The shameful legacy of systemic racism and inequality — Class 9
Friends,
Today we deal with one of the oldest and most intransigent sources of inequality — systemic racism — and explore the ways to deal with it.
I’m delighted to be reposting the important lecture of David C. Wilson, Dean of the Goldman School of Public Policy. Dean Wilson’s research on voter identification laws, political rights for felons, sexual harassment, gay marriage, and workplace discrimination could not be more timely and important. His latest book, Racial Resentment in the Political Mind, was recently published by the University of Chicago Press.
The questions to be addressed this week are: How have trends in wealth and income inequalities developed across racial groups? How do we remedy systemic racism? What are some examples? What policies can actually eliminate these gaps? What institutions would have to be created, reformed, or eliminated entirely?
Recommended readings (just click on the link):
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If you’ve missed any classes, no worries. Here are the links for all that I’ve already posted: Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, Class 4, Class 5, Class 6, Class 7, and Class 8. There will be 14 in all.
Please share!
It's a bit surreal to see this class on systematic racism, especially considering just last week, Texas lawmakers passed a series of bills that basically amount to further voter suppression. One of the bills allows the secretary of state, who Abbott appoints, to remove any local election officials for "good cause." These bills combined target "large urban areas," which mainly are intended for Harris county that has a large non-white population and has turned blue in recent years. I think it's sad that when a number of amendments to the Constitution entitle ALL of us to vote, we're still fighting to make that a reality. And when the voices of some of its citizens are so easily silenced, it's no wonder we have inequality and resulting racism.
It's evident society can't deal with everyone being equal, for some reason it seems people need a teared social system in order to feel good about themselves, one in which there exists a level beneath the one they occupy. I call it the blame level, a group that catches all the flack for the negatives experiences by the more fortunate groups. Its a shameful trait that has existed since the beginning of time, and we seem to revel in it.