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They Swear It’s Better. It Ain’t.
Fewer Americans believe racism exists, but the data says otherwise. So what’s driving the disconnect, and who benefits from the denial?
Dale Harris
August 05, 2025
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"She has things that she needs to work on for herself, of course. So do I, so do you, so does everybody," said Christian Coleman, addressing the recent domestic violence incident involving his girlfriend Sha’Carri Richardson.
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Good morning, BFA Fam! Reparations in New York are gaining traction. Community momentum is growing, public support is rising, and groups like the BLIS Collective are pushing for real policy change rooted in justice, healing, and repair. Any hope they can be succesful?
MAIN STORY
🔥 Data vs. Denial: Why Fewer Americans Believe in Discrimination; Despite the Evidence
⚡ THE SPARK
“I don’t really think racism is that big of a problem anymore.”
That’s the kind of sentence you hear more often now, from cable news pundits, from coworkers, even from some Black folks who just want to believe things are getting better. And the latest AP-NORC poll backs it up: Only 45% of Americans think Black people face "a great deal" or "quite a bit" of discrimination, down from 60% just four years ago.
But here’s the catch: the discrimination didn’t disappear. The belief in it did.
We’ve got fewer people acknowledging racism… while the system continues quietly doing what it was designed to do.
🧠 THE LAYER BELOW
DEI programs are being dismantled while people claim they were never needed to begin with.
“DEI hire” has become a new slur, used to delegitimize Black talent instead of dismantling bias.
A third of Americans now believe DEI increases discrimination… against white people.
The decline in perceived racism mirrors the backlash to George Floyd-era activism.
Discrimination isn’t always loud or obvious. It’s in the loan you didn’t get, the interview you didn’t land, the safety you don’t feel.
Some Black people are even starting to question if DEI helps, without asking who made it harder.
Progress doesn’t look like people saying racism is over. It looks like racism having fewer places to hide.
🎯 THE REAL QUESTION
Why do we dismiss evidence of discrimination when the data, and lived experiences, prove it’s still here?
🔮 WHAT’S NEXT
The numbers don’t budge: discrimination shapes jobs, homes, and health for Black Americans, yet denial is winning. We can’t let toxic narratives, like “DEI is reverse racism”, drown out reality. The fight isn’t over; it’s evolving. Embrace the data, listen to the stories, and call out the systems, not the solutions like DEI, that keep inequity alive. Progress isn’t a quota; it’s a promise we’re still owed. Let’s stop pretending the work is done. Truth doesn’t fade, even when we’re tired of it.
CAST YOUR VOTE
Why do you think fewer people believe racism is still a major problem? |
87.8% of you voted ‘Cool, now where’s the Black-owned land’ in last week’s poll: Whites-only town in 2025. Your response?
“We can build as well we been doing it from beginning of time so what can stop us from doing even better now, as long as thay don’t think we are going to be there slave all good knock your self out ,what is that saying tings and time change, ”
“We must also remain vigilant, because those individuals lack the tools and mindset necessary to build thriving communities. Despite generations of lacking access to essential resources—education, opportunity, safety, you name it—we’ve continued to create, substitute, and collaborate to build strong communities. Yet, they persist in refusing to leave us in peace.”
“If our ancestors had thriving communities back in the day; we can do it now and even better. ”
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TRENDING
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THE FLIP SIDE
🚨 Stephen A. Smith Fires Back at Michelle Obama After She Calls ESPN the 'Real Housewives of Sports'. Michelle Obama threw major shade at Stephen A. Smith on her podcast, comparing ESPN to Real Housewives of Atlanta and saying he's just another reality drama king. Smith clapped back, saying her past political comments offended him deeply, especially her Trump voting remark, and defended sports as real competition, not staged drama. While he said he'd never diss her publicly, his passionate response made one thing clear: he's not letting the First Lady's hot take slide quietly. (Yahoo Sports)
📱 Apple’s Foldable MacBook-iPad Hybrid Delayed, But iPhone 18 Fold Still on Track for 2026. Apple’s big foldable dreams just hit a speed bump. While the highly anticipated iPhone 18 Fold is still on track for a 2026 release, the larger foldable, rumored to be a MacBook-iPad hybrid, is reportedly delayed to 2027 or later. Conflicting leaks call it everything from a 19-inch iPad to a touchscreen Mac. One thing’s clear: Apple’s cooking up something wild, but we’ll be waiting a bit longer to see it unfold… literally. (Mac Rumors)
😷 Detroit Chokes on Smoke, Now One of the Most Polluted Cities on Earth. Detroit just ranked third in the world for worst air quality, beating out cities like Kolkata, thanks to wildfire smoke drifting in from Canada. With a shocking Air Index score of 155, the air is officially "unhealthy" for everyone. Officials are urging residents to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activity as toxic PM2.5 levels soar. The Motor City joins Toronto and Kinshasa at the top of the global pollution list, turning America's car capital into a haze-filled danger zone. (Newsweek)
🚷 Trump Says Diddy’s Past Trash Talk Makes a Pardon “More Difficult”. Trump just threw shade at former friend Diddy, saying a pardon isn’t off the table, but it’s complicated. Despite calling the convicted mogul “sort of half-innocent,” Trump told Newsmax that Diddy’s old comments, like saying Trump should be “banished”, make clemency harder to justify. The two once partied like bros, but now Diddy’s facing up to 20 years for transporting sex workers. Trump’s message? Loyalty matters when you're hoping for a get-out-of-jail-free card. (The Guardian)
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ARTIST SPOTLIGHT
Highest 2 Lowest | Official Trailer HD
A$AP Rocky stars in the trailer for "Highest 2 Lowest," Spike Lee's reimagining of Kurosawa's "High and Low," set in New York's music industry. The crime thriller, featuring Denzel Washington and others, is produced by A24 and Apple. It releases in theaters on August 15 and streams on Apple TV+ from September 5, with Rocky curating the soundtrack.
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