How do you heal a nation?

We often discuss injustice in the criminal justice system in relation to racial issues so I think some of you may enjoy dedicating 1h40m to watching 13th on Netflix. It's a very slick production but obviously limited by its purpose, by its discourse, by the preferences of its most likely audience and by the format. There's no good way to tell a messy century-long story in detail in so short a time. At the same time, I don't know what kind of additional information or contextualization or rephrasing would be able to make the stories it touches on any less fucked up or inspire any feelings other than sadness and anger.

I was especially saddened by the story of Kalief Browder, but every act and all the stories--and esp. the video footage from way way back were--at the very least, moving. I was surprised to see Newt Gingrich of all people get so much time before the camera. The segment on ALEC was bizarre and the gag-inducing skinwalker representing them in the documentary was, honestly, the creepiest person I've seen on film in a very long time.

I think it's good to be reminded of all this stuff every now and then and to have it presented as a skilfully edited and conveniently packaged exposé. I'm a youngish man living in Scandinavia who discusses these issues as a pastime, sporadically, and usually with a fairly narrow scope determined by the specific events being discussed. But for many people the examples of injustice we discuss for our enjoyment are part of a long and painful story that have shaped their lives and their identities in very real ways. Some robots may be of the opinion that nothing of value can be gained from telling an emotion-laden "one-sided" story about how black people's relationship with the criminal justice system came to be what it is today. I think that, on the contrary, it can help people understand the problem--and each other--just a little bit better. If nothing else, we can get some more context, see things through lenses other than the ones we usually use.

But, even though I believe that, I've gotta admit I'm stumped. I can't understand why the US hasn't already been consumed by a white hot fire of rage, why social order hasn't completely collapsed and certainly not how these wounds can ever be healed.

What do you think? What are the most important measures that need to be taken in order to really begin healing the rift between black and white Americans?