The Atlantic / Adam Serwer: The Great Resegregation

[yardwork]

15. I think they really are pictures, too.

When I was a kid, our family dentist had a lot of fundamentalist Christian children's books in his waiting room. There was a Children's bible and a book of morality stories, all about good children being rewarded and bad children being punished, but then "lovingly forgiven" by God and their parents.

The books had bright color illustrations of strong men and modestly attired women. Little boys were strong and active, and little girls were pretty and sweet. All the people were white, of course. They lived in 1950s idealized homes with big dinner tables and pretty gardens. Everything was safe and warm and affluent.

Inside the homes in this community was the usual domestic violence, poverty, and struggles. Nobody's lives looked like the Christian picture books. Besides, it was the 1960s and 70s and things were...confusing to anybody who believed these books.

This is the fantasy people want when they wear a hat that says Make America Great Again.