Buffalo Wild Wings Receipt Gets Racist, Media Misses the Bigger Picture
The Independent reports on Marc Loman, a Black disabled veteran, who allegedly received a Buffalo Wild Wings receipt with the N-word on it, leading to a deserved outcry. The article highlights the profound pain of individual racist acts, especially for anyone who grew up in the Deep South. An individual act of bigotry, no matter how egregious, sparks immediate condemnation and calls for
accountability. Yet, when state-backed systems inflict violence, displacement, and dehumanization on entire populations—often rooted in racial or ethnic superiority—the mainstream media suddenly finds nuance. Where is the same outrage for the documented, institutionalized racism against Palestinians, or the ongoing dehumanization that paves the way for their slaughter? We are rightly horrified by
one racist slur on a piece of paper, but seem to develop collective amnesia when 80-year-old UN resolutions are ignored, or when billions in US tax dollars fund practices that critics argue amount to apartheid. The question isn't whether individual racism is wrong—it unequivocally is. The question is why media outlets like The Independent can shine a spotlight so intensely on a single incident,
yet dim the lights entirely when it comes to the systematic violence and dehumanization of millions, facilitated by global powers. Perhaps a restaurant slip-up is easier to condemn than questioning foreign policy. One might wonder.