Systematic racism. A term that, as a middle class white woman, I have never felt equipped to wrestle with. It is time, however, that I stop using my race and my socioeconomic status as an excuse to not engage with and stand up against injustice. It is time that I take my blinders off, stop avoiding what is uncomfortable, and begin to talk about it.
#BlackLivesMatter may be merely a hashtag, but what it stands for is a social movement that demands to be recognized, respected, and reflected upon. The weight of this movement is so much more than the fleeting thoughts that are given to it by most. No, this movement is not a war on police officers. No, this movement is not a cry to overlook other races. This movement is one that pushes our eyes to the systems of injustice, prejudice, and violence that have been struggles of our nation since its very beginning. The movement asks that we begin to recognize and make efforts to reverse the systematic racism in play in our communities.
Systemic racism describes forms of racism which are structured into political and social institutions. It occurs when organizations, institutions or governments discriminate, either deliberately or indirectly, against certain groups of people to limit their rights.
Understanding and fighting systematic racism does not mean that we begin to assume that all law enforcement members are racist. Understanding and fighting systematic racism does not mean that we fight fire with fire. Understanding and fighting against systematic racism can start with something as simple as engaging with facts:
Across the board, in cities with large homeless populations, the amount of African Americans vastly outweighs that of Caucasians, especially in comparison to the percentage of African Americans in the general population of these cities.
African Americans are incarcerated at a rate of nearly six times that of whites. Social and economic isolation are large factors in this trend.
Racial bias in hiring is extremely prevalent in America to this day. In a study done that submitted two identical resumes to employers, one with a traditionally white name, and one with a traditionally African American name, those with African American names were 16 percent less likely to be called for an interview.
These facts are only a few examples of the systematic racism that perpetuates violence and prejudice in our country. In light of the acts of violence which have recently effected our country, my invitation is this: consider these facts, and others. Before you diminish the worth and necessity of the Black Lives Matter movement by stating that, in fact, all lives matter, take a moment to reflect upon the decades worth of oppression that have been heaped upon the African Americans in our country. Yes, all lives matter. But black lives have had to stand up and defend their worth to a nation blinded by racism. Black lives have been filled with the fear of prejudice, and effected by systematic racism. Black lives had to remind a forgetful and many times ignorant nation that they do, in fact, matter.
