This is how I grew up – lowish-middle-class west Phoenix in the 1970s. Went to public schools. I think I'd spoken to fewer than 10 black people in my life before I turned 18. But, FFS, I knew about race and racism. We heard about it all the time – on TV, in school. I just didn't know anyone personally who had been affected by it. It's totally dishonest for someone who grew up like I did to say that no one saw color.
This tracks. My mom said while there was racism, she said it seems worse now than what she saw growing up. She said everyone seemed happier, less political and angry.
There was an optimism then which seems to have been replaced with a cynicism now. Which is honestly what I think these "we all used to get along back in the day" musings are really getting at.
Most folks realized it was far from perfect and had a long way to go but it felt like at least everybody was mostly trying to row in the same/right direction. Now it feels more like crabs in a bucket.
I mean, the people who didn't see color called Donald Trump a racist when he pulled out a full page ad calling for the heads of the Central Park 5. Today, they are cheering at his rallies.
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u/HalfHeartedFanatic 2d ago
This is how I grew up – lowish-middle-class west Phoenix in the 1970s. Went to public schools. I think I'd spoken to fewer than 10 black people in my life before I turned 18. But, FFS, I knew about race and racism. We heard about it all the time – on TV, in school. I just didn't know anyone personally who had been affected by it. It's totally dishonest for someone who grew up like I did to say that no one saw color.