Note: This post is not denying that racism exists in the United States. Rather, it is more about the technicality of calling it systemic and thus "blaming the system" rather than taking ownership for what is actually widespread racism in the entire society.
Call me skeptical, but I have had enough of people saying racism in the U.S. is a systemic issue.
A systemic issue is when the laws explicitly discriminate against people of color. If there is a law allowing slavery, that is a systemic issue, and the systemic solution is to abolish that law.
But if discrimination against people of color takes place even when there are no explicit laws supporting such discrimination, it is not a systemic issue. It is a social issue. It is a human issue. It is happening because the people are acting thus.
And a social issue requires a social solution. A human issue requires a human solution.
And the responsibility for such a solution lies in each and every member of society. Not with leaders. Not with elected officials. But by the actions of every individual.
"A systemic issue that requires a systemic solution." That is a cheap way of saying, "I see an issue here but I am not solving it." An easy way to shirk responsibility.
If you are a person of color, how are you living your life to show people that racial stereotypes are not true?
If you are a person with privileges, what have you done to extend that privilege to those without such privileges?
It begins with me. Not with politicians. Not with police chiefs. Not with elections. But with each and every person recognizing that he or she is part of the problem, and also part of the solution.
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