"[A] substantial majority of white Americans are greatly out of touch with social reality when it..."

“[A] substantial majority of white Americans are greatly out of touch with social reality when it comes to estimations of the difficult health care and economic conditions faced by African Americans. These whites are either ignorant of these disparate and discriminatory conditions or are unwilling to fully acknowledge that they exist. Thus, it is not just African Americans who are paying a price for continuing racism in the United States. Today, one might argue that the majority of white Americans are mentally unhealthy because they deny easily ascertainable social realities probably because they are conforming and lacking in introspection when it comes to their racial attitudes and views.

Also, for many of these whites, it would likely be too disruptive of their self-concepts to accept the fact that they live in a very unfair and non-meritocratic society. If these whites admitted to themselves that significant black disadvantages existed, then, conversely, they would have to acknowledge that significant white privileges also exist. If they accepted the hard reality of continuing racism, then they would have to question to what extent their successes result from their own efforts and to what extent their successes are linked to racial obstacles that confront Americans of color. Denial of the continuing racial discrimination and its negative impact allows many whites to keep their own self-conceptions intact, as well as their belief in a meritocratic society.”

- Joe Feagin (via wretchedoftheearth)