Montage: 18 Things that Became Racist in 2015

Mark 2015 as another big year for anti-racism activists. The year may not be remembered for major breakthroughs on race relations, but it was another year when the pool of possible racial infractions expanded considerably. 

Here are 18 new examples we found in our archives:

1. The Oscars (Critics contended an insufficient number of Academy Awards went to black nominees) 
2. Brunch (For some reason #BlackLivesMatter activists descended on various NYC eateries during Sunday brunch to protest)
3. The demolition of Candlestick Park (local activists said the debris would negatively impact the “environmental justice” of local minority communities)
4. Marijuana laws (Tommy Chong said they’ve always been racist)
5. Emojis (a kerfuffle erupted over the lack of darker shaded emojis)
6. Chip Kelly’s coaching (the recently fired Eagles head coach was accused of trading black players)
7. The speed of Loretta Lynch’s confirmation (several black politicians said Republicans were letting racial prejudice get in the way of her confirmation)
8. March Madness (It was argued the NCAA’s decision not to pay players equates to “the organized theft of black wealth”)
9. U.S. policing — as viewed from South Africa (newly minted Daily Show host Trevor Noah said on his first appearance that his homeland was far better on race relations)
10. The word “thug” (many commentators argued it was being used as racist code language after the Baltimore riots)
11. Various people First Lady Michelle Obama said treated her and her husband differently on account of their race
12. Americans’ DNA (President Obama said racism is something that’s “passed on” through Americans’ “DNA” and that “we’re not cured of it.”
13. Scott Walker (Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wisc.) accused the governor of “tightening the noose” around blacks)
14. Employers (Obama said black women earn 30 fewer cents than every dollar a white man earns)
15. The unpopularity of socialism (A panel on Melissa Harris-Perry’s MSNBC show said racism explains why more aren’t socialists)
16. Clock boy’s school officials (Ahmed Mohamed said his skin color is why he was detained over his bomb-resembling device)
17. Supreme Court justices asking questions (Sen. Harry Reid, amongst others, called Justice Antonin Scalia racist for asking whether racial preferences in college admissions were a net positive or net negative). 
18. Trump fans.

From last year: '43 Things that Were Racist in 2014' 

Editor’s Note: This post can be reprinted in full, if credit is given to Grabien.