“MYTH” of systemic racism? Jim, you are either willfully blind, sadly unobservant, or just don’t want to admit the truth for reasons that only you can know. Nearly every interaction a black person has with any aspect of “the system” will have a tinge of racism in it. You do not see it, because it is not the water in which you swim.
Who makes us “think” we are victims? Do you know your American history? Have you seen any videos of police interactions with black men? I’m going to guess that you have never been followed in a store, stared at with hostility because you’re in a place where people presume you don’t belong, had the police called on you for trying to enter your own home, or presume that any achievement you have made comes at some cost to white people.
The reason that the subject of reparations brings so much anger to white minds is because in their heart of hearts, they don’t believe that black people deserve reparations. Many, frankly, still don’t want to acknowledge our humanity. Two hundred years of uncompensated labor, unspeakable treatment, and having our families torn apart at someone else’s whim, deserves SOMETHING. But, making reparations requires admitting wrong.
More than a century ago, John Rockefeller founded Standard Oil. His present-day descendants did nothing to establish or further that corporation, but they live comfortably on the fruit of his labors and exploitation of others. We, people of color, cannot live comfortably because our labor only benefited others. Just imagine the interest on those belated paychecks!
As it happens, I am a fortunate black woman of some privilege. I am well educated, and I live very comfortably. Not only do I live more comfortably than most people in the world, my pets do as well. White people absolutely LOVE me, because “I’m different.” They marvel at me. They believe I’m “amazing.” However, as “amazing” as I may be, I get treated very differently when I’m out and about without my white husband. It’s not our imagination. It’s certainly not from any desire not to work or to steal. (How offensive. Perhaps I should think that of you!) We don’t call ourselves victims, although, as people who have been harmed, mistreated, and had our labor stolen, WE ARE. You are Jim. Jim needs to open his eyes.
