, Columnist
Racism Probably Is Getting Worse. (I Hope I'm Wrong.)
There's a more optimistic explanation for an uptick in ethnic violence since the election. Cross your fingers.
Sign of the times.
Photographer: Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign often targeted blacks, Latinos and Muslims for criticism. Sometimes the rhetoric sounded racist or meant to appeal to the racism of others. Does that mean ethnic and religious prejudices are rising in the U.S.? Let’s start with the pessimistic answer.
Following the election, the number of racial incidents and attacks seems to have risen. The Southern Poverty Law Center recorded over 200 reported incidents of harassment and intimidation for the remainder of the week after Tuesday. Before the election, anti-Semitic tweets were becoming more common and more aggressive.