There It Is

I'm old enough to remember when too many news leaders questioned if Black journalists could cover Black Lives Matter & the nation's civil unrest. They claimed we couldn't be objective. Now I ask those leaders, can white journalists effectively cover the Trump insurrection story? pic.twitter.com/d4v4EX9xCV

— Imaeyen Ibanga (@iiwrites) January 9, 2021

I just died. I’m tweeting while dead. pic.twitter.com/5tuhIdZfXG

— 🏳️‍🌈 Anita (@anita1956) January 9, 2021

“It’s Because Of Whiteness”

A lot of “majorities” aren’t educated that their financial advantage isn’t because of their investments. It’s because of whiteness.

Let me show you how: https://t.co/SvLMWWBIZ3

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

First of all, of you live in a home in a black neighborhood, it’s worth, on average, $48,000 less than an identical home in an identical white neighborhood.

Part of this is because of the history of redlining and it’s partly because white people just don’t want to live around us

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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But, for the sake of argument, let’s say that all things are equal. Simply because you are awhite homeowner, you now have $48,000 in equity that a black homeowner doesn’t have.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

We know that schools are funded by property taxes. So, if you’re white, your kids get to go to a better school. This has nothing to do with your “investments.”
It’s white privileged.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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So, of course, the white districts are considered better because they had higher scores, more college attendees and more programs.

But the advantages were built in.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

But let’s get back to home ownership. When those white kids got a chance to go to college, their parents could use that $48,000 in equity to pay for college while black students had to take out loans.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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But let’s say both kids graduated from college.

I mentioned a study by @theSBPC yesterday. The study was really incredible in revealing institutional racism.

Here’s what they did.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

They created a profile of a student. 24 yrs old, recent college grad making $50,000 per year. The only difference was that they went to different institutions. They went ONLINE to refinance their loans

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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The study found that kids who went to majority black schools were charged higher rates than any other group—even though their credit, income, jones etc were IDENTICAL.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

So now you’re a black college grad with more debt than a white student. Regardless of what you do, if you’re black, it’s impossible to avoid. So, what happens?

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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Part of your credit score calculates debt. So, simply being black—NOTHING ELSE —means you have a higher credit score.

But now you need a car. Remember, your debt is already higher bc you’re black

Well, @CRLONLINE found that auto lenders charge black borrowers higher rates

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

Now car lenders might say that blacks have lower credit scores but we know why that is. Instead of looking at payment history and income, they compound the problem.

In 2018, congress eased rules making it easier for car lenders to discriminate

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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So you have a car, an education and you want to buy a home.

In 2018, @reveal did a study. They didn’t look at a group@of black borrowers v whites. They essentially looked at the govt data from every mortgage over a decade—31 million loans

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

They found that black borrowers were denied at 3 times the rate of white borrowers and ALWAYS got higher interest rates.

But, according to some people “minorities” need to study investment.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

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Add that with double the unemployment rate, fewer educational resources, higher car insurance rates and tithes and offering, you see that black people’s lack@of upward mobility has nothing to do@with buying Jordans and sipping Hennessy (although Hennessy is, objectively trash)

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

And white people’s advantages have nothing to do with their investment knowledge or hard work.

It’s built into the system. And no amount of after-school programs or charity can fix a SYSTEM that is built to perpetuate inequality.

— Michael Harriot (@michaelharriot) February 24, 2020

A Tweet Or Two

Great to see @TJMaxx, @Marshalls and @HomeGoods raising wages. It's time for Congress to #RaiseTheWage for America. pic.twitter.com/k0uaopQFfK

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) February 25, 2015

We can't play politics with our national security. It's time to #FundDHS with no strings attached. pic.twitter.com/FEqoKJjicA

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) February 25, 2015

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President Obama implores Congress to fund the Department of Homeland Security. #ObamaTownHallhttps://t.co/rZeLdS8r9P

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 26, 2015

President Obama issues an immigration reform challenge to former Gov. Jeb Bush. #ObamaTownHallhttps://t.co/VfVw6JIvji

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 26, 2015

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RT if you're ready to work out with @Beyonce! #GimmeFive of your workout drills (or you'll disappoint the Beygency). pic.twitter.com/BC8Pu0RRRw

— First Lady- Archived (@FLOTUS44) February 25, 2015

Hey @FLOTUS: Excited to show off our moves at the Easter Egg Roll!! And now we challenge @ShawnMendes to #GimmeFive! http://t.co/PgZxIAEOTm

— Fifth Harmony (@FifthHarmony) February 25, 2015

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On this day (Feb 25) in 1870 Hirman R. Revels of Mississippi is sworn in as the first Black U.S. Senator #BHM pic.twitter.com/rEWqyq6d6X

— Strictly 4 My X’ers (@Lizzs_Lockeroom) February 25, 2015

ICYMI: RT @INAFLCIO: Black History Month Labor Profiles: Fannie Lou Hamer http://t.co/ZkRxNRMyxC #1uBHM pic.twitter.com/Pyo01frx9H

— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) February 25, 2015

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https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/569296958868692992

Hard to believe. On today's front page, TX legislators cutting cake to celebrate ban on same-sex marriage. pic.twitter.com/F04zIHD51O

— Addie Broyles (@broylesa) February 25, 2015

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Mother of Trayvon Martin says she still believes George Zimmerman got away with murder: http://t.co/wPtUuaocJ0 pic.twitter.com/APVnixSO3T

