It wasn’t too long ago that a lot of people were talking about a post-racial AmericaOpens a new window. We had elected a Black president for the first time, and then went ahead and re-elected him four years later, and the country was feeling pretty good about itself.
While Barack Obama’s presidency was indeed a profound and meaningful mark of true progress, racism, of course, never really went away. The presence of a black president, hockey starOpens a new window, or movie-franchise superheroOpens a new window, however welcome and exciting, cannot reverse centuries of racial injustice.
In fact, racism is built right into every level of our society in ways that might surprise you.
7 Ways We Know Systemic Racism Is Real
Systemic racism persists in our schools, offices, court system, police departments, and elsewhere. Why? Think about it: when white people occupy most positions of decision-making power, people of color have a difficult time getting a fair shake, let alone getting ahead.
We still have a lot of work to do, America. The good news: by speaking up about it, you can be part of the solution.
Ben & Jerry’s