On the chance that you missed the Oscars (and odds are pretty good you did, as this was the lowest-viewed Oscar telecast in quite a while), it’s still worth taking a moment to read Chris Rock’s scathing opening monologue.

Consider this no-punches-pulled excerpt:

“It’s the 88th Academy Awards. It’s the 88th Academy Awards, which means this whole no black nominees thing has happened at least 71 other times. O.K.?

You gotta figure that it happened in the 50s, in the 60s — you know, in the 60s, one of those years Sidney didn’t put out a movie. I’m sure there were no black nominees some of those years. Say ‘62 or ‘63, and black people did not protest.

Why? Because we had real things to protest at the time, you know? We had real things to protest; you know, we’re too busy being raped and lynched to care about who won best cinematographer.

You know, when your grandmother’s swinging from a tree, it’s really hard to care about best documentary foreign short.”

At a later point, Rock asks, “Is Hollywood racist? You’re damn right Hollywood is racist. But it ain’t that racist that you’ve grown accustomed to. Hollywood is sorority racist. It’s like, ‘We like you Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa.'”

Which, based on my time in that world, rings totally true.

Interestingly, the tech world, which has it’s own issues with lack of diversity, often seems to be racist in the same way. Quietly racist: ‘but it’s a level playing field – it’s a meritocracy; and, look, I have black friends!’ Which, in a world of shootings and #blacklivesmatter, is far easier to ignore.

So, as a really, really white dude (though, look, I have black friends!), I applaud Rock for sticking his neck out last night. It pissed off a slew of people. But it’s a conversation this country badly needs to play out.