Education is the most political thing we do, it is the fight for our future
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The obvious: it is not nearly enough to not be a racist, to be a responsible member of a democratic society one must be actively anti-racist.
Is there even such a thing as being ‘not a racist’? Not a racist sounds a lot like a German in the 1930s being “not a Nazi,” or, in the United States in the 1860s being “not a slaveowner,” or being the person who watches someone on the street having a heart attack, being assaulted, being struck by a car, who doesn’t bother to call 911.
Former Minneapolis police officers Thomas Lane, J. Alexander Kueng and Tou Thao might all claim to be “not racists.” Senator Tom Cotton of Oklahoma might claim to be “not racist.” Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina might claim to be “not racist” — “not misogynist,” etc.” Secretary of Defense Mark Esper might claim to be “not racist.” Even the notorious Alabama Governor George Wallace claimed he was “not a racist.” But in every one of these cases, actions tell a different story. Actions or non-actions, because non-actions are actions.
