At the first Presidential debate, we heard Joe Biden claim that “ANTIFA is an idea, not an organization”. The next day, a friend of mine said jokingly that “white supremacy is an idea, not an organization”.
Hmm. Interesting. While Joe Biden was being disingenuous (i.e. he was lying) when he made his statement, my friend was 100% correct.
Later that same day (it was yesterday when I wrote this), a friend of mine called me to talk about the previous night’s debate. We both had similar observations and complained about mostly the same thing. He also happens to be black.
My friend made some comment, I wish I could remember specifically what it was, that got me thinking about the statement people make that Trump is racially dividing America. It didn’t take me long to realize that America is less racially divided today than at any other point in our history.
Now, before you get all upset, hear me out.
When you look at a Black Lives Matter protest, what do you see? You see a generous mix of people from all races. And while there are many white and black people who believe in BLM, not every white or every black person does. In fact, there are a lot of people of all races who disagree with the BLM organization. So, looking at the issue of BLM, the division is created from a difference in ideology, not a difference in race.
Want another example? OK.
Everyone agrees that there are white supremacists in America. What people don’t agree on is how widespread it is. Many people, black and white, believe that white supremacy is widespread and poisoning America. Many other people, also both black and white, believe that there are isolated incidents of white supremacy but, overall, it’s not a big deal. Again, the division isn’t by race, but rather by the belief in a specific idea.
Still another example? Here you go.
Some people believe that America is systemically racist. Some people do not. There are people of all races on both sides of the argument. We all believe that systemic racism did exist at one point in our history (if you want to see what it looks like, take a gander at the image above). But, not everyone agrees that it still exists today. The thing that is separating the two sides isn’t their race, it’s a concept.
Hopefully by this point you recognize the pattern and can easily come up with more examples on your own.
The problems we are facing aren’t caused by a racial divide. We’re being told that it is, but that’s not what’s really happening. It’s not race that is dividing America. America is divided by competing ideas. And that is, for the most part, what you see in a healthy country. A healthy country promotes the free exchange of ideas and encourages debate.
Sadly, the belief in a free exchange of ideas is another issue that is dividing us. Some people, people of all races, believe that we should discuss our differences and try to find common ground that ultimately leads to a solution. Other people, a group that is also represented by all races, believe that riots, looting and an unwillingness to listen to opposing ideas is the path to uniting this country.
Are there racial divisions in America? Maybe. But there is little or no evidence to support that notion. Are we being told that race relations in our country is at its worst point ever? Absolutely. But there is simply no reason to believe that this is so.
