The way I see it.. We are becoming more extreme in our views, amplified by manufactured online presences (botnets) and an inability to perceive scale. Meaning, if we are presented with something, anything, day after day.. We start to perceive that as being representative of "reality" as a whole.
On the internet, we can literally do this with any topic. There are countless resources that we can willingly pound into our brains over and over, week after week. Of course, with centralized platforms, this tends to be done for us in subtle (and not so subtle) censorship, cultivated "feeds," and botnets.
I believe this is intentionally manipulated, but even if it is organic, our awareness of it can stall its progress.
As for racism.. I was raised with some very influential black people that were extensively involved in my life. Looking back on it, their approach was probably intentional and maybe even a bit experimental. I wouldnt go there if I didnt know just how brilliant these people were (high level programmers, top level scientist, etc).
They never brought up skin color in any context other than something like hair color, eye color, or height. I wasnt even aware "racism" was a thing until much later in life.
I still perceive it in that way. I could probably reprogram myself, but I believe they did right by me. It doesnt mean I deny the existence of racism in others, but I do refuse to see it as any different than other physical attributes personally.
I think I can count the number of racists Ive met with white skin on one hand. I cant say the same beyond that. None of it is subtle in my experience.. Even when its packaged in DoubleSpeak.
People like Daryl Davis have done some incredible things too.
On the internet, we can literally do this with any topic. There are countless resources that we can willingly pound into our brains over and over, week after week. Of course, with centralized platforms, this tends to be done for us in subtle (and not so subtle) censorship, cultivated "feeds," and botnets.
I believe this is intentionally manipulated, but even if it is organic, our awareness of it can stall its progress.
As for racism.. I was raised with some very influential black people that were extensively involved in my life. Looking back on it, their approach was probably intentional and maybe even a bit experimental. I wouldnt go there if I didnt know just how brilliant these people were (high level programmers, top level scientist, etc).
They never brought up skin color in any context other than something like hair color, eye color, or height. I wasnt even aware "racism" was a thing until much later in life.
I still perceive it in that way. I could probably reprogram myself, but I believe they did right by me. It doesnt mean I deny the existence of racism in others, but I do refuse to see it as any different than other physical attributes personally.
I think I can count the number of racists Ive met with white skin on one hand. I cant say the same beyond that. None of it is subtle in my experience.. Even when its packaged in DoubleSpeak.
People like Daryl Davis have done some incredible things too.