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> Race is a social construct [...] that does not carry any explanatory meaning. It may be a social construct, but that doesn't mean it's irrelevant. Bias is r
by CptFribble 8y ago
> Race is a social construct [...] that does not carry any explanatory meaning.
It may be a social construct, but that doesn't mean it's irrelevant.
Bias is real. Race-based bias is real. People make decisions based on conscious and unconscious thoughts and beliefs about race. This has been demonstrated through numerous behavioral studies.
What if the real reasons for a police departments behavior involve internally common beliefs about a particular race? What if a majority of police in a particular department just don't like Asians, for example? In that case, race is very relevant to the "real reasons for a problem."
I would love to say racism would go away if we just stopped acknowledging race, but the fact remains that many, many people have closely held beliefs about a particular race, whether it's out-and-out racism, or whether it's the assumption that a black kid in a mostly white neighborhood walking alone must necessarily be an intruder.
In 2018, we can't discuss real reasons for police violence without race. In many cases, it is the reason.
- stareatgoats 8y agoNo, you are confusing race with racism: > In that case, race is very relevant to the "real reasons for a problem." I'm sure you mean that racism is very relevant etc. > In 2018, we can't discuss real reasons for police violence without race. In many cases, it is the reason. Same here, you can't reasonably mean that race "is" the reason for police violence, you (most probably) meant that racism is the reason for police brutality. This kind of mixing up of the concepts is precisely what I object to.
- mindslight 8y agoYou're right - the real issue is probably more like the community an officer socializes in versus the one they police. But their own "race" is an easily-obtainable correlated proxy, and if your intention is to enlighten the discourse you'd be better off making the point as a constructive nitpick rather than sounding dismissive.
- DarthTetanus 8y agoThey’re not mixing up concepts. You’re being pedantic.