OK, we’ve made a little progress in unpacking some bias dynamics and pointing to their connection with some of the problems smacking us upside our heads. So, let’s continue that fun journey.
Recently, another racist incident occurred at Gonzaga. Yet examinations of patterns over time reveal the historic frequency of such incidents. Further examination reveals these same patterns at most, if not all, of our academic institutions, including our public schools. What also becomes clear is the lack of meaningful and sustained anti-bias, anti-oppression, and pro-equity actions, curricula, and accountability measures by those who oversee these institutions–for themselves and for those they steward. Clear examinations make these truths startlingly obvious.
Another obvious truth revealed is bias based on race–racial bias, or simply put, racism.
An article by Haniya P. at TheGrio points to Julian’s Crimson Record, which offers analysis of modern-day lynchings from 2000 to 2025. Over the last 25 years, it has identified more than 70 modern-day lynchings across seven states: Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Tennessee and Alabama.
So, when was the last time you saw or heard of a white person (meaning white-identified or white-identifying) being lynched? Let alone a count of 70?
When was the last time you saw findings in such cases conclude there was nothing suspicious? (“Um … must be suicide–yeah, that’s it.”)
Also, in this current time, there is a massive and unwarranted expansion of our “crimmigration” system. Approximately 11 more people have died in ICE detention just this year, and numerous recent reports reveal that more than 900 children have been held in ICE custody so far past the 20-day court-imposed limit that officials are now having to shift that time benchmark just to track it.
I mean, OK–when was the last time any such grouping of deaths of white-identified or white-identifying people being detained occurred? Or such numbers of children being detained? Let alone both of those happening simultaneously. (“Umm … never?”)
OK, try this one: When was the last time you heard of massive graves of white-identified or white-identifying children being found at multiple boarding school sites?
OK, well if that’s not enough, let’s try this: When was the last time you heard of droves of white-identified or white-identifying females coming up missing–over generations–and receiving almost no media attention?
(Umm … never?)
Bingo. That’s right–we might have an issue with bias. With racial bias.
Let’s just be real about it–we’ve got multiple issues. The environment is a major one. Yet let’s start unpacking that piece next time.
Keep pushing for hope. Keep leaning in. Keep moving forward. Invigorate your joy. Dial in on our collective humanity. Yet also be very, very mindful, intentional and realistic about what the heck is really going on.
Try using some of that energy to help our country push forward into the promise realized of what we’re supposed to be.
But how, you ask?
Well, since our voter turnout last round was only just under 40%, maybe try voting. Just saying.
Who in their right mind thinks you can take billions of gallons of crude oil out of the mantle of the planet, burn it up, and not replace it–while also pulling billions of gallons of fresh water out of the planet and not replacing it–and think, “No, we’re not having a negative impact on our environment”?