Democratic Debate Is A Lesson In Whiteness and Racism

Image by kalhh from Pixabay

There are uncomfortable moments that, if you’re Black person or a person of color, you may have picked up on during this debate.

This will read off as a checklist of what transpired during the debate that is an example of whiteness and/or racism. From ignoring or downplaying our polar opposite lived experiences in this country, to using convicting Black people as a shield for holding police accountable. Some will be explained, some will not because those who refuse to see it will not be swayed by an explanation here. This may not cover all of it because this is through one person’s eyes and can only be seen through the history of one person’s experience.

• Pete Buttigieg, in his opening speech, talks about the unity that we had after 9/11. Who is we? Because Americans who were Muslim were harassed, attacked and viewed as terrorists almost immediately after. So are they not considered Americans or are we ignoring that part of our history?
• Bernie Sanders, in his opening speech, labels trump the “most dangerous president in the history of this country”. Most dangerous to whom? There was a lot that occurred under other presidents, such as slavery, segregation, redlining, mass incarceration. All these existed before trump. These statements make the issue appear that trump is also targeting groups outside of…