The State of Race in America - Charles M. Blow

[lovemydog]

op-ed in the New York Times.

The State of Race in America
Charles M. Blow JUNE 30, 2016

On Monday, the Pew Research Center released a fascinating and expansive report on the state of race relations in America. It serves as a stark reminder that although events like this insane and historic presidential election, continuing terrorist attacks and global shocks like Brexit overtake news cycles, the issue of racial inequality is just as urgent as ever.

2015 was the year of Black Lives Matter. Discussion of police interactions with minority communities; institutions and interpersonal racism; and “safe spaces” dominated popular literature, film, television, talks shows and newspaper column inches. It seemed everyone, everywhere, was talking about race in some capacity.

Now, at least in the media, the heat around the subject has cooled. The media has moved on. There are new stories to chase. There are new awards to win. But the issue of racial inequality — as a lived experience — remains unaltered, and many in fact believe that it’s actually getting worse.

Racial inequality is not a trendy issue; it is an entrenched issue. A year, or even two, of intense focus does not provide sufficient alteration of a condition in a country that has developed over centuries.

More here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/30/opinion/the-state-of-race-in-america.html?ref=opinion&_r=0

Here's the Pew Research Center report:

http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2016/06/27/on-views-of-race-and-inequality-blacks-and-whites-are-worlds-apart/