I don't think we are disagreeing with the core point of my response. Your focus seems to be on my characterization of Malcolm X, which you claim changed after his returned from his trip to Mecca.

You could well be right about that. I am less familiar since it was such a brief period from his return to his assassination, that most people, myself included never heard much about his changed views and only that he had left the NOI and was assassinated.

Instead people of my generation are largely familiar with his speeches prior to his trip to Mecca as those speeches were the ones that dominated the media cycle back then.

I am glad to hear that Malcolm X experienced a dramatic change and I wish more people were exposed to the fact that he rejected his earlier beliefs that came from his association with the NOI. It would add further support to the basic argument I am making.

But the point of this thread was racism vs systemic racism. My point remains the same, racism will always exist as a form of tribalism. It is a sad reality and one we as Americans should reject... but to do that we need to "identify as Americans and not as something "less" based on race.

Systemic racism is something that can be confronted. But I reject that the way to combat racism is with politically correct systemic racism.

To me you can't combat racism with politically correct racism... when you try to use politically correct system racism to combat racism you institutionalize racism.

I went on to point out that to me "identity politics" is a form of politically correct systemic racism. Likewise, racially based power sharing or affirmative action or reparations promote systemic racism... and ultimately lead to power struggles with race as a key component in choosing up sides... not a good thing.

Instead we must strive to choose on character and skills. As an executive, who ran large companies, I found that choosing on character and skills tends to produce diversity since no identity group has a monopoly on virtue or intelligence.

We need to begin to teach children that every American child should identify with the virtues of George Washington and Martin Luther King, Jr. No need to shelter them from the foibles of our great leaders in the past, but highlight the virtues that made them great nonetheless.

I can reject Washington's status as a slave owner, but admire his leadership as America's first President and impact on our evolution as one of the first modern democracies in the world that created a Bill of Rights for its citizens. I can likewise admire MLK's contribution of helping to fulfill the promise in the phrase... "All men are created equal". Both of those men are part of my inheritance as an American citizen.

Anyway, I appreciate your response as I did not know that about Malcolm X until you brought it up. I did not study the man but rather experienced him growing up through the media at the time. It is good to know he ultimately rejected the ideology is that poisoning our country today.