Did you know a drawing of an evergreen tree could be considered racist?

That’s what concerned a Portland, Oregon, school board when debating a new school mascot. An objection was raised over the possibility of using a tree, lest it be seen as a reminder of lynching. If you’ve spent any time on social media or following politics for the last several years, you’ve heard similar racial hyperbole: This image is racist. That person is racist. Standardized tests are racist. This dress is racist cultural appropriation. The Georgia election reform law is Jim Crow 2.0.