you clown, you just fell for what the elites want you to fall for... a race war.
I'm just sick of being labeled racist just because I'm white. When I was younger I didn't give a shit and would speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist I find myself not speaking to or very carefully choosing my words before speaking to anyone that is not white. So in the end the constant accusations have turned me racist because I am changing my words and actions based on race.
- I'm white and have never been accused of being racist. It's something you're doing, it's not the color of your skin.
  
  Yep I'm a white dude as well, never been called racist in my life. Probably because I don't do or say racist shit. It's not very difficult.
  
  No, it’s probably the people they’re talking to. I’m White and I’ve never been accused of racism by anyone that knows me, but I’ve been told by plenty of overzealous “SJW”-types that my privileged position in society makes me inherently racist, even if I don’t harbor any overtly racist views. Likewise, I’ve been called a “racist cracker” when I’ve simply refused to give someone change on the street when asked for it. Being racist has become a kind of White stereotype in our culture. I totally understand what the other poster is talking about. Sure, maybe it is something they’re doing, but I could easily see it not being that.
- speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist
  Were you saying racist shit?
  I'm guessing you are one of those "I'm not racist, I hate everyone" assholes. Which is a long way of saying "I'm racist, but it doesn't count because I'm a jerk to my friends (who are all white).
  
  My uncle doesn't think he's racist, meanwhile the few days he stayed with me I heard the N word more times than I've heard others say it in the past 10 years. He used it not only to describe people but instead of the word black to describe the color of objects. I'm guessing having to rethink what they mean really means they don't say the n word around black people but are being called out by white people they feel they should be able to get away with it around.
- When I was younger I didn’t give a shit and would speak to anyone and everyone but now after years of being told I am racist I find myself not speaking to or very carefully choosing my words before speaking to anyone that is not white. So in the end the constant accusations have turned me racist because I am changing my words and actions based on race.
  I'm in my 50s. When I became aware that many PoC might have reason to view my actions differently than intended, I took that as a sign to be mindful of my biases, and to think about the possibility that I could be using words and phrases that I grew up believing to be fine, but which could be hurtful to the people around me.
  To my knowledge, I've never been labeled a racist.
  You do you though.

34 comments