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P.G. Sittenfeld on Civil Rights |
I'm sure those politicians meant well and did not intend to offend anyone. But what they failed to confront and recognize is the reality of institutional racism.
Saying "black lives matter" does not mean we think black lives matter more than anyone else's. It means we recognize that "black lives matter" as much as anyone else's--and for far too long, that hasn't been the case.
But now--in light of what's been happening with frightening frequency all around the country--acknowledging that "black lives matter" has assumed a special urgency. So while it is obviously true that all lives matter, here is another and equally obvious truth: In far too many cases, the police treat people who look like me differently than they treat people who look [black].