— ABC News (@ABC) February 25, 2015

#GeorgeZimmerman has been arrested every year since murdering #TrayvonMartin and no one has called him a thug ? pic.twitter.com/EXwDP4nSaT

— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) February 24, 2015

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https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/570577158697041920

https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/570580630263734272

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https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/570581185748967424

https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/570581893793632256

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"We’re a nation of laws, but we’re also respecting the fact that we’re a nation of immigrants." —Obama #ObamaTownHall pic.twitter.com/rv3elfwllz

— White House Archived (@ObamaWhiteHouse) February 26, 2015

Dori Maynard, telling media to “look at what our distorted coverage of communities of color is doing to the country.” http://t.co/mH0lT4DsiW

— Jamil Smith جميل كريم (@JamilSmith) February 25, 2015

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https://twitter.com/tparsi/status/570623617660293121

Kerry Blasts Netanyahu: He's 'Wrong' On Iran Deal Like He Was On Iraq War #BibiFail Both GOP & Bibi only want #War http://t.co/WZ3HqWbAH0

— Tracy🌊🌊🌊🌻🌻🌻 (@taiping2) February 25, 2015

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Today In Karma

"Revenge porn boss wants Google to remove his “identity related” info" http://t.co/us8d0ARVeG pic.twitter.com/Ummr2q8p2V

— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) February 25, 2015

Presented without comment. cc @Polygon pic.twitter.com/6NuJu5FXnP

— Peter Curry (@peterc_nz) February 20, 2015

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https://twitter.com/solangeknowles/status/570415219169628162

“@Zendaya: pic.twitter.com/HJ3RZbNCli”. Been showing this to people all day. My new hero.

— shonda rhimes (@shondarhimes) February 25, 2015

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https://twitter.com/arthurmacmillan/status/570728361154224128

No, you will NOT be speaking for me or "the entire Jewish people" before Congress, Netanyahu. http://t.co/0ySY6XWrLs pic.twitter.com/acvraZ1GJO

— David Harris-Gershon (@David_EHG) February 25, 2015

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Ferguson: The World Is Watching

.@amnesty has a 13-person human rights delegation in #Ferguson. “Unprecedented” in America: http://t.co/bNp25u7VOg

— Andrew Katz (@katz) August 17, 2014

#Ferguson made front pages in Turkey pic.twitter.com/ea0AmVMxxk

— Vince (@vinceperritano) August 16, 2014

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She gave out FREE water & other goods to protestors & press only to get maced by police. I guess thats ok. #Ferguson pic.twitter.com/zVf6dOxyHw

— dieter (@ThaDietz_) August 20, 2014

Besiktas fans. Istanbul, Turkey pic.twitter.com/mL6pEhB0hg

— Rocket RacCOON (@G_Coppo) August 19, 2014

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Bet you didn’t know this about #Ferguson #HandsUpDontShoot pic.twitter.com/33jTZ2Ejco

— Wolf PAC (@WolfPAChq) August 19, 2014

Defense donations favored congressmen who back militarized police http://t.co/zyYmtsSVpa @9870513 @WolfPAChq

— Impact Democracy (@ImpactDemocracy) August 19, 2014

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“I Love This Country; I Wish That My Country Loved Me.”

Anchor on @CNN wondering aloud why police aren’t using water cannons in #Ferguson. Co-anchor not impressed pic.twitter.com/umNswiID4e

— Steve Kaschinske (@Kaschman14) August 19, 2014

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CEB

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The great irony of the USA; we will go far abroad to protect the rights of selected persecuted minorities, we will speak about fair elections, we will condemn others for their failures in human rights, while in our own country we have long been guilty of these sins ourselves. The leaders and citizens of other countries are well aware of this hypocrisy. When they sit across negotiating tables they will have as ammunition the long voting lines and all of the moves to hinder and deny the right to vote, the many tales of members of an oppressed minority gunned down in the streets, unarmed, peacefully protesting citizens being persecuted by heavily armed police (so much for our much-vaunted constitutional rights), a national media, financed and controlled by a small group of wealthy white men, and a white majority that hates and does all that it can to marginalize and destroy a small minority (that is still less than 13% of the overall population).

CNN’s supposed to be airing The 60s. White anchor wonders why #FergusonPD isn’t using water cannons. Let that sink in pic.twitter.com/MuWXFluRT8

— Nerdy Wonka (@NerdyWonka) August 19, 2014

What can we dare to say to others when we have not cleaned up our own house, when we are guilty of the same crimes that we dare to take other countries to task? It is more than time that we truly take up all of our country’s ills and make a final push to cure them. For far too long, the sores have been covered with band aids, but it is so easy to pull them off and to see the infection underneath. When Buddhist monks, Amnesty International, and the war-torn and savaged Palestinans are compelled to reach out to help American citizens who are being persecuted from all sides, shows just how bad our unresolved racial issues are. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I love this country; I wish that my country loved me.

OMG the look on this guy’s face when the white lady suggested using water cannons on the #Ferguson protesters: pic.twitter.com/cV1KMkcZZp

— NickBaumann (@NickBaumann) August 19, 2014

media matters … not so much

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game-wrecker

NPR, 2006

Thank you globalcitizenlinda!

in memory

Mariane Pearl holds up Adam Daniel Pearl’s arms after US President Barack Obama signed the Freedom of the Press Act in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, May 17, 2010. Mariane and Adam are the wife and son of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. The law expands efforts to identify countries where press freedom is being violated.