Presidential candidate Sen/ Tim Scott (R-SC) has an optimistic vision for America that sets him apart from GOP frontrunner Donald Trump, who paints America as a “nation in decline.” Scott calls the 2024 election a choice between candidates preaching “grievance or greatness.” The only Black Republican in the Senate, Scott is even hopeful on the divisive topic of race, calling America a “land of opportunity and not a land of oppression.”
Straight Arrow News contributor Ruben Navarrette finds parts of Scott’s message refreshing but worries he’s allowing white voters to gloss over America’s history of discrimination.
What I don’t like is Scott’s candidacy presents itself as some sort of magic elixir that acts as a remedy for white guilt. He is much too quick to let white folks off the hook for keeping their boot on the neck of Black folks, and Brown folks too, for that matter — or at least, benefiting quietly from the subjugation of others.
In his speech, Scott mentioned his grandfather, who he said advised him that a man could be bitter or better, but not both. Scott said, “Today I’m living proof that America is a land of opportunity and not a land of oppression.” Amen. Amen. The mostly white crowd ate it up, exploding with applause and approval. He was telling them exactly what they wanted to hear from this Black man running for president. Basically: no harm, no foul, bygones, we’re good.
Scott continued, “This isn’t just my story. It’s all of our stories. The circumstances and the situations may be different. The details may change. But every one of us is here because of the American journey. There were obstacles that became opportunities and our pain revealed our purpose.”
That’s all well and good. But riddle me this. What exactly is the purpose of Scott’s long-shot White House bid? Is it about a Black American seizing the opportunity to make America better? Or is it about making white people feel better about the centuries they spent denying opportunities to Black Americans?
