- Dick Myers -

For our next meeting on September 18, we feature a short, but powerful article for your review. This article is an advance review of a paper that is expected to be published shortly in the American psychologist magazine. It describes American racism anyway that seems very clearly associating it with the slavery that occurred in this country for over 150 years before we declared our independence as a nation. The principle assertion of the 1619 project is that the effect of slavery is deeply embedded entire national psyche and is inescapable. A few quotes from this paper emphasize that fact.

• • • • • racism is a deeply American problem
      • • “People often define racism as disliking or mistreating others on the basis of race. That definition is wrong,”
      • • “Racism is a system of advantage based on race. It is a hierarchy. It is a pandemic. Racism is so deeply embedded within U.S. minds and U.S. society that it is virtually impossible to escape.”
      • • citizens of racist societies reinforce racism, whether they identify as racist or not, and whether they want to or not.”
      • • “Many people, especially White people, underestimate the depths of racism,”

The article goes on to describe the seven factors that the authors of the paper have identified as significant an understanding the problem of racism and in developing a solution to the problem. This review is a very short article, but it is very much to the point., and it provides a lot to reflect upon and consider as we absorb the terrible news that we encounter each week.

Link to the article, "Seven Factors That Contribute to American Racism".