One simple definition of racism is when someone treats someone else badly, unfairly or cruelly because they are of a different race.
Do you know Ricky Jones? He's the (former) chair of the U of L Department of Pan-African Studies. He's a very smart man with a great deal of influence. Ricky is also a guy who seems to see everything in terms of race.
So why am I introducing you to him? Ricky Jones is a strong advocate for DEI. There are some state legislators who don't share his views on DEI, so, last week, he called them all white supremacists. He doesn't know what's in their hearts. He just knows they don't agree with him so he called them names. I can't think of a more offensive thing you can call a white person and I'm disappointed that Ricky would accelerate his rhetoric to such hateful and hurtful extremes.
His vitriolic speech is not only racist itself, and deeply offensive, but divisive.
A more effective path might be for him to lead people to his position through civil conversation, persuasion and education rather than trying to bully them into being terrified of disagreeing with him.
I hope he isn't educating his students to hate and divide and to shout down any opinions with which they don't agree. Please don't let that be too much to hope for.
Let us know what you think.
I'm Bill Lamb, and that's my Point of View.
