First words uttered are institutionally racist ‘tell’

Living in the bubble of White Privilege, I routinely commune with many from the right side of the political divide. Tho dismayed at their views, I use my acquaintance, family ties and friendship to engage on the critical issues putting our society at risk. The issues of senseless war, income inequality, environmental decline, humane healthcare are all daunting. But no issue frustrates like the urgent need to address institutional racism one year into its fifth century with no end in sight. The police killings and maiming are not the problem, they are the most visible symptom of the life suffocating creation and maintenance of urban wastelands where millions of minorities (including poor Whites for that matter) are virtually shut out from the American Experiment, languishing in poverty, drugs, guns; creating a near hopeless despair and a near catastrophic death toll from bullets, disease, mental illness and suicide. Add in pandemic and general economic collapse and it’s no wonder Chicago’s murder rate is up a staggering 66%.

But to the folks unsympathetic to the problem of institutional racism, there are only scenes of civil disturbance: looting, arson and occasional violent attacks. “There’s your Black Lives Matter people” they proclaim with indignation that anyone could be moved to such action. In their fairy tale world of White Privilege there is no racism, no incompetent/criminal cops, no societal anchors weighing down minority communities. “Look at the successful Black leaders trotted out at the GOP Convention” they argue, proving that all anyone has to do is strive harder and success will come. One even blamed the recent Black motorist who shot 2 cops at a traffic stop in Chicago on Black Lives Matter.

I don’t consider these woefully misguided folks outright racists. I see them as the White toll of 401 years of institutional racism. When the first words out of their mouth are all directed at restoring tranquility to their White dreamland, and not one word is spoken on the endless toll inflicted on those with whom they’d never trade places, I recognize the ‘tell’ of institutional racism. My response is always the same: “When can I drop off your Black Lives Matter sign”? No takers yet.