Life Is Perception

IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, there are several times more "whites" shot to death by cops than "blacks" in America, and since the number of whites in America is more than several times the number of blacks, blacks are disproportionately gunned down. So, what of it? The rate at which blacks are imprisoned, impoverished, and rejected for jobs is also disproportionate, but again, what of it? Racism, discrimination, and enslavement are worldwide phenomena, but, as Bill O'reilly points out, wrongs cannot be justified merely by pointing to other wrongs. Richard Wright's novel "Native Son", published in 1940, is relevant to today's racial situation. Whether in reality or imagination, the African-american community seems, on the whole, to believe that racism is alive and well in america. Life is perception.