I don’t believe you’re a shitty writer. You made your point explicitly.

Perspectives are necessary, but they’re malleable and based on the perspective owner’s individual experiences. Your use of the term perspective is actually opinion and opinions are not facts.

Institutional Racism is fact. It does exist regardless of your experience (perspective). True, money tends to blend all skin colors to green, but not many of us have the luxury of money.

I’ve lived in the Rust Belt, the South and a few major metropolitan areas in this country and my experience is racism runs rampant. The have-nots look down to feel superior, the wannabes put on a good “we’re all in this together” show and the haves are fairly ambivalent.

Sure, we have Affirmative Action, the EEOC, ACLU. The NAACP continues working hard. Where are we today? The age of post black president is upon us. Are we any better off since racist America elected and re-elected him? The more things change the more they stay the same. I have neglected to cite specific examples here because — look, listen, watch and pick up a history book. It’s all there. It’s here. Everywhere.

Please, please, please don’t use examples of black on black crime. European and American history is replete with white on white crime. Columbine was effectively white on white crime. Context? Murder and mayhem come in different colors and incomes and religions. Inseparable.

Unless I missed something, the use of Nicole Kidman is more allegory than specific example. Wealthy, coddled, clueless. Ambivalent to the condition of others. A victim of the celebrity celebre cause du jour. Speak, think, backpedal…

Soften up, try a little tenderness…great advice for the bedroom, or dealing with partner and/or family. But it’s also quite patronizing. Quell your passion! Don’t stand up for yourself! I don’t think so. Courage is often the first casualty and dignity the last. If you can maintain both you can get through just about anything life throws at you. Believe it! Fight for it! Furthermore, the myth of “the militant black woman” need stop being perpetuated. Yes, stereotypes have a basis in fact. They are also supremely prejudicial and insulting.

I realize this has been a tangential mess. I know what it’s like to be white, to have a few bucks and to be exhausted by the barrage of “you don’t understand”. But frankly, I don’t understand what it is like to black in a white dominated country that is shifting in a more hate filled direction. We just celebrated a man who led one of the most, if not the most, courageous movements in our nation’s history. While not raising a fist, aiming a gun or swinging a club, he shoved this country in a necessary direction. He gave all for his solemn beliefs. If we could all have such honor, such dignity.

I will not be a swizzle stick in this shit cocktail of racist America. I don’t think anyone else should, either.