I listened to an interview with Smalls. He seemed perfectly intelligent and articulate to me. Demonstrably more than these people or his bosses, who put his coworkers in danger, while he’s trying to protect them.
It’s thus hard not to see attempts to frame him as “not smart” or “ not articulate” as classist and racist dog whistles intended to discredit a courageous man.
Racist dog whistle give me a break. All of this paranoia about hidden racists is just mind blowing. To me it seems as you have a problem with other "races", if you hear "not smart" or "not articulate" and immediately starts thinking of the color of someones skin.
not a term that is scientifically accepted when discussing humans
Referring to the way working class people talk (and especially working class black people) in this way is something the rich and powerful have always done to discredit them. Go read all the blood spilt by right-wing hacks about the “legitimacy” of AAVE, for example.
If you want to be a credulous dupe and think that the richest man in the world and his highly-paid PR team don’t understand this history and context, be my guest.
It’s thus hard not to see attempts to frame him as “not smart” or “ not articulate” as classist and racist dog whistles intended to discredit a courageous man.