Beyonce quote:

[Coventina]

"It's been said that racism is so American that when we protest racism, some assume we're protesting America."

I think this is totally true.

And I think this is part of why people get so uncomfortable with the questioning of Washington;s and Jefferson's legacies. They represent "America" to white people, and we've been programmed to hold them in some kind of reverence. It seems to be deeply upsetting to be forced to admit that, for all their accomplishments, they were deeply flawed people with a big slice of depravity in their moral character.

on edit: clarity

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[Nevilledog]

2. Brilliant quote.

[brush]

4. She's right. There is one moral dilemma they didn't have to face...

whether to side with the Union or confederacy as the Civil War was decades in the future. When this whole issue of taking down the statutes I was of the opinion that they weren't traitors to the nation like confederate losers so their monuments and statues shouldn't be disturbed.

But nearly all of the founding fathers were slave holders and knew it was wrong. We just have to face it, the nation was founded on great hypocrisy and prospered handsomely from land stolen from the indigenous people and the labor stolen from enslaved people to work it.

There is much owed to many. How will it ever be resolved? Most native Americans are out of and sight out of mind living on reservations, many in misery, and African Americans have suffered, and still do, from centuries of the cruelty of racism. And then their are the sins visited also upon Latinx Americans and Asian Americans. Much is owed to many but most in the larger culture don't to hear it.

[JI7]

5. Those same white people say some of the worst things about Obama

who was also president. the racism is so clear.

[smirkymonkey]

6. K&R

Well said, Beyonce!