But no one has the right to pay them less than "normal" people for equal work, or to forbid them the use of public accommodations, or any of the other issues that today affect blacks, Latinos, Muslims, women, LGBTs, and other minorities.

But as much as I bitch about this issue, I also believe the US can be extremely proud of how it has grappled with these problems in the last few decades. Sure, much work remains to be done, but what has happened just in my lifetime has been phenomenal. The Europeans used to be so holier-than-thou towards us in these matters, but we have left them in the dust. We have a black President. And we have Janet Mock.