Stepping back onto this platform briefly, to make an observation about human behaviour and the prevalence of endemic racism. I live in a part of the country that likes to congratulate itself on its more progressive approach to inclusivity. However this week I was confronted with a vivid, concrete example of exactly the opposite. When a (so-called) "Karen's" very first response to the presence of Customers Being Black In Public is to call the local police... well, that tells me we still have a very long way to go. Yes, folks --present tense. It happens right here in the "enlightened" Upper Valley; not just in some far-off Midwestern or Southern "red" state. Time for Northern New Englanders to stop patting ourselves on the back --way past time, in fact.
Seriously. Calling the police on a paying customer --not an action of reasoned last resort, but the first reaction. That means it was the instinctive reaction. Which suggests it certainly wasn't this "Karen's" first time doing so. We truly have weaponized our ability to speed-dial "911" on any Unwanted Individual, and every implied threat that comes with that. (Not that this is news to any of our brothers and sisters of colour...)
This is what is meant by systemic racism, and it is incumbent on each of us to call it out the moment we see it. "Going along to get along" is not an option, and that would apply even if there weren't a midterm election looming. Dust off your self-delusions and look your racism squarely in the eye. Be part of the damned solution already.
(Oh, and: Do better, Hilton Garden Inn of Lebanon, New Hampshire. Way better.)
