CMV: I'm a Black American and I believe that the claim "Systemic Racism" is a lie perpetuated by the media and those with an agenda to divide America. If you can provide proof of "Systemic Racism" or a logical argument for it, I'll change my view.

\*\*Update 5\*\*: I didn't expect this post to get as many responses as it did. There are a ton of good points, as well as a ton of bad ones. I'll be honest and say that I've been swayed more to the systemic racism side than ever before. After reading every single comment I could, I've discovered that there is a lot of underhanded, subtle racism, micro aggressions, and biases that exist in this culture at large, but a lot of it is perpetuated in many ways by the media as well. It's tough to see because we're stuck in the middle of it, but things are better than they used to be, and by having tough conversations like this post and other forms of dialogue, we can work on creating the world we all want. <br><br>I want to change my view to reflect that I believe in a form of systemic racism, I just don't think it's overt and intentional. I think the biggest obstacle to progress is the goddamn media, and people who refuse to have a productive conversation when they disagree with someone's view.<br><br>\*\*Update 4\*\*: Well, the comments literally keep coming. Over 2000 comments and counting. Thank you all for your contributions and your passion. I've been reading through as many as I can when I have breaks at work. I appreciate all of your perspectives and insights. I'll have to get back to some of you when I have more free time later tonight and in the coming days. There's a lot to process and consider. I'm going to have to do some off line research as well. <br><br>\*\*Update 3\*\*: Right now, I feel like the majority of "proof" of systemic racism that I've seen is anecdotal, and not really systemic at all. I want to try and disentangle racism from correlation without causation. I'm getting a lot of passion on this thread, but not a whole lot of substance. I've been on r/racism_reversal, r/kingcobrajfs, and various other chambers, and I've seen some pretty heinous shit from people from all races. That's not systemic, that's just shitty people. I'm starting to see the media as the biggest perpetuator of this lie and other lies, and the biggest obstacle to us all being equal and working together. I'm going to keep reading, but I'd be lying if I said that my view hadn't already been changed a bit. Not changed in the way that some of you claimed, but changed nonetheless. <br><br>\*\*Update 2\*\*: Wow, this blew up. I wasn't expecting it to get so big. I'm going through all the comments and taking all of your views into consideration. I've got a lot to process, and I'm going to try and get back to some of you as well as I can. <br><br>\*\*Update\*\*: Holy shit! This went up in like 45 minutes! I can't keep up with all these responses atm. I'll do my best to read through all the comments. Thank you all so much for your passion and your willingness to change my view!<br><br>\*\*\* <br><br>Hello all you fine people. I know we're all from different walks of life and have different perspectives, but I hope that we can have a civil discussion about this topic. My view is colored by my personal experiences, which I'm sure is true for most of you as well. I think that this topic is about more than just Black vs White. In reality, it's about everyone vs everyone else. It's about people who want to perpetuate negativity, division, and fear vs those of us who want to understand each other, be friends, and create a better future for everyone. All too often, I see people on both sides of the political aisle, people from all different races, creeds, colors, and identities, and people from all walks of life hating each other and attacking each other for reasons I don't understand. <br><br>I believe that the mainstream media is the major culprit in spreading disinformation and lies that have caused a lot of the problems that we're seeing in the world today. Over the past decade or so, I've noticed that the media seems to be doing everything they can to stoke the flames of division and hatred. Whether it's by highlighting all of the instances of police brutality (which in my opinion should be called street justice and lack of discernment brutality: if you fight the police, or resist arrest, or are violent with them, there's a good chance that they're going to be violent back), calling everyone who doesn't agree with them racist, sexist, homophobic, nihilistic, and every other buzzword under the sun, perpetuating conspiracy theories about the COVID-19 pandemic, or god forbid, just reporting the news and focusing on the issues that really matter, it's to create fear and division. <br><br>The occasional instances of police brutality, lack of discernment, and bad apples aside, I don't think there are racist systems of oppression in place. I think that if there are any racist systems of oppression, they're actually against white people (student loans, Affirmative Action, college admission standards). I don't think that there are any racist laws that are in place (But I'd love for someone to point them out to me if I'm mistaken). I don't think that there is widespread racism. Most importantly, I think that if there is widespread racism, it's perpetuated by the media, in part by the way that they report news, and in part by the fact that they underreport and even totally ignore instances of racism or violence or micro aggressions (or in this case, lack thereof, but that's neither here nor there) committed against white people. <br><br>My evidence for this: I've been all over the country and I've never encountered what one would call "racism." Nobody has treated me any differently because of the color of my skin. I have friends of all different races and we all get along and are amicable. I'm in a relationship with a white woman and her parents love me (they're conservative too). Racism does exist, I'm not disputing that, I just think it is not systemic, but in some rare instances sometimes. <br><br>If you believe that systemic racism is real, and we all know what a big deal it is because the media won't shut up about it, then please show me the evidence. Please make me understand the mechanism by which this "Systemic Racism" works. Is it the president? Is it Congress? Is it the media? Is it the educational system? Where is the wedge being driven that is causing all this division and racism? Is it on both sides? If so, why? <br><br>If you can provide evidence, or even just some solid logic, I'll change my view.<br><br>**Edit:** I want to expand on one thing in addition to what I said in one of my comments. One of the definitions of "Systemic" according to Merriam Webster is "relating to the system". Logically, this would mean that there has to be some sort of framework or a foundation of sorts where this "Systemic Racism" is perpetuated. I'm not saying that you have to diagram the entire system, but we need to be able to identify it somehow if it exists. Otherwise, we're just talking out of our asses.