Eugene Robinson’s column (Americans must go beyond speeches
and symbols to end racism) was a breath of fresh air in response to the brutal
murders in Charlestown .
The problem of racism goes far beyond the individual acts of
hatred and the existence of hate groups. It can be found in a system of segregated
and unequal schools, which fail to meet the needs of minority students. It is
present in the school-to-prison pipeline, which funnels African-American youth
into a prison system, where young black males make up a majority of those
serving time for non-violent crimes.
It can be seen in racial profiling by the police and in
legal discrimination (in employment, housing, voting, etc.) against those who
have served time in prison (again, mostly minorities). It can be found in the
extreme inequality of wealth; median wealth of whites is about 8 times that of
blacks.
Racism is a system of oppression, which has deep roots in
our society. It had its origins in slavery and was resurrected after the Civil
War as Jim Crow segregation. The Civil Rights Movement broke down some of the
barriers of Jim Crow, but since 1968 we have seen the erosion of these limited
gains and in some cases, particularly mass incarceration of young black men,
new and more sinister forms of oppression.
Yes, take down the Confederate flags and change the names of
parks and streets which honor those who defended slavery and Jim Crow. But if
we are really committed to end racism, we must dismantle the entire system that
continues the oppression of people of color.
George Vlasits, 6/24/15
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