Can You Be a Self-actualized Racist?

Some say I overuse the word "self-actualization."

Someone tells a story that ends with a question about why the person in the story said or did or thought something that perhaps they shouldn't have said or done or thought.

Storyteller: Why do you think they did that?

Me: Maybe they're not self-actualized.

Cue eye rolls, groans, and "Will you stop saying that?"

I probably do overuse it.

But maybe not.

As I watch and listen to and read about people who are clinging to racist views – some more subtly, some more aggressively – I wonder why they are so threatened by racial equity and justice.

I'm not naive of course. I know that fear and ignorance and politics and hatred and upbringing and media and White supremacy and indifference and apathy and shame and confusion and misguidedness and misrepresentation and laws and power and privilege and intolerance and bigotry and narrow-mindedness and provincialism and. . .are all contributing factors.

And, I keep coming back to self-actualization.

Can you be a self-actualized racist? Can "I'm a racist" really be your highest personal manifestation?

Seems unlikely. Seems like self-reflection and curiosity and compassion are all missing.

I don't know. Maybe I'm not fully self-actualized either.

I guess I'll keep working on it.