Look in the mirror

Vincent J. Curtis

8 June 21

RE: It time to be honest about racism in Hamilton.  Hamilton Spectator op-ed of June 8, 2021.

The movie Throne of Blood is a thinly-disguised adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth.  Set in medieval Japan, the role of Macbeth is played by Japan’s greatest actor, Toshiro Mifune.  The fact that Shakespeare’s immortal characters can resonate in Japanese culture is a sign that race is incidental to one’s character, not essential to it.

Race is an artifact of the individual, like eye colour or height.  Race may be associated accidentally with culture, but that is an artifact of time and place.  To hold that race is essential to one’s character is philosophical racism.

Which brings us to Ameil J. Joseph and Kojo Damptey.  They want us to be honest about racism.  Okay, let’s be honest.  Both of them directly or indirectly make their living off racism.  They live, breathe, and talk racism 24/7.  They affirm that race is essential to one’s character.

Jesse Jackson admitted to engaging in the kind of racial profiling they complain about.

The great American economist Thomas Sowell wrote a book about racism and racial profiling entitled, “Discrimination and Disparities.” which explained why Jackson instinctively profiled as he did.   It is clear neither Joseph nor Damptey has read the book.  Oh, Thomas Sowell is Black, by the way.

It is clear that both men are engaged in race hustling, not race healing, though even that term I find racist and offensive.

I don’t expect either man to slink away; there’s too much money in the business.  But if they want honesty in racism, they need to look in the mirror.

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