First African American President

[Number23]

165. I have long suspected that many of the folks who go out of their way to dismiss, minimize

mischaracterize and flat out deny the reality and prevalence of racism do this in order to avoid having that long, hard talk with THEMSELVES about behaviors and thoughts they may have held or exhibited in the past or even the present.

If they can pretend that racism doesn't exist or was only some mass psychosis that died out in the 60s, then they can pretend that the stuff they have secretly or not so secretly thought, done or ignored when seen in others can be identified in a way that is much more comfortable for them, the racism deniers.

"Truth, fairness and honesty be God-damned. If I can prove that racism no longer exists, that will sure as hell make things easier for ME to continue to think and do the things that I am thinking and doing without being made to feel that my thoughts and actions are racist. I can wipe the slate clean for myself and not actually have to do an ounce of work or a damn thing in terms of self-reflection."