Thread by @Timcast

hahahahaha

Wow really?

I guess he didnt like my 4 tweets at him explaining systemic racism.

Glad he engaged in thoughtful debate

So he didnt like that I said something to the effect of

"i can only assume youre lying"

Yes, if I send you DM's and multiple good faith tweets explaining a concept and you dont engage or respond other than "no one can explain it!" I will assume bad faith

So let me break down systemic racism for all of you the exact same way I did for Scott

If he disagreed perhaps he should have actually engaged instead of ignoring me and asserting "no one can explain it"

Systemic racism means (or at least its supposed to)

Systems of oppression that created circumstances that predominantly affect certain races

Institutional Racism is when institutions have racist policy

Now let me give real examples

Institutional racism is obvious, affirmative action and Harvard

Most acknowledge that, it primarily affects whites and asians

Systemic racism has more complicated features

In St Louis they have something called "going on tour"

This means that one petty infraction turns into 4 or more

When you cant pay the fine you get arrested and spend a day or two in jail, when you get out the next department picks you up.

Let me explain

A long time ago white flight occurred and racial covenants prevented black people from moving into certain towns.

White people set up many small jurisdictions and kept black people out.

This system was built on racist policies, blockbusting, redlining etc

Now you have 90+ police departments and small towns all crammed next to each other.

The laws have changed, it is illegal to discriminate, we have the 1964 civil rights act

However the system that was created on racist policy still exists

Individuals are not being racist now

But the remnants of the system are still in place.

Black people who are historically and disproportionately poor are impacted specifically by the formation of these towns

Lets say youre poor because of racist policies of the past

You cant afford to fix a headlight

You get pulled over on your way to work

20$ fine

In one mile youre in a another town

20$ fine

In 3 miles another town

20$ fine

etc

Each town tickets you and now you get to "go on tour" when you cant pay those fines

This is the remnant of historically racist policies that still affect these communities today even though we made those policies illegal

This is just one specific modern example

The solution now that the left misses is class based
We have done away with the racist policies but the system is broken

We need class solution to lift everyone up regardless of race
As for STL specifically, its very difficult because the entire city structure was based on race

Authoritarianism is not the answer

Creating new racial policy is not the answer its reactionary

So there you have it

A system built on racial covenants results in over policing predominantly affecting the black community

As time goes on these policies will affect everyone

Thus we need class solutions

But yes racist system made by racist policies