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Why Attacks on BLM, CRT, Woke, and DEI Cut From Same Racist Cloth
An essay about covert racism in political discourse
Racism in America is as versatile as the fashion industry as it evolves to meet the needs of consumers. But, there are some noteworthy differences. Instead of releasing designs with new patterns, textures, or colors, prejudice is marketed using language. People take turns targeting words, phrases, and acronyms. Like models on the runway, each captures public attention. In this case, it exposes more people to racist beliefs. White people have a history of distorting social justice terms. As a result, maintaining awareness of racism requires you to develop a keen eye. To follow the latest trend or risk getting left out of the loop.
In the modern era, most White people do not want society to see them as racist, as there are potential negative social consequences, such as losing opportunities to work with others or maintaining familial ties. Social desirability bias, the tendency to align with societal norms, limits explicit racism. Prejudice hasn't gone out of style any more than a button-up shirt. However, its expression has adapted in terms of style and presentation. Professor Rodney D. Coates suggested a more subtle form of prejudice impacts us in the modern era. "Covert racism," he suggested, "operates as a boundary-keeping mechanism." One that maintains "social distance between the racial elite and non-elite." What this means is that no one has to use racial slurs to exhibit racism. They can do so subtly, such as opposing efforts to confront racism.
That brings us to the runway of words, acronyms, and phrases under attack. Opposition to BLM, CRT, Woke, and DEI appear unrelated. But, upon closer investigation, we can see they were cut from the same racist fabric. Let's consider the first in recent history. The Black Lives Matter movement put a spotlight on the nation's legacy of racism. It began in 2013 following the acquittal of George Zimmerman. After shooting a 17-year-old Black teenager, Trayvon Martin, he claimed self-defense. When the jury found him "not guilty," their decision sparked national outrage. Black people responded by sharing this story online, some using the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter.
