How My Mom Overcame Her Prejudice | Talking Politics With Mom | Episode 10

In the very first episode of this show - we examined the source of my mom's conservative ideology - which largely came from red-scare propaganda about how secret communists were plotting to destroy America... But it was clear in that discussion that my mom had also internalized many of the lies sold to her about race.

Since that first episode - my mom has reflected on those beliefs, and she has asked herself some difficult questions about why she held onto those beliefs for as long as she did.

The truth is that racial prejudice, bigotry, and racism - whatever you want to call it - particularly among individuals, is more complex than we sometimes acknowledge. As a nation, we adopt a certain set of values and ideals that are hard to shake... particularly around the meritocracy. And we are also denied the uncomfortable reality of our history of discrimination, coupled with the denial of the important role of government action on advantaging certain groups, while denying opportunity for others.

But ultimately - my mom changed her perspective - and this video documents that transformation.