This @nytimes piece is a gut punch. It includes a data visualization that shows the invisible hand of systemic racism at work. An important read
Sons of Rich Black Families Fare No Better Than Sons of Working-Class Whites nyti.ms/2tYGuMu
Sons of Rich Black Families Fare No Better Than Sons of Working-Class Whites nyti.ms/2tYGuMu
The reason we're unable to stare racism in the face is that we Americans cannot stand the ugliness of our truth reflected back at us. Because we've depended on a story that omits the real story of what made America so rich and powerful to begin with. 
Here @willjawando is right but sadly the dominant political right in our country sees initiatives like this as "special treatment" and "reverse racism" which only serves to further entrench the actual racism. It's a diabolically brilliant strategy.
If you were trying to design a system that ensured white male outcomes > black male outcomes, the United States of America would get all the awards for building such a system. It's impressive. Oppressors throughout history are slow clapping right now. Just amazing ROI.
"Although all children benefit from growing up in places with higher incomes and more resources, black children do not benefit nearly as much as white children do. Moving black boys to opportunity is no guarantee they can tap into it."
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
nytimes.com/interactive/20…
Just as the founders intended...
This is such a sticky paradox. We've known this truth for generations, but white America's identity DEPENDS on NOT knowing it. It's like the truth is a mirror that DEflects instead of REflects, allowing this country to systematically avoid the obvious.
And the prevailing political winds seek to maintain and deepen the divide. So we end voting rights protections because "racism is over" and we ramp up the war on drugs to maintain incarceration and we divest from public schools because MOBILITY IS A THREAT to the status quo.
But for our country to evolve and improve, we have got to stare into the mirror and be honest. The truth is right there. Are we going to be cowards and cower in fear of its implications? Or are we going to be brave, and stare eyes wide open at our history and our present?
I think the real transformation and the real potential for this nation lay in the wide-eyed, open-minded viewing of our truth. It hurts, but that pain is an indicator of growth.
Imagine how much winning we could do if we didn't bench some of our best players. Imagine how rich we could be if we didn't steal from some of our most brilliant investors. Imagine how much love we could experience, if we didn't maintain a society built on hate.
Ask yourself today, "What can I do to change the story I've been telling myself that limits my potential or the potential I see in others?"
For me, that means insisting on believing that another story is possible, not just the story of American commitment to oppression but also the story of American embrace of transformation. That's also in our history. But new stories don't happen on their own. We must go tell them.
And we must stop doing counterproductive stunts like this. twitter.com/i/moments/9739…
And passing the mic for more bars to @IBJIYONGI who digs into that shocking stat around black women and earning parity...
