Vice President and Howard University Grad Kamala Harris Insists That America is Not A Racist Country
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Posted By: Kennedy Williams on April 30, 2021 Madame Vice President and HU grad was interviewed on Good Morning America yesterday and made a statement that surprised (and confused) many people in the Black community (myself included): “No, I don’t think America is a racist country.” Excuse me? You don't think... America... is... racist? Let me go back and give you the context of the situation. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden gave his first address to Congress where he highlighted all that he has been able to accomplish in his first 100 days and shared what issues he plans to focus on in the upcoming future. Following the address, South Carolina senator and Black Republican Tim Scott gave the Republican response to the President, during which he insisted that America is not a racist country (despite sharing a personal story about how his Black grandfather was forced to pick cotton and how he himself has experienced racism). Scott's speech did not go over too well with the Black community and several people on social media started referring to him as "Uncle Tom" and "Uncle Tim" for seemingly dismissing the magnitude of racism in the Black American experience. Fast forward to Thursday morning, VP Kamala Harris reiterated Scott's statement, saying that she does not think America is a racist country. She followed up by saying, “But we also do have to speak truth about the history of racism in our country and its existence today. I applaud the president for always having the ability and the courage, frankly, to speak the truth about it.” “[White supremacists driven Domestic terrorism is] one of the greatest threats to our national security. It doesn’t help to heal our country to unify us as a people to ignore the realities of that,” she continued. "And so these are issues that we must confront, and it does not help to heal our country, to unify us as a people, to ignore the realities of that,” the vice president said, according to USA Today. “The idea is that we want to unify the country but not without speaking truth and requiring accountability where it is appropriate.” See, the frustrating thing is many of us thought that having a Black woman serving as the VP meant that progress was being made in a country that has consistently abused and devalued Black life. But when the Black woman VP refuses to acknowledge the issue of racism in its entirety, that's a major problem. Whether Scott or Harris want to admit it or not, America IS a racist country. America was built upon the backs of enslaved Black folks. Racism is built into the very foundations of this nation, but America has a problem when someone points it out. How can we change things, I mean REALLY CHANGE THINGS, if we can't all acknowledge the blatant problem? Leaders in this country cannot keep trying to sweep all of the mess under the rug. People are dying. People are suffering. People are angry. People are tired. Pretending that racism is just an unfortunate, occasional occurrence in this country will never sever the root of racism. It will only continue to water it. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Kennedy Williams
From Loganville, GA Spelman College class of 2020 Member Since July 2016 |
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