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cal04

(41,505 posts)
Mon Dec 8, 2014, 10:19 PM Dec 2014

Eugene Robinson: Despite progress on racism, the uncomfortable truth is that work remains

President Obama’s observation that racism is “deeply rooted” in U.S. society is an understatement. Racism is as American as the Fourth of July, and ignoring this fact doesn’t make it go away.

These truths, to quote a familiar document, are self-evident. Obama made the remark in an interview with Black Entertainment Television, telling the network’s largely African American audience something it already knew. The president’s prediction that racism “isn’t going to be solved overnight” also came as no surprise.

Right-wing media outlets feigned shock and outrage. But their hearts didn’t seem to be in it. Not after Ferguson and Staten Island. Not after the killing of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in Cleveland. These recent atrocities prompted Obama’s comments.

“This is something that is deeply rooted in our society. It’s deeply rooted in our history,” the president said, in excerpts of the interview that were released Sunday. “You know, when you’re dealing with something that’s as deeply rooted as racism or bias in any society, you’ve got to have vigilance but you have to recognize that it’s going to take some time, and you just have to be steady so that you don’t give up when we don’t get all the way there.”

(snip)
Whatever Obama says about race, or doesn’t say about race, somebody’s going to be angry. He should just speak from the heart — and tell the uncomfortable truth.

more at link
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/eugene-robinson-racisms-uncomfortable-truth/2014/12/08/e0438f68-7f1f-11e4-8882-03cf08410beb_story.html?postshare=6101418090773510

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Eugene Robinson: Despite progress on racism, the uncomfortable truth is that work remains (Original Post) cal04 Dec 2014 OP
Much of the progress on race has slowly been undone, and perhaps the SC decision still_one Dec 2014 #1
big kick and rec nt steve2470 Dec 2014 #2

still_one

(91,946 posts)
1. Much of the progress on race has slowly been undone, and perhaps the SC decision
Mon Dec 8, 2014, 10:27 PM
Dec 2014

On the voting rights act has demonstrated how the clock is being turned back

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