The assumption that there is no real difference among black people is exactly what racism is. Our differences, our right to our individuality, is what makes us human. The point of racism is to rob black people of that right. It would be no different than me assuming that Rachel Weisz must necessarily have something to say about black-Jewish relations, or me assuming that Paisley must know something about barbecue because he’s Southern.
It is no different than the only black kid in class being asked to explain “race” to white people, or asking the same question of the sole black dude in your office. The entire fight is to get white people to respect the fact that Mos Def holding a microphone is not LL Cool J holding a microphone, that Trayvon Martin is not De’Marquise Elkins, that wearing a hoodie and being black does not make you the same as every other person wearing a hoodie and being black.
"— Ta-Nehisi Coates on why “Accidental Racism” is actually just racist.
![The Perfect Thanksgiving Music, Sung by One Human … and 300 Turkeys
I don’t want to get into semiotics of the annual turkey pardon (Justin E.H. Smith, a philsopher at Montreal’s Concordia University, did that much better last year anyway), but let me suggest that there are better ways of humanizing turkeys than incorporating them into our criminal-justice system (not known for its humanizing effects). There’s even a better — a more festive, convivial — way to humanize them while still celebrating Thanksgiving with them.
That way, of course, is singing with them. Singing with turkeys.
Click to listen. [Image: Reuters]](http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdujods4wf1qcokc4o1_1280.jpg)
