I apologize for the provocative title and the text that follows – but one cannot stay silent as misinformation and disinformation permeates our discussions regarding racism. I contend that racism still exists and to ignore that puts us all at risk of failing to improve ourselves, our families and our communities.
I have written numerous posts about racism and have come down hard on the side that the efforts of some (too many in my estimation) have been to sweep the lingering effects of racism under the rug and just say that what’s past is past.1-5 Actually, history tends to repeat itself far too often and we are in the midst of that today.
The impetus for this writing started after reading a guest column written by a reader in our local paper (the Index Journal, Greenwood SC) praising conservative Blacks essentially to exclusion of “liberal” Blacks. He singled out Dr. Ben Carson, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Senator Tim Scott, Star Parker, Walter Williams and Secretary Condoleezza Rice as heroes. He cites three reasons – 1) “they don’t waste their time and energy living in the past”; 2) “they don’t blame others if they find themselves in problematic situations or circumstances”; 3) “they have to overcome the scorn and rejection from some people of their own race.” I would argue that this definition of hero falls far short of the definition of hero that I would use. Martin Luther King, Jr., John Lewis, Medgar Evers, and Rosa Parks (to name a few in the civil rights movement) stand out as more fitting of the label of hero. They recognized that the past defines the present if we are willing to change the lives of all for the better. The writer implies that non-conservative Blacks are blaming others when confronting problems. I think that it is laudable to single out the accomplishments of the folks that he mentioned but not to the exclusion of others. This implication is a familiar talking point when refusing to accept past errors and is far from reality in large part. And criticism is a common issue for prominent people of all races.
The daily writings of Heather Cox Richardson also highlight heroes on her reflections on MLK day. She states, “When I was writing a book about the Wounded Knee Massacre, where heroism was pretty thin on the ground, I gave that a lot of thought. And I came to believe that heroism is neither being perfect, nor doing something spectacular. In fact, it’s just the opposite: it’s regular, flawed human beings choosing to put others before themselves, even at great cost, even if no one will ever know, even as they realize the walls might be closing in around them.” 6 Indeed, heroes are those that chose to do the right thing, no matter the circumstances.
The words of the Index Journal writer further pointed out the persistence of racism in spite of his protestations. His comments are in quotes and my comments follow.
- “I think the Black race yearns to be respected more than any other people…This is my advice to them and to others who want to be appreciated and valued. If you will be kind, polite and respectful of others, you will be shown kindness, politeness and respectfulness in return.” This is so difficult for me to accept this in light of past and even current events. Within my lifetime (and his), multiple folks being respectful were bombed or murdered. Even today, we read about incidents that run counter to his argument. And his comments even smack of the need for Blacks to just be quiet, say “yes, ma’am” or “yes, sir” at all times, and accept their lot in life.
- “In my opinion, too much is made of one’s heritage. I wish we could eliminate prefixes having to do with our ancestry.” Being proud of one’s heritage is a hallmark of our diverse society. We don’t insist that Irish Americans drop the Irish label but, somehow, we see the African label as unnecessary for Blacks. For a group of Americans whose lives were enslaved, counted as less than whole (3/5 person) at our founding, and still to this day suffer from the ravages of being a suppressed minority, I find it offensive to suggest that pride in their heritage is a shameful thing.
- “The greatest difference between them [people] is not about color or race. It is about the spiritual condition of each heart. If a man humbly loves God with all his heart, he will also love his fellow man no matter what his color or race.” Some of the most ardent racists have used the cover of their religion to justify the subjugation of others. In principle, his statement is correct, but its application is singular (confined to individuals) and not broadly applicable to society as a whole. Too many people do not apply their Sunday teachings to their social interactions.
- “I don’t believe widespread racism exists.” I will take exception to this comment. Perhaps the overt name-calling and overt suppression is not as widespread as earlier in the 20th century, but to deny the persistence of racism is to deny reality. Clint Smith’s book (HOW THE WORD IS PASSED: A RECKONING WITH THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY ACROSS AMERICA) dramatically demonstrates how significant gaps still exist in our society’s ability to review history, accept its facts and move forward in a positive direction.1,7 Trayvon Martin’s family would take exception to this comment. Our incoming president saw no fault in the KKK marches in Charlottesville VA in 2017 and has made multiple other comments to belittle those promoting civil rights.
My commentary could mention multiple other problems to confirm the persistence of racism and its pernicious effect on our society. Perhaps one of the most significant is the lingering effects of redlining, a social engineering process from less than a century ago leading to the purposeful exclusion of Blacks from certain neighborhoods and essentially dooming their chances of acquiring generational wealth.8 In my blog post about redlining, I noted the long-term effects that linger today – educational, environmental, financial, medical/health, electoral, and cultural.
The current movement to diminish and even eliminate programs emphasizing diversity, equity and inclusion (pejoratively labeled as woke) is a blatant example of the persistence of racism.10-11 These programs address the realities of past disparities and address solutions to correct them. DEI-haters use some of the arguments that the Index Journal writer noted, and they further make the outrageous argument that correcting past problems is reverse discrimination and shows racism against them. This latter argument is antithetical to our democracy (all men are created equal) and contrary to those who seek to lead their lives according to scripture.
So, by now the reader realizes that I contend that systemic racism still exists in our society. And the group that I am most concerned about is the children who will try to outlive its effects and prosper in the future. My professional organization, the American Academy of Pediatrics, has issued multiple statements, published articles and established an equity agenda led by a chief health equity officer.12-15 As a proud member of this organization, I salute their efforts on behalf of all children and especially those needing a boost in a society that has all too often placed obstacles in the way. Each of us can make a difference when we acknowledge the presence of persisting inequities and take ownership in the solutions using our resources.
A mantra I have previously used is apt here – We are the problem, We are the solution, We are the resource. Let’s not push back by denying things but advance forward to the betterment of all. Let’s put others in front of ourselves. Let’s be heroes.
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/the-gaps-that-should-be-filled/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/caste-a-purposeful-system-of-exclusion-part-i/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/caste-inaction-is-action-part-ii/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/caste-what-now-part-iii/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/racial-inequity-it-cannot-be-whitewashed/
- https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/january-19-2025?r=2e9pdr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
- Smith C. How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery across America. Little, Brown and Company; 2021. 336 pp.
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/remember-redlining/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/woke-im-in/
- https://mychildrenschildren.com/loathing-it-works-but-it-shouldnt/
- https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/144/2/e20191765/38466/The-Impact-of-Racism-on-Child-and-Adolescent
- https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/154/1/e2023063767/197514/Guidance-on-Conversations-About-Race-and-Racism-in
- https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/155/1/e2024067065/200191/The-Role-of-The-Talk-and-Its-Themes-in-Black
- https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/24339/Dr-Wright-to-lead-AAP-Equity-Agenda-as-chief
- https://publications.aap.org/aapnews/news/24339/Dr-Wright-to-lead-AAP-Equity-Agenda-as-chief