Which Tide Which Way?
So I am a cautious optimist at times within a framework of low expectations in general, and today I am thinking, well, white people expressing outrage about racism is not a new phenomenon. But it has never made any particular difference. My own included. So am I to believe that this time something will be different when the world moves on to another topic? As it is certain to do. I have read so many posts and essays about white reactions to the killing of black people by police. Such sensitivity. But will it make a difference? Take action, they say. I do understand the wisdom of the advice. But the first action ought to be a good long self examination. Because most of the white people I am reading are posting about other people’s racism, or about racism in general, or about all the myriad things that issues like this raise in the human mind, which jumps up at an outrage, agitates a bit, then slowly returns to its well-worn path. The racism people can do something about is their own. But people are buying books and watching movies and giving the appearance of learning. This time could be different, I hope. And I do honestly hope. But I am leery of hoping too much. The tide is always turning, that’s why it’s a tide.