Racism comes in many shades. To suppose there are not people who do not want to vote for a black person, but do not want that reason to be known, is to suppose that that shade of racism doesn't exist.
It is to suggest that no one would ever not vote for a black person while trying to cover up that racism is the reason.
I tried to get the above thought printed in the online comments to a news story. Unfortunately, the comment was put on hold. Was it rejected because of a rule against name-calling? Racists do exist, and to suggest I'm calling someone names by saying racists do exist is to suggest that such a thought should never be verbalized or expressed, with the pretext being that it is uncivil to say such a thing. Or, was it that my comment was considered too speculative? To begin with, most comments are speculative. What opinion isn't? And, secondly, no, it is not overly speculative. Are we to say it is impossible for such a person to exist -- a person that would not vote for a black person and then try to hide or cover up that that is reason? Or course this is going to happen. Whether it is rare might be the question, but that it will happen is not.
It is said, that to repent of a wrong, you must first recognize it is wrong. If we do not, as a society, allow ourselves to acknowledge the racism I refer to, what hope have we of repenting of it?
Too often, we push off discussions such of this by saying, "Don't play the race card." Yes, the "race card" might be played too often, but this is not one of those moments. The shade of racism I speak of is is real. Or, do we deny that such a person as I speak of even exists? Or, do we say that while such a person does exist, their existence should not be discussed as that would be offensive to someone?
Push off the matter if you will, but this is a matter that should be discussed.
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