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During an interview with The Grio, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pointed out America's structural racism and how its ubiquitous presence has even affected our roads.
Buttigieg noted:
"There is racism physically built into some of our highways."
Shortly thereafter, the conservative organization Young America's Foundation (YAF) sent out a tweet attempting to mock Buttigieg for his comment.
This is not parody. https://t.co/bzbplAnfqO— YAF (@YAF) 1618013041.0
YAF must not have done their research before tweeting, however—many Twitter users were quick to point out Buttigieg was absolutely correct in his comments.
The U.S. has a long and well-documented history of destroying Black homes and splitting up low-income communities with highways in urban areas.
@yaf have you tried reading literally any book on the subject? https://t.co/zs9VmEpCix— sam deutsch (@sam deutsch) 1618093952.0
@yaf I’m begging you to read one book that isn’t Harry Potter— Ari Drennen (@Ari Drennen) 1618111110.0
Even groups like the Libertarian Party of Texas had to cringe at YAF's attempt at humor.
@yaf Google redlining.— Libertarian Party of Texas (@Libertarian Party of Texas) 1618013420.0
@yaf For a bunch of people who love to bleat about America, you sure don't know its history— Kevin Gannon (@Kevin Gannon) 1618095445.0
@yaf I mean the government using highways to demolish black neighborhoods isn’t funny so you’re correct it isn’t— The 🏳️🌈 Tea 📦🏴Synbiont (@The 🏳️🌈 Tea 📦🏴Synbiont) 1618099724.0
Buttigieg made his comments while promoting President Joe Biden's infrastructure plan, which contains funds to address the inequality caused by racist policies like redlining.
@BerkmanOnlyfans @yaf I remember when building freeways was part of "urban renewal", a phrase that also meant "blac… https://t.co/l172jYH62F— Bill Stewart (@Bill Stewart) 1618123496.0
@yaf "We are utterly ignorant of well documented, historical facts." - YAF— Ace-o-aces (@Ace-o-aces) 1618089634.0
@aceoaces @yaf Your sentence would be complete after 4 words. 😉— Becky Wiren (@Becky Wiren) 1618108047.0
YAF probably wasn't expecting to be the butt of the joke after posting their tweet.
@yaf Google "Rondo neighborhood and I-94". You might just learn something. And, as conservatives for freeedom, the… https://t.co/bEO3NPFCy8— Resolve.Action.Love (@Resolve.Action.Love) 1618093162.0
@yaf And it's also not wrong. It's actual history. Also actual history: @YAF was founded by William F. Buckley. B… https://t.co/QfrAG5VXae— Ashton Pittman (@Ashton Pittman) 1618108169.0
@yaf I know you don’t have much to be proud of but surely you could have picked something better than ignorance.— VenmoCrimingHat (@VenmoCrimingHat) 1618102328.0
Racism is an ever-present force in American history and it influenced almost everything, including our highways.
There are highways and interstates deliberately run through Black neighborhoods to destroy them, or to separate the… https://t.co/ZBzIej3tmm— Marlon A. Walker (@Marlon A. Walker) 1618168133.0
@yaf i'm guessing this tweet didn't go over how you thought it would— Dad Jokes Panda (@Dad Jokes Panda) 1618102573.0
Dismantling systemic racism in the United States will be a long, hard process, but acknowledging its presence in our infrastructure is a good first step.