Calvin: I felt disgust watching a human life being taken but no, I wasn’t embarrassed by it personally because I had nothing to do with it.
Nova: Right. But if it were a black cop who killed him, I’d feel embarrassed personally. I'd feel shame.
Courtney: But why, you didn’t do it?
Nova: Every black person’s actions are seen as a collective endeavor; every action besides success, of course. Every bad thing that one of us may experience or cause reflects on all of us in the eyes of American society. One robbery, they are inherently criminal. One drug deal, they inherently lack restraint. One person does something trifle on the job, they all lack discipline.
Courtney: I see what you mean. It’s like black people have a collective conscience in the eyes of white America.