On the face of it, the statement “Bitcoin can reduce racism” seems absurd, if not downright insulting to those who have been victims of racism. And it suggests that an open source protocol, completely indifferent to the demands of human emotions, can have any effect on reducing racism, which is one of the worst expressions of human emotions.
I get that (as much as I can as a white man), but I followed for a while. While Bitcoin itself may not be able to reduce racism, what about the concept of being a “Bitcoiner”? Can identifying as a Bitcoiner reduce discrimination?
The work of Harvard political science professor Robert Putnam suggests this may be the case.
When Putnam began writing his now best-selling book Bowling Alone: ​​The Fall and Renewal of American Societyhe intended to prove the point that diversity is inherently good.
However, his research showed otherwise.
The data showed that diversity harms public health, as it can lead to mistrust between different ethnic and racial groups. Putnam explained that people are organized by in-group and out-group biases, which make us favor those we associate with and remain wary of those we disagree with.
His research revealed that it is not until we find that we have something in common with someone beyond our race, nationality or gender that we begin to associate them with our group and that once we find that we have something in common, diversity becomes strength. That could be anything from belonging to the same religion to playing on the same softball team to liking the same music.
So, what are the implications of this for people who identify as Bitcoiners? Can being a Bitcoiner help people ignore the racial divide?
Although the answer to this question varies on a case-by-case basis, it’s hard to imagine that it won’t have some impact. After all, Bitcoiners have aligned incentives, right?
We are all working towards hyperbitcoinization, or, at least, we share the same values: faith in hard money, belief in the right to make money without permission, belief in the right to financial autonomy.
Knowing that we have these things in common creates a bond between us, and helps us trust each other more. The more we trust each other, the more ready we are to work together. And it is in cooperation with each other that diversity becomes strength.
This is not to say that some who identify as Bitcoiners do not still have racist tendencies. But there’s something to be said for the idea that what unites us is stronger than what divides us, and if you look at the idea of ​​being a Bitcoiner through that lens, it’s hard to deny that the organization won’t have it. some impact on reducing discrimination.
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