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But Slavery Ended 160 Years Ago!
Why Slavery Still Matters Today
The argument that African-Americans cannot possibly be at a disadvantage today before slavery ended 160 years ago, is an argument so frequently heard that it needs to be addressed in detail.
As part of a longer discussion I got this response which I believe captures well very common thinking around the plight of African-Americans in America today:
Ashkenazi jews were rounded up in concentration camps, a mere 75 years ago. Now they’re the highest IQ group on the planet. Why does that history of racist oppression not harm their test scores? Japanese Americans were put in internment camps 75 years ago. They’re doing very well in school today. But you say it’s obvious that slavery 160 years ago is the source of black/white test score gaps today. That doesn’t seem obvious to me.
It is a sentiment I frequently see. The idea that “lots of people” have suffered so African-Americans should stop making up excuses for their failure. While the difference is fairly obvious to me, it isn’t to a lot of people. Even highly educated, intelligent people.
So let us try to break it down.
