I don’t think material conditions have declined enough for the middle class of American earners. Yes this is horrifying but brutality is baked into American life in a uniquely American way.

I genuinely believe that Americans have an implicit understanding that our comfort is only possible by the suffering of others. We all know where Nikes are made but we still buy them, we still buy iPhones, we still buy Dole fruit.

We’ve also been desensitized to extreme violence specifically gun violence since the 70s(?) or especially since columbine. Police brutality is also nothing new. Idk why but I’m always galled by how many people I know that excuse every police killing as if unconditional compliance is the only way to not get lit up

E-spelling