Republicans and evangelicals think they’re victims and remain unmoved by real discrimination

 This kind of makes sense when you think about the way they consume media and interact with the world at large. Even in suburban environments it's easy to segregate yourself socially into a like minded group, especially if your primary outlet is through church or other religious institutions. Even easier to do so on facebook. 


 So now that we've eliminated personal interaction with dissenting opinions, look at how the issues are being discussed and who is discussing them. Ignoring fox news and it's obvious effects, the means by which they're exposed to discussion of racial tensions is purely disruptive to their routines and, more broadly, their concept of society. Moreover, the signal strength is only strong enough to reach them when its coming from people much wealthier or influential than themselves or the leaders in their communities. 


 Their progressive social and economic peers aren't close enough to them, in physical proximity, demographics, or interests to comfortably open up these discussions, nor is either party eager to do so for fear of causing offense, so conservative whites don't relate to their "equals" in the left.


 They become aware of class subordinates on the other side of the discussion exclusively in the context of their being "criminals". When analyzing the issues proximally, and with the history of socially conditioned racism in the U.S., it's natural, and perfectly obvious to them, to credit that attribution.


 Any class superior who they hear challenging this understanding of race and society is easily discounted as a hopelessly detached academic, or they're a football player, who, in their minds, is wholly unqualified to comment on the issues, and is interjecting a hated topic into one of their most sacred rituals, while being paid for doing so more money than they'll see in a lifetime. 


These people haven't read Kendi, Foner, West, McCullough, or Caro, and they don't particularly want to. Many of the ideas and stories they'd find in those pages would be totally outlandish, absurd having been couched in their patently comfortable understanding of a largely virtuous american history and society. If you want to understand their rancor, alternate chapters between "team of rivals" and "killing lincoln".


 These are people who embrace the concept of the US as a christian nation. Carried to greatness by providence and devotion to the ideals of a the fantastical calvinist Founders. They've never heard of the Ludlow Massacre, or Stonewall riots, or of Debbs and Sinclair. To them, our atrocities are in the past, and not worth further discussion. Bringing them up is like harping on about uncle Mike's drinking problem before he found jesus. No degree of empirical analysis of our successes or failures can sway their opinion, as they'll be twisted by their lens of faith. 


 America is an idea to conservatives, and a history to liberals. They don't know the boring shit, and they're offended by the art and discussion which it inspires. Change itself is an affront to their sensibilities and way of life. They will only begin to change their minds when the voices with which they already empathize change. When their children and grandchildren call more strongly for bravery in the face of progress, and christian love, than their grandparents and parents taught them to disparage those who differ or reject their moral framework, and christian supremecy. 
/r/politics Thread Link - ashingtonpost.com