Posted by Rinku Sen over at Huffington Post

The word ‘coward’ is a strong one, but the reality is that because we have such wildly different perspectives on why racial disparities exist, and because they continue to exist long after explicit racism has been outlawed, discussion of racial issues requires a high degree of tolerance for conflict, both intellectual and emotional. In my work reporting on the lives of everyday people and the institutions that shape their lives, I can see how our current rules and structures continue to produce disparities, even when no one intends that outcome. Understanding how the structures work – which has little to do with whether individuals intend to be racist – helps to lower the heat level significantly when these conversations do take place.

A very thoughtful post which tries to distinguish between the intentions of individuals and the consequences of structural impediments to equality.
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