Politicians and commentators love to focus on the differences between the experiences of white people and racial minorities in America.
But when the camera is pulled back, and poor rural white communities are placed side by side with poor urban minority communities, a lot of similarities become apparent.
Of all of the news and entertainment outlets in the country, it was “Saturday Night Live” that nailed this back in 2016 with its election-season “Black Jeopardy” skit. Actor Tom Hanks, in a MAGA hat, finds himself on a panel with cast members Leslie Jones and Sasheer Zamata. Kenan Thompson’s questions as “Jeopardy” host center on issues of marginalization, skepticism of government and blue-collar identity in Black culture, and Hanks’ character — initially dismissed by Kenan and the other two contestants — delivers responses showing just how much they have in common, especially in terms of experiences of disempowerment.
Until the “Black Lives Matter” question appeared to divide them. Exactly as it was designed to do.