Racial segregation, as a consequence of slavery, has created an institutionalized system of oppression, inequality, and injustice that persists today in the form of economic, legal, educational, health, and social disadvantages for black Americans in the United States (O, Connell, 2012: Shapiro 2004; Constance-Higgins, 2011). In the U.S., ignorance, also referred to as aversive racism, prevails and many whites lack awareness regarding their oppressive, destructive, and hurtful behaviors (Williams, 2012). The South, and particularly the state of Georgia where I live, is known for its extreme racism, segregation, and continued oppression of blacks (O’Connell, 2012).
The United States is in desperate need of social change as racism has been institutionalized in the United States; inequality is the norm in order to maintain white privilege and its associated economic advantages (Piven & Cloward, 1993; Delgado & Stefancic, 2012). In 1861, the southern portion of The United States seceded from the North in order to maintain an economic stronghold established by slavery through free black labor (Foner, 2011). Although the United States’ Civil War ended 150 years ago, racial practices and their associated financial benefits for whites have been maintained in the United States and especially in the South (Piven & Cloward, 1993; O’Connell, 2012; Schiller, 2008). Racial Oppression has recently made national news, with the heart-breaking shooting of nine AME congregation members; one of which was black state senator, Rev. Clementa Pickney. Yet again, a racially-driven violent climate exists, where blacks cannot attend church without fear of their own safety. A black political voice was muted permanently leading to further disenfranchisement of blacks in South Carolina. When will it stop being okay for whites to kill innocent blacks? National news also brings light to racial disparities in regard to police engagement. A young black female was assaulted by a white police officer at a pool party. Had this been a white young female, community outrage would have not only stripped the officer of his badge, but also required of him to spend time behind bars. Not to mention the numerous unnecessary killings of young black males at the hands of police enforcement. I ask, when will it stop being okay for law enforcers to target, kill, and discriminate against blacks? A privileged white female adopted a black persona for the past ten years in order to reap economic and sociopolitical advantages. At one point, she even took Howard University to court in order to elevate her own socioeconomic status. This is racism at its worst-she stole financial, educational and employment opportunities from black Americans while pretending to be one of their own. She strategically manipulated the black community to her own benefit and prevented black community members from elevating their own sociopolitical status through pretense. I ask, when will it stop being okay for whites to withhold economic, social, and political opportunities for blacks? I end this post by encouraging critical discourse and action in order to dismantle institutionalized racism and the oppressively hostile environment it creates for blacks. I encourage all people to take a moment of silence to remember the the nine AME congregation members and all blacks that have died at the hands of white racial practices. Let's talk about change right now! References: Constance-Huggins, M. (2011). A review of the racial biases of social welfare policies. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(8), 871-887. doi:10.1080/109113 Delgado, R., & Stefancic, J. (2012). Critical race theory: An introduction. New York : New York University Press. O'Connell, H. A. (2012). The Impact of Slavery on Racial Inequality in Poverty in the Contemporary U.S. South. Social Forces, 90(3), 713-734. Piven, F. F., & Cloward, R. A. (1993). Regulating the poor: The functions of public welfare (Updated ed., 2nd Vintage ed.). New York: Vintage Books. Quadagno, J. S. (1994). The color of welfare : How racism undermined the war on poverty. New York : Oxford University Press, 1994. Schiller, B. (2008). The Economics of poverty and discrimination. Michigan: Pearson Education. Shapiro, T. (2004). The hidden cost of being African American: How wealth perpetuates inequality. New York: Oxford University Press. Williams, G. L. (2012). Embracing racism. Multicultural Education, 20(1), 42-44.
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