Its Constitution fixed the value of African Americans at three-fifths that of other humans.
Its bloodiest war was over whether they should be enslaved.
It has no institution – not one – that is free of racial discrimination.
Yet, we are supposed to take seriously those who now ask if America is a racist country? It seems to have obsessed many of us, this shallow question with the obvious answer, since it was raised by a speech last week from Tim Scott, the only black Republican senator. “Hear me clearly,” he said, “America is not a racist country.” He was echoed – the political calculus is self-evident – by Vice President Harris.
For all that, it is a silly question, in line with our tradition of same where race is concerned. Many of us use such questions to deflect (“What about Black-on-Black crime?”) and delude (“What about Black racism?”) – to obscure truth that might otherwise be revealed.