My University Treated Me Like a Criminal Over a Joke

[ucbalumnus]

@TheAtlantic

I think your definition of bigotry assumes blatant and unapologetic displays/actions. I also don’t know where you get the idea said bigotry was “minimal”, but I don’t think that’s a good debate to have…

I wrote that for some groups that the bigotry went from minimal to mainstream. Of course, that does not mean that it was minimal for all groups back then, since it obviously was not.

@TheAtlantic

Just because certain people are more emboldened now, does not erase the bigotry of the past (that either existed by law or by public action). Even as specific incidents of racism draw widespread attention, there is also a widespread number of people now disavowing and speaking out against these incidents. It cuts both ways.

However, it is hard to dispute that racism, whether open or covert, is greater now than before, and has official backing now, rather than bipartisan nominal disapproval (not necessarily effective, of course) in the past. The more obvious opposition exists mainly because there is more to oppose.