June 12, 2013
In one of the earlier episodes of ‘Law and Order,’ ADA Paul Robinette delivers one of his memorable lines. “We are past the separate drinking fountain. We are past legal discrimination. We are at the hearts and minds stage. And believe me, there is no quick fix.” In many ways, albeit a bit oversimplified, that dialogue sums up where the popular discussions on race relations are even today. The dialogues on race either focus on how the system itself is discriminatory (the liberal progressive position) or debate the cultural norms that often frame the outlook on the world that typifies inner-city hyper-segregated neighborhoods (the conservative position).
In one of the earlier episodes of ‘Law and Order,’ ADA Paul Robinette delivers one of his memorable lines. “We are past the separate drinking fountain. We are past legal discrimination. We are at the hearts and minds stage. And believe me, there is no quick fix.” In many ways, albeit a bit oversimplified, that dialogue sums up where the popular discussions on race relations are even today.