Is “we’re all in this together” the new “I don’t see color?”

Here she goes, making it about race.

As I watch her speak to a live audience of many millions (14.6 million just on the three major networks and at least 20 million more on YouTube), that’s the first thought that comes to me. It’s not because she’s wrong. It’s because I’m imagining what lots of white people like me are probably thinking: Why does she have to do this now? Aren’t we all in this together?

The “she” is Beyonce, and she is on national television taking part in what is arguably the biggest televised charity event since LiveAid, talking about why Black Americans are disproportionately affected by Covid-19. But it’s not just Queen Bey talking about race during “One World: Together at Home.” It’s Van Jones and Don Lemon on a CNN special, “The Color of Covid.” It’s Oprah, Magic Johnson, Lin Manuel Miranda, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Snoop Dogg on social media and on news programs. The list of Black voices speaking on the topic is long, as long as the list of white voices is short, which is nothing new and still a problem.

I’m willing to bet Beyonce (and every other Black American) is sick and tired of talking about racism (not to mention actually experiencing it) but what choice does she have? Her community is deeply affected. In her hometown of Houston, Texas…