Good evening.
I've enjoyed this site since it started, and go all the way back to Austin360 before then. I can honestly say I've never read a more distressing or depressing thread here ever.
Just my observations here as a 50ish white guy who had the privilege to earn two degrees from The University of Texas. Take them or leave them as you will.
What I see in this thread is a microcosm of the same disjointed and halting conversation that's been afflicting the entire country, rooted in defensiveness and false ( or sloppy) tropes all the way around. That being said, I would argue that having a little bit better conversation on race, class, privilege, and simple equity would be a very good thing.
I'd humbly propose starting with some basic things that any reasonable observer ought to be able to agree on.
1.These young men are responding to events that have deeply impacted the country as a whole. These same events undoubtedly impact these young men even more due to their life experiences, the experiences of their families, and the experiences of their friends and neighbors. They're also very young. Cut them some slack.
2. Slavery, the new south movement, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, the Klan, lynchings, the Tulsa race riot, etc. actually happened. Objectively, none of them were good things. No, African Americans weren't better off, or better "taken care of" then.
3. The legacy of all of those historical occurrences includes to this day huge wealth, education, and income gaps for African Americans.
4. Yes, police are much more likely to stop African Americans than they are whites. Yes, police are much more likely to act aggressively towards African American suspects or protesters than they are whites.Compare police reaction to assault rifle armed white dudes invading state capitol buildings with the many documented unprovoked pepper spraying and rubber bullets incidences at recent BLM protests.
So, if you are unable to admit that the USA has an unfortunate history of race relations, or that some of those issues still remain, or that cops can act very wrongly and often act wrongly towards African americans, there isn't much room for discussion about the important things: how do we all make things better?
The athletes have proposed some solutions. The real question isn't "Why should the University respond to blackmail?" , as if any contentious change anywhere has ever happened by asking nicely, then waiting patiently. It should be "Do any of these ideas actually make a meaningful difference?"
Some might. Some are less likely to, or are simply not feasible. If your claim to historical fame is leading a bloody insurrection against the United States in the name of preserving the "right" to own human beings, you shouldn't get a heroic memorial statue. Whatever good you did in life really can't overcome that monumental misjudgement.
If you were an education ( for whites) proponent who was an ardent segregationist, it's less cut and dried, but your statue should come with a warning label. Note the bad with the good.
Same with building names. Case by case.
I was unaware of any minstrel show connections with The Eyes. That being said, was the song chosen for those connotations or was it chosen because "I've Been Working on the Railroad" was familiar and easy to sing? I think that context matters here.
Lastly, giving state funds to a political organization like BLM, whatever you think of that group's merits is a no go. Spending some dough on outreach to disadvantaged high schools might work though.
Just some thoughts. I hope they're mostly calm ones. We're not as divided as we think we are.
Hook'em!
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