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Institutional racism refers to the ways in which societal institutions, such as the government, legal and education systems, perpetuate racial discrimination through their policies and practices. An example of institutional racism in the United States is the history of discriminatory housing policies, such as redlining, which resulted in segregated neighborhoods and limited access to affordable housing for Black and brown communities. Another example is the country's immigration policies, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and the Muslim Ban of 2017, which have systematically discriminated against individuals based on their race, religion, or country of origin.
Institutional racism shapes access to citizenship and notions of belonging and exclusion by creating and perpetuating systemic barriers for marginalized groups. For example, discriminatory voting laws and policies have historically limited access to voting rights for Black and brown communities, resulting in their exclusion from the democratic process. Additionally, discriminatory practices in the criminal justice system, such as racial profiling and mandatory minimum sentencing, have resulted in disproportionate incarceration rates for Black and brown individuals, further perpetuating cycles of poverty and exclusion.
The failure of Reconstruction refers to the period following the Civil War in the United States, during which the federal government attempted to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved Black individuals into society. However, despite some initial progress, Reconstruction ultimately failed to achieve its goals due to the rise of white supremacist groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, and the inability of the federal government to effectively enforce its policies.
In Marita Bonner's Black feminist play The Purple Flower, the failure of Reconstruction is represented through the character of Johnnie, a formerly enslaved man who struggles to find his place in a post-Civil War society that is still deeply rooted in racism and inequality. Johnnie's attempts to establish a new life for himself and his family are repeatedly thwarted by white supremacist violence and discrimination, reflecting the ongoing legacy of institutional racism in the United States. The play also explores the relationship between race and space, as Johnnie's desire to create a new home for himself is continually undermined by the racialized power dynamics that govern the physical and social spaces in which he exists. Ultimately, the play suggests that in order for a "New Man" to emerge, the old structures of power and oppression must be dismantled and replaced with new systems that are truly equitable and just.
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