Racially Sensitive or Politically Correct?

It appears to me as people strive to be more racially sensitive they are instead becoming more politically correct.

A couple of weeks ago, when Montrose was the site of a predominantly peaceful BLM protest, a couple of kids pulled into the shopping park area and were stopped by the cops. The car’s tags were expired and it turns out that the driver’s license was also expired. The car was impounded.

What caused a major brouhaha was that the young men were Black.

CV Weekly had a reporter on the scene who was asked by some nearby people if the young men were arrested because they were looters (this was when looting occurred at some other protests). In addition to explaining why the young men were stopped and that they were not arrested, CV Weekly also posted the incident (along with information and photos of the protest) on social media, following our existing editorial protocols. This was in an effort to quell the rumors that Montrose was being looted – which were starting to make the rounds.

This action ignited the fury of those who felt it appropriate to call our office and, in addition to calling our office manager “stupid,” called me “racist,” “anti-Black,” “privileged” and “entitled.” One woman who called up started in on me but did give me the chance to explain the reasoning behind the post. When I told her why I made the decision I did, she said she understood.

Another man who called had no interest whatsoever in learning why the decision was made. He was instead focused on the goal of his call: tell me I was privileged.

While it is being touted that “silence is not an option,” have no misunderstanding: silence is not an option – as long as the opinion given and information shared falls in line with the loudest voices among the masses.

Political correctness has generated fear within some people who even dare to consider reporting a concern for their own safety. For example, I have a friend who ordered food from a local takeout spot. There was a man who approached her vehicle, mumbling to himself and circling her car menacingly. The owner of the establishment had to come out and escort her inside. My friend asked if the man was there all day; the owner said he was. But neither called the police to report him. Why? He’s Black and they were afraid of social backlash.

If the goal of our society is to be truly equal in how it treats its citizens shouldn’t all be held to the same standard?

  robin goldsworthy