protein wisdom reborn!

Share this post

User's avatar
protein wisdom reborn!
Am I Racist?

Am I Racist?

The linguistic origins of a question not worth asking

Jeff Goldstein's avatar
Jeff Goldstein
Sep 12, 2024
∙ Paid
16

Share this post

User's avatar
protein wisdom reborn!
Am I Racist?
1
2
Share

In my Monday column, “Notes from a cluttered mind,” I observed in passing that the question Matt Walsh uses as the title for his new film Am I Racist?, opening in theaters nationwide tomorrow, is one that contemporary culture all but insists we each answer — and yet is a question that in nearly every circumstance need never be asked. The reason for this is simple: racists know they’re racist. They therefore already know the answer to the question. Yes, they’d agree. Racists are in fact racist. And that’s because to be racist is to believe in the innate inferiority of certain races, which — inasmuch as that belief is a prism through which one sees the world — it is both evident to, and acknowledged by, the person harboring that belief. Their racism isn’t a surprise to them. It is in truth a foundational part of the way they view reality.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to protein wisdom reborn! to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Jeff Goldstein
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share