Blacks were brought to America for the purpose of slavery to work for the whites. Blacks were used to enrich the whites. Every institution in early America was created for the white people and controlled by the white people. When slavery was abolished, it was replaced with segregation. This is how systemic racism originated in the United States. Systemic racism is exists in the United States and has been present since its creation by a Constitution that promoted racism. The drafters of the Constitution savagely debated the issue of slavery, not addressing the issue of placing other humans in servitude but as an issue of property rights for the white people. This concept has been transmitted and perpetuated since the creation of the United States as a nation.
Systemic racism consists of a variety of racist practices as well unjustified economic and political power, continuing inequalities and ideologies, attitudes and institutions that exist to preserve the power of white people (16). Systemic racism involves the recurring and unequal relationship between the white and black race. The system of racism divides the races between a superior and a subordinate race. It consists of white privilege through wealth and power. The structure of racial class was created and has never been demolished. Societal institutions and policies as well as practices and behavior create and perpetuate racism.
Racial differences in America in socioeconomic status, educational status, occupational status, political power and wealth. Race has been constructed by social processes. Race is not a biological creation but rather a construction by humans typically through culture and the creation of social boundaries. Race is a concept that was not even created until the Eighteenth Century.
Human differences genetically are very minute. Yet, in order to gain and retain the power the European sought to hold in the new United States, it was necessary to view blacks as different. This idea has been perpetuated in all American institutions and has not been changed to any significant degree.. Race is a category constructed according “to specific social and historical contexts”. Race is not a category assigned automatically to an individual at birth. White equates with freedom, superiority and life while black equates to bondage, inferiority and social death . Divisions were brought about by social powers, economic forces, political institutions and cultural practices . Race has no natural bearing
Institutional racism or macro level racism is racism that is deeply rooted in corporations, universities, legal systems, political bodies, cultural life, and other social collectives in America. Macro-level consists of large institutions like the economic system, the political system and the educational system. Racism classifies groups as superior and inferior, sets forth or withholds basic rights, imposes inequality, denies full inclusion, and withholds privileges and opportunities, More power, more money and more resources for the whites. Accumulation and disaacumulation. A clear distinction.
Interpersonal racism or micro level racism includes the everyday interactions of individuals. Most often seen in ordinary and habitual behavior of individuals. Micro level racism is informed by macro level racism. Systemic racism as created by historical and social forces results in recurring acts of interpersonal racism.
As I was driving through a predominantly black area of town, I stopped at a stop light. As I sat in the car, I became acutely aware of my surroundings. Upon noticing two black men standing by the curb, I reached non-challantly over and pushed my door lock button. I thought to myself whether I would have had the same reaction had two white men been standing there. I likely would not have. This was interesting to me, especially since I had been paying more attention to the concept of racism lately. My own personal beliefs and experiences in life have been non-racist. However, at that moment, I became consciously aware of my feelings of negativity towards the black men. These micro level feelings of racism that I was experiencing had been created by the society in which I live. The media ensures that all residents of my city are aware of each and every carjacking that occurs in the North side of town. I am quite sure that there are occurrences throughout the town but more often than not, the ones that occur in this part of town are scrutinized and highly publicized. This is an example of my own individual micro level racism that has been created and sustained by the institution of the media in America.
Systemic racism is very clear in America. Although society has taken significant steps to create equality for blacks, the concept of racism continues. The suggestions are that this will not end until white elite America truly allows all the necessary steps to end racism to occur. This would be a large task as racism is very imbedded in our society at both the micro and macro levels.
References
Desmond, Matthew and Mustafa Emirbayer. "What is Racial Domination?" Du Bois Review 6.2 (2009): 335-355.
Johnson, Theodore R. Black on Black Racism: The Hazards of Implicit Bias. 26 December 2014. <http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/12/black-on-black-racism-the-hazards-of-implicit-bias/384028/>.
Morning, Ann. On Distinction. 7 June 2006. <http://raceandgenomics.ssrc.org/Morning/>.
"Race and Nature: Culture, Biology and Genetics." Hartigan, John. Race in the 21st Century. Oxford University Press, 2010. 54-67.
Smedley, Audrey and Brian D. Smedley. "Race as Biology is Fiction, Racism as a Social Problem is Real." American Psychologist (2005).
"Systemic Racism: A Comprehensive Perspective." Feagin, Joe. Racist America. Routledge, 2000. 9-36.
EXPLAIN SYSTEMIC RACISM AND HOW IT FOSTERS RACIAL INEQUALITY IN THE UNITED STATES
GIVE AN EXAMPLE FROM YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT ILLUSTRATES SYSTEMIC RACISM AND HOW MICRO LEVEL AND MACRO LEVEL SOCIAL PROCESSES WORK TOGETHER
