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kpete

(71,991 posts) Sat Mar 17, 2012, 03:03 PM Mar 2012

Toni Morrison on when she will know that America has made racial progress

I will know the difference when I start seeing these policemen shoot white boys in the back—because they have keys in their hands that look like guns. Then when you ask me that question, I’ll say: ‘We’ve got there.’ If they can do something THAT outrageous and talk to some white parents and say, ‘Oh! Excuse me. I thought it was a gun.’ And when THAT makes sense, then we’re in good shape.” -

— Toni Morrison on when she will know that America has made racial progress
http://paxamericana.tumblr.com/post/19442259621

4 replies

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Toni Morrison on when she will know that America has made racial progress (Original Post) kpete Mar 2012 OP

John Loxas, 50, was shot and killed, MikeOlsen Mar 2012 #1

I LOVE Morrison Goblinmonger Mar 2012 #2

She hasn't been paying attention. Igel Mar 2012 #3

well that's a whole lot of stupid. provis99 Mar 2012 #4

MikeOlsen

(62 posts)

1. John Loxas, 50, was shot and killed,

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 03:21 PM

Mar 2012

but the infant he was holding was not harmed.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/16/police-officer-shoots-man-with-baby_n_1281450.html

But maybe the baby looked loaded?

So are we good now Toni?

Goblinmonger

(22,340 posts)

2. I LOVE Morrison

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 03:27 PM

Mar 2012

If I were forced to just read a couple authors for the rest of my life, she would be my #2 pick (James Joyce is still above her, but it's close).

Igel

(35,309 posts)

3. She hasn't been paying attention.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 08:00 PM

Mar 2012

Confirmation bias is a difficult filter for routine, salience-lacking events to get through.

Such events don't make much of a ripple in the news. There's no corresponding outrage to compel attention. There's not much of a reason for outrage, and if there were it wouldn't much matter--the outrage would be in a portion of public opinion that Morrison (or most of DU) wouldn't notice unless there was a reason to defend the policeman. That strikes me as a rather high hurdle to get over.

Salience. Expectations and confirmation bias. Simple refutation of a belief requires more than the amount of information that logic would say is necessary.

provis99

(13,062 posts)

4. well that's a whole lot of stupid.

Reply to kpete (Original post)

Sat Mar 17, 2012, 08:50 PM

Mar 2012

But then, I'm used to Morrison saying stupid things.

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