zlacker

Europe has a huge leg up on this problem due a variety of factors. One of which is relatively homogeneous population, which has historically made it easier to make decisions, approve/fund social programs and also not treat fellow citizens as "the others". Ethnicity and citizenship are closely linked.

The US has always had this exclusionary divided culture due to its diversity and racism. It makes it hard to fix some of the larger issues that exist, since much of the debate is framed as "us vs them".

You can see similar issues in countries like Malaysia, where the parties are mostly split on ethnic lines.

This isn't excusing this behavior at all. Just context.

>>jorblu+(OP)
And the Roma have never had a problem with systemic racism?

>>kevin_+89
Or, for another blatant example, the way the Irish were long treated as subhuman by English overlords.

>>kevin_+89
On the level of black Americans? Probably not, no. Literal slavery is not the same level of oppression as discrimination.

>>kevin_+89
Actually, I think that sort of reinforces the point: Europeans don't really treat their minorities better than their Americans, but their minorities are more, well, minor, so the problems are much more invisible. The "undesirable" minorities in the US (i.e., blacks and Hispanics) make up about ⅓ of the population, while corresponding "undesirable" minorities in European countries tend to be around the 10% range.

>>jorblu+4f
> On the level of black Americans? Probably not, no

Roma were literally being sent to death camps to be exterminated throughout much of Europe 75 years ago.