Its Constitution fixed the value of African Americans at three-fifths that of other humans.
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institution not one that is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a recent speech by Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. “Hear me clearly,” he said, “America is not a racist country.” He was echoed the political calculus is self-evident by Vice President Kamala Harris.
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institutionânot oneâthat is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a speech last week from Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. âHear me clearly,â he said, âAmerica is not a racist country.â He was echoedâthe political calculus is self-evidentâby Vice President Harris.
For all that, it is a silly question, in line with our tradition of same where race is concerned. Many of us use such questions to deflect (âWhat about Black-on-Black crime?â) and delude (âWhat about Black racism?â)âto obscure truth that might otherwise be revealed.
Published May 06. 2021 5:33PM | Updated May 07. 2021 1:38PM
Leonard Pitts Jr
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institution not one that is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a speech last week from Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator. Hear me clearly, Scott said, America is not a racist country.
He was echoed the political calculus is self-evident by Vice President Harris.
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Why can’t we have nice things?
Its Constitution fixed the value of African Americans at three-fifths that of other humans.
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institution not one that is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a speech last week from Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. “Hear me clearly,” he said, “America is not a racist country.” He was echoed the political calculus is self-evident by Vice President Harris.
Leonard Pitts
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institution not one that is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a speech last week from Tim Scott, the only Black Republican senator. “Hear me clearly,” he said, “America is not a racist country.” He was echoed the political calculus is self-evident by Vice President Kamala Harris.
For all that, it is a silly question, in line with our tradition of same where race is concerned. Many of us use such questions to deflect (“What about Black-on-Black crime?”) and delude (“What about Black racism?”) to obscure truth that might otherwise be revealed.