Problem Over-hyped

(janibryson photo)

The violence in Charlottesville last month does not show that America is becoming more racist under Donald Trump, according to The Economist. Racist behaviour is declining in America: [bold added]

Donald Trump’s election victory did not make participants more xenophobic—but it did make those who were already xenophobic more comfortable about expressing their views without the shield of anonymity. The Charlottesville protest matches that result: racists were willing to march in public, but there weren’t very many racists.

Whether or not you believe in unrestricted free speech, dear reader, it is better that you know the racists whom you are dealing with, n'est–ce pas?

More of them are speaking, but there are not more of them.