I have never met an African-American person who has ever worn their state of residence on their sleeve as a matter of political identity.

It’s not been successfully driven into us that the state one lives in can’t and shouldn’t adopt ideas and cultures and laws from other states.

It’s not been driven into us that borders between states should be so strict as they are.

It’s not been driven into us that states are countries unto themselves and can’t possibly be challenged on the merits of their governments’ actions by the national government.

It’s not been driven into us that federalism is, in any sense, a worthwhile method of governance.

I don’t think African-Americans will completely buy into the ideology of federalism, not when states and their governments give us so much unnecessary grief over our civil rights.

I’d like for someone to at least try to step into our shoes and convince people like me that federalism benefits Black people in this country, when it has failed so many states’ governments and their residents of all ethnicities.