There's an old 60's analogy attributed to Fritz Pearls: you can touch the menu; you can read the menu; you can lick the menu; you can eat the menu. But you didn't each the meal. That is, let's not confuse the model of experience with experience.
Extending that analogy I cannot argue that my life experience is similar, equivalent, or exchangeable with African Americans because I haven't lived their experience under, say, American police. Still I am concerned that if this analogy is taken too far, there will arise an insuperable gap that will work against binding each party into the whole we seek or ought to be seeking.
Our -- or THE - American Constitution sets forth equality among us all regardless of creed, color, sex, or religion, but when some of us go to the restaurant we aren't served or, worse, there's no food and no kitchen for us. America is not living up to the goal despite having fine goals. I recall Cornel West saying civil rights was due not because the Blacks wanted a piece of the pie -- a backhanded reference to government handouts for undeserving people -- but because preferential treatment based on color was never part of the deal. There's no white guilt at play here anymore than there's handouts going on.
So, let's be clear: violating civil rights is morally, ethically wrong. And all the more when it's perpetrated by sections of society that have greater power, money, and institutional agency. And all the more when cops are supposed to hold the line on justice. Justice is the good line: if you're on the wrong side, you should have to pay in the criminal or civil penalty. And if you're on the right side then all to the good. Either way, then, there's no room to take offense.
As I understand it the cop with the knee on the throat of a handcuffed black man was finally charged. Well, big deal: it took them long enough to get to the stunningly obvious. I am hoping the FED charges will follow. And then civil charges. There's also the issue of the other officers on the scene and whatever games were played by the DA and its affiliates.
Hackernews is primarily about technology, tech corporations, and business. However, let's over master the lesson so that we realize the ultimate money lesson with plenty of banked savings to boot: money is not the measurement of all things. We can and must insist there's equality under the law for each and everyone of us. Let's all work to make sure there's enforceable norms which is also, beyond income, an important piece of security for us and our families.
I have kids; I know why their skin color is like mine. They had no choice in the matter. And for those parents, sisters, or brothers of African Americans who fell into this society, we cannot be using and abusing and violating their rights. Standing by in a dismissive stance --- a Canadian guy who works as a FTE at my/our American company said we Americans need to get our ____ together like it wasn't his problem too --- is not help.
Maybe I cannot eat the menu. But I am not helpless, nor am I apart from this problem. I also have agency. Let's not lost in silos here.