We should be pissed that black men in America today stand a one-in-three chance of going to jail. We should be pissed that the unemployment rate for blacks in Dane County is at 25.2 percent, compared to 4.8 percent for whites. We should be pissed that the achievement gap between white students and black students in Wisconsin is the widest in the nation. In fact, we should be pissed that the widespread ignorance of these facts is the key explanation as to why we’ve never reached full racial equality in this country. The first step to solving a problem is admitting that there is one, and sadly, too many white people reject the idea that they have a privilege based on the color of their skin and that it is fueling the fires of racial injustice.
Regarding the aforementioned statistics, it is not because black people commit more crimes, prefer to be unemployed, or are lazier in school. Anyone who would use that argument is incorrect. Instead, the systematic injustices facing people of color come from a variety of failed policies upheld by failed politicians.
Let’s start by acknowledging the school-to-prison pipeline system, because as the late Whitney Houston said, “I believe the children are our future. Zero-tolerance policies, absurd dress codes and an ever-increasing presence of police officers in schools are a result of the (failed) war on drugs and a culture that regards black boys who wear hoodies as “thugs.” The school-to-prison pipeline system is a morally bankrupt strategy aimed at throwing disenfranchised youth in jail for the profit of those who run the prisons. The idea that “misbehaving” students are being handcuffed and thrown into cop cars, rather than sent to school counselors, doesn’t reflect well on America’s education system in the slightest. Moreover, when these occurrences are disproportionately affecting students of color, it sets the entire country on a downward spiral toward a chaotic future of even greater racial inequality. The sickest element of this entire issue is that there are those who operate the prisons and engage in a disgusting partnership with local authorities so that they can both profit off the mass incarceration of black people. Latino/as are victims of this atrocity as well.
Meanwhile, far too many people of color who are not behind bars are looking for work. I’m sure you’ve heard it’s more likely for a white man to get hired with a criminal record than a black man without even one, even if the two are equally qualified for the same job. That is an example of “white privilege” right there. The fundamental reality cannot be ignored, because when employers refuse to give jobs to people of color, they are directly responsible for the issues of poverty, crime and racism that constantly disenfranchise their communities.
The challenges that face the African-American community represent the greatest injustices that still plague our country. Yes, we elected Barack Obama twice, but that doesn’t mean the struggle is over. In fact, all you have to do is recognize the unprecedented disrespect he and his family have been victims of since he took office to realize that the right wing continues to pander to its racist base of angry, old and often rich white men all in an effort to maintain their power over others. The intense obstruction Obama’s moderate, yet social-justice-driven agenda faces from Republicans is a reflection of institutionalized racism and the inequalities people of color face on a daily basis. The only way this would be more obvious is if every time a black man applied for a job, it would be required he show his birth certificate. History will mark Obama’s presidency as one that was not treated fairly or equally by an entire political party.
This is why I love the month of February. Black History Month is a chance for all of us to discover and appreciated the unparalleled achievements made by African Americans despite the disadvantages they have faced, and continue to face, in this country. It is a month where we celebrate the richness of African-American culture, as well as recognize the resiliency of the human spirit. Of course, you don’t have to be black to cherish this month. Obviously, I am not. Likewise, my sister isn’t a lesbian, but she still loves LGBT Pride month in June because she faithfully supports equality for people like me who are LGBT. The purpose of this month is to unite all Americans so that we can be grateful for the contributions made by freedom fighters, musical pioneers, scientists and many others, as well as understand the ongoing struggle so many of our brothers and sisters face in this country.
Knowing the past is crucial so that we can assess where we are in the present. Are we where we ought to be? Obviously not. The modern discrimination in schools, the workplace and voting booths (voter ID laws are just another way to turn people of color away, after all) threaten the American Dream with an American nightmare. I can never be satisfied with my country when I know others who also live here are left behind with little opportunity. So yes, we should be pissed at the broken system that leaves our friends and family of color at such disadvantages, but more importantly, we need to understand that it is up to all of us to fix it. That requires all of us to have the uneasy, yet vital conversations of racial injustices and white privilege.
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