“Hear me clearly, America is not a racist country. I have personally experienced ‘the pain of discrimination’ — being pulled over for no reason and followed around in stores.”
This contradictory statement was made by Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina in 2021.
The biggest problem is not Scott, even though his rhetoric is sometimes laced with intellectual dishonesty, but rather the frantic attempt by Republicans to convince others that they are not racist by employing conservative Black people like himself, including right-wing pundits Star Parker, Jason Whitlock, Candace Owens, Shelby Steele and Doreen Borelli to name a few. In essence, they provide cover for and espouse largely offensive commentary that many right-wing White conservatives do not dare to say in public. In other words, they tell racists what they want to hear as opposed to what they need to hear.
This is not to say all Black conservatives demonize other Black people for profit. Republican strategist Raynard Jackson and the late Colin Powell are examples of Black individuals who resided on the political right of the spectrum yet had no problem calling out what they saw as the shortcomings of the conservative movement regarding its disconnect with large segments of the Black electorate.
As a Black person born and raised slightly above abject poverty in hyper-segregated South Carolina, this region has always been hostile toward governmental assistance regarding upward mobility, especially Black upward mobility, Scott is (or certainly should) be aware of the devastating impact that poverty, sophisticated or subtle discrimination, and lack of access to mainstream society can have on the victims of such social inequities and inequalities. Economic and structural racism are undeniable factors in the lives of many poor people of color.
The truth is that racism does exist in America. Most sane, rational and honest Americans know this, regardless of their race or ethnic background. The question is not whether America is a racist nation, but whether we need to utilize legislation, government programs, and other forms of protection to target racism.
There is far too much concrete evidence to indicate otherwise. Deep down, more than likely, Tim Scott and other Black conservatives (as well as their White conservative cohorts) know this to be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.