The Columbian’s choice of editorial cartoon published on May Day, a day meant specifically for the remembrance of past protests of the oppressed, was disgusting in its racial undertones and complete disregard for the root causes that have led to the situation in Baltimore and other cities.
If you can comfortably allow your coddled sensibilities to discredit a movement based on a broken store window and burnt car, while ignoring decades of the violent racism soaked like blood into every aspect of life, doled out by those in power, then you should honestly question what you’re really so upset with — theft of merchandise or the audacity of an ever-marginalized group lashing out at those who live in privilege.
I will extend thanks, however, for the opportunity you gave me, as a Social Studies teacher, to show students perfect examples of media ignorance, bias, racism, dominant perspective, and the willful ignorance so gleefully displayed by those in power when it comes to the lives of the disenfranchised.
Adam Plous
Vancouver
