I mean, when you mischaracterize the book like that it becomes easier to understand your POV, but yeah, the long history of discrimination against black people in America - including housing discrimination post-Civil Rights that further entrenched poverty in black neighborhoods - has effects. seems strange to argue against that. economists have done studies where they will apply to jobs with identical resumes but change the names between stereotypical black names and typical white names (IE Jamal vs. Tyler or something) and the white-named applicants were called back at a way higher rate. Is that because employers across America are all hooded white supremacists? no, it's because there is deep-rooted, historically reinforced subconscious discrimination in a lot pockets of society. even in 2017.
I think where it gets upsetting for people when the real disadvantages of black people is used as a substitute for personal responsibility and decision making, which I totally understand. thing is, the regular mistakes and bad decisions etc that everyone makes are often significantly worse for black people. the issue of police brutality, which statistically affects black people disproportionately, stems from this. sure, some people probably play the victim card and blame everyone else for being lazy pieces of shit, but facts suggest that it takes WAY more effort to be successful as a black person than it does as a white person.
on another note, what you said about the firefighters reminded me of the Ohio fireman who recently got suspended for saying he'd rather save dogs than niggers.
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