RACISM

What’s It Going to Take For Americans to Swipe Right on Social Justice?

Our society seems too distracted to take on big problems

Photo by Nik Korba on Unsplash

America has become a Mecca of distraction, from texting, tweeting, posting, gaming, binge-watching streaming services, and good old-fashioned television. And while most people enjoy keeping up with the latest entertainment news or scandal, this endless sea of content poses a significant distraction to combatting big problems like racism. Schools are more segregated now than in the late 1960s, Black Americans are less likely to own a home than 50 years ago, and the racial wealth gap has widened in recent decades. The problems caused by racist policies and beliefs, which began in the 17th century, have effectively maintained a system of racial inequity. But whether Americans have the mental bandwidth to face its problems head-on is up for debate.

Over time, historians will consider the various factors leading to the racial reckoning of 2020. They will want to know what made this era different. What made not only Black people but White, Latino, Asians, and Americans of all stripes march in the streets in the largest protests in United States History? But, of course, they will mention George Floyd and how Chauvin’s violence led to his demise. But, a year prior, Louisiana…