I’d argue that the response to the crisis among lower class white Americans just demonstrates what “privilege” means. The poor black community faces jobless, drug use, etc. for decades and the national discussion focuses on the problems of the black family, the war on drugs and otherwise getting tough on crime. White people start to face the same problems and suddenly the conversation is all about economic policy failures, evil drug companies, and other external drivers. Maybe an NPR interview or two with JD Vance.

Don’t get me wrong, I think it’s really important to try to address what’s happening in poor white communities. I just also think it’s equally important to finally do the same in poor black and other minority communities. But I cynically predict that somehow the American political system will manage to do the former without the latter.