MSNBC: Prof. Copeland’s Racial Justice Expertise Cited in Op-ed On Racism Denial
In a recent op-ed for MSNBC, Noor Noman cited Prof. Phillipe Copeland from BU School of Social Work to explain the implications of comedian Hasan Minhaj’s untrue autobiographical jokes. The writer explains that racism deniers are emboldened by celebrities who lie about their experiences with racism, which can, in turn, hurt people of color.
Excerpt from “How Hasan Minhaj’s Fabrications Could Help White Supremacy” by Noor Noman:
Phillipe Copeland, clinical assistant professor at Boston University’s School of Social Work, explored this phenomenon of racism denialism in a Boston Globe op-ed in January titled, ‘The art of the denial: How racism deniers obscure the reality of racism, minimizing its significance.’
‘Racism denial is a political strategy,’ he writes. ‘Its proponents know they benefit from racism and want to perpetuate it. They attempt to convince people racism is no longer an issue or is not a big enough one to require attention.’
Copeland added that it is also a coping mechanism for ‘the contradiction of living in a society that preaches equality, freedom, and democracy but often practices the opposite.’
In lying about his experiences of racism, Minhaj is, at best, supporting a deeply pernicious collective coping mechanism. At worst, he is emboldening the political strategy of the right — either of which makes it harder for people of color to be believed and humanized.”