I also wish we were more like Denmark.

When you include class in your analysis of the US, the racial disparities become much smaller, and in some cases, disappear entirely. Generational poverty is a problem for people of all races, which is why King supported Basic Income instead of reparations.

As for Obama, racism does not explain why he got more votes from white people than any Democrat in decades. I think you have to look at his neoliberal politics to understand people’s disappointment with him.

An example of what becomes clear when you include class: https://medium.com/a-universalist-in-an-identitarian-age/why-blacklivesmatter-should-be-poorlivesmatter-1facc8646e4c