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Racism is systemic, not just individual, flaw

The editorial "After so many police outrages, Floyd killing a further indictment of attitudes on race" published on May 30 sidesteps the role of systemic racism in recent protests and the murder of George Floyd.

Contributing the issue to "unacceptable and inexplicable disregard for minorities" portrays racism as an individual flaw. This is disconnected from the reality of systemic racism in America.

From redlining to the war on drugs, the deck is stacked in favor of white people. Characterizing racism as a personal failure allows us to scapegoat bad actors to feel better about our indifference to it as a system, thus perpetuating the system. By using the word "inexplicable" in this sentence the authors also ignore how this system directly leads to police violence against black people and other blatant acts of racism.

The authors stress the need for conversations about race and policing. These conversations have been happening in communities of color for a long time, mainly to the indifference of us suburban white people and those in power. Let's take a look in the mirror at our indifference before immediately condemning how injustice is brought to our attention.

We must move beyond conversations. We need action. Racism isn't just white bedsheets and red ball caps. Racism is in the bedrock of our society and suburban communities. As white people, the benefactors of racism, it is our moral responsibility to bear the burden of undoing racism. If we are not intentionally anti-racist, we endorse a system of white supremacy.

To confront racism, we must seek it out and call it for what it is. Above all, we must listen and reflect on our roll in systemic racism. This is the bare minimum we owe to address the injustices we benefit from.

Black Lives Matter.

Brendon Culloton

Bartlett

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