"A Loving Chastisement for America" in today's NYTimes
Writer Caroline Randall Williams, author of "My Body is a Confederate Monument," pens a beautiful reflection what the election results tell us about how far we haven't come.
Excerpts:
"[Her grandfather] went on: 'Although the white man has accused the Negro of being a child in the American society, I think that if you look at it realistically, you will find that the white American has displayed the more childish tendencies. That it is he who has failed to accept the responsibilities of a mature man. Take, for instance, his violation of the Negro slave woman — a completely unrestrained and childish impulse that ignored the mature recognition of the facts of life, or any insights into the future. The Negro woman, on the other hand, I think, although she was unable to help herself, I think history teaches that she has come off far better, in terms of demonstrating a maturity, a recognition of the responsibilities of life, to herself and to her children. The fact that we have so many Negro men now who have gone so far in life is the result of some Negro mother washing and ironing and working hard to get that child into school, and to gain an advantage for him. So I say that love involves chastisement. And I think that the white American needs a whole lot of chastisement.'"
SNIP
"Joe Biden has won but it doesn’t feel like it’s over. Those who voted for the Republican — a staggering 70 million as of Friday evening — will find a more conventional ambassador next time. But we must never lose sight of who they’ve revealed themselves to be.
"The 45th president was an aberration only insofar as his corruption was brazen instead of subtle, his appearance clownish instead of slick. But the people who voted for him are plenteous, and they have been conditioned for this bigotry not just by the last four years but by centuries.
"I am on America’s side, but as my grandfather said, love involves chastisement. I love the idea of an America that is free and equal. But we are not there yet. For too many Americans, systemic oppression remains a practical reality. For too many Americans, it remains a sacred ideology."
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/07/opinion/sunday/trump-america-racism.html?action=click&module=Opinion&pgtype=Homepage
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