Question

We have encountered various definitions of race and racism. In the film Race: The Power of an Illusion: The House We Live In, James Horton reminds us that race "is a social and political construction." Along those lines, George Lipsitz further argues that "race is a cultural construct, but one with sinister structural causes and consequences" (2). Ruth Wilson Gilmore provides a complex yet clarifying understanding of racism as "the state-sanctioned and/or extra-legal production and exploitation of group-differentiated vulnerabilities to premature death, in distinct yet densely interconnected political geographies” (qtd. in Melamed 78). Compose a brief summary in which you explore two examples of structural racism. How does power operate through the frame of race within these examples? In your view, what are effective ways to address the "sinister structural causes and consequences" (Lipsitz) of structural racism?

Answer 1

• Structural racism refers to the ways in which racial inequalities are built into social structures, institutions, policies, and practices, regardless of the intentions of individuals involved. One example of structural racism is the racial wealth gap, where people of color have significantly lower levels of wealth than white people due to systemic discrimination in employment, housing, and finance. This wealth gap perpetuates racial inequalities and reinforces power imbalances in society, as white people have greater access to resources, education, and opportunities.

• Another example of structural racism is the school-to-prison pipeline, which refers to the policies and practices that push students, particularly Black and Latinx students, out of schools and into the criminal justice system. These policies include zero-tolerance disciplinary policies, over-policing of schools, and inadequate resources for social and emotional support. This pipeline reinforces the racialization of crime and punishment and perpetuates the marginalization and criminalization of Black and Latinx communities, while reinforcing the power and authority of law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

• To address the structural causes and consequences of racism, it is important to first recognize and acknowledge the ways in which power operates through the frame of race. This requires a deep understanding of the historical and systemic factors that have created and perpetuated racial inequalities. Effective solutions must be rooted in dismantling the institutional and systemic barriers that perpetuate racial disparities and empowering communities of color through education, economic opportunity, and political representation. This includes investing in programs that support equitable education, housing, and healthcare, as well as measures to address police brutality and reform the criminal justice system. Additionally, it is essential to center the voices and leadership of communities of color in developing and implementing solutions to address structural racism.