What is the state of black-white race relations in the United States? We’ve all had plenty of time to read the news, watch the media, talk privately. Please consider this question carefully and let us know what you think. We are not asking you (yet) for your solution, just your diagnosis.
There seems to be a very wide spectrum of opinions on this topic.
At one end of the spectrum is the damning verdict of Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT teaches that the U.S. is irretrievably rotten to the core. The “woke” consider racism in the U.S. to be so oppressive, so entrenched, so profoundly systematic, that it can’t be fixed without a wholesale change in our national identity and political order.
At the other end of the spectrum is the view that racism in the U.S. is a thing of the past. We have made steady progress: Abolitionist Movement, the Civil War, Civil Rights legislation, de-segregation, affirmative action. It’s now time to move on. Let’s stop hitting our head against the wall over racism so we can sharpen our focus on strengthening our families and communities.
So, at one end of the spectrum is the diagnosis that the U. S, is “rotten to the core.” At the other end of the spectrum is: “we’ve delt with it, so let’s move on.”
Do you agree with this definition of the spectrum of perspectives on the race problem in the U.S? If not, please present an alternative.
Where do you stand? What is your assessment of the status of black-white race relations in the U.S.?
Please share your thoughts below.
I appreciate the question, and the comments below. I think it is fair to say that “rotten to the core” is an exaggeration, but it is closer to the truth than the other alternative you present. Racism and the tolerance of slavery was that original sin in the founding of the country, and it has continued to allow atrocities to be committed all through our history. And it persists as a key problem holding us back from fulfilling our ideals. My time working in a prison near Newark, NJ, made systemic racism undeniable to me, if it had ever been questionable before. I’m grateful for the shocking instances of racial injustice in our history and present society to be coming out now–we’ve got to stop kidding ourselves about a few “bad apples” and “unfortunate incidents.” White superiority and entitlement are so entrenched in the culture–I see it in my own… Read more »
I think we need to move towards being a society where one’s racial identity is a private matter, like religion now is, and where it is illegal for public or private institutions to collect “race” data. Everyone is entitled to define their own religion, and to congregate with others who have the same definition. But your religion, a private matter, does not give you or your group special rights versus people who identify with a different religion (or none). The same should be the case for race. Unfortunately, we seem to be moving in the opposite direction, where everyone is labelled with an arbitrary and official category of “race”, and government policies will affect you differently depending on which “race” category you claim or has been assigned to you. “Equity” should be replaced by “equality”.
I didn’t know that sundown towns were a thing (look it up) or redlining or that the GI bill was not applied to Black servicemen thus shutting them out of the American Dream that so many White servicemen gained access to. (And of course, the brutal history of Indian occupation and cultural genocide. Look of the Carlisle School for one example.) I didn’t know about the American-Filipino War (after we colonized them) where some 200-300 thousand Filipinos died fighting for independence or about how the US government has overthrown the governments of Iran, South Vietnam, Guatemala, Panama, Congo, and others. I hadn’t grown up receiving talks from my parents about how I need to be careful around police, that I need to be extra cautious when stopped, that I have to be slow in my movements and that I shouldn’t always call the police in times of trouble. Rather I… Read more »
The other day my wife and I each responded to the immediate establishment of the Juneteenth national holiday. I taught in the inner city of Chicago. I don’t believe there are any differences because of skin color, but there are differences because of economics and family make-up. My parents stayed married all of their life. How anyone can grow up without both parents is amazing. The value of a family cannot be overstated. Every child needs two parents, as well as an extended family, to support their emotional development. I watch my children doing their best to raise their babies. Even though there are two parents, a lot of additional help is needed raise their children. It’s not about race. It’s about family
Helllo Bruce – Thanks for your emphasis on the centrality of family. Higher Purpose Forum has an active discussion going on race relation in the U.S. I think (part of) our shared understanding is that slavery and racial injustice in the US has caused trama which we have all inherited (both Slave Decended and European Decended Americans). This inherited trauma is still causing dysfunction in the modern day. Some people are still deeply impacted, some have healed and are fully functional. Many fall somewhere inbetween. I believe FAMILY, as you point out, is the primary source of healing and recovering from inherited trauma. Those who have been raised in two parent, loving, compassion filled familes are much farther along in their healing than others. BTW, I do not mean to imply that the trauma inherited by European Descended Americans is the same as that inherited by Slave Decended Americans. The… Read more »
Frankly, I think CRT is just a convenient boogeyman for the “right” ( In this case, I define “right” as right-wing media and Republican politicians) to drum-up support for Republican and conservative causes. I mean I listened to the 1619 Project and I didn’t find anything particularly offensive. I think it is unfair to say that CRT is just about saying the US is “rotten to core”. Rather it’s a response to the inaccuracy of how US history has been taught for decades. I didn’t learn about the history of black-white race riots (or race massacres) in high school, the expulsion of 95% of all Chinese immigrants from the West in the 1870s, the anti-Catholic movements of the 1800s, or how the US government refused to support Black Americans after the Civil War. Rather I just learned that the KKK sprung up after the Civil War, then Southern States instituted… Read more »
I don’t claim to be an expert on CRT, but I am working through some of the key sources. I can say for sure that there is far more to CRT than a response to how US history has been taught. Perhaps that is what the 1619 Project is, but that explanation does not describe Derrik Bell, Richard Delgado, Jean Stefanicic, Ibram Kendi, et al. So it is not accurate to reduce CRT to being simply new understanding of history. I can’t lay out all the elements here, but there are now many, critical history is just one of them. From my recent observations, I also wonder if it is fair to characterize the reaction against CRT as coming simply from by politicians and right-wing media. I follow a fair broad set of news sources. It seems to me that the reaction to CRT is now coming from grassroots citizenry… Read more »
When I think about the controversy of critical race theory, I am reminded that not long ago the idea of a “love race” was proposed that created skepticism. The transition to a “love race” culture has a foundation centered on true education theory. It promotes an adherence to the Three Great Blessing written in Genesis and explained in Divine Principle as a means of educating humans on their divine purpose and value for peace and prosperity. This includes education on the Fall of Man to understand the human frailties that lead men away from achieving a loving community for all races. Thus education is vital to the restoration process. Education to understand the “original sin” of slavery as America’s foundation and the reality of institutional racism that followed is an opportunity for Americans both white and black. Critical race theory is not focused on blame. Whoever believes that is suffering… Read more »
by the negative images and fear white supremacists perpetuated disguised as nationalism. The effects from America’s egocentrism and prejudice have produced a duplicitous cultural force. One that exalts the good in humanity through its rhetoric while contradicting human value in it’s politics. In order to break the cycle of the hypocritical American culture, a new culture should emerge of true love. This will be expedited when the falsities, myths and erroneous subconscious thinking is treated. This was the purpose of religion, however we are now living in “The era after the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven” where religion is fading away and being replaced with God-consciousness. As a result, we are now capable of assessing God directly without intercession. This is an opportunity for those so blessed to initiate their 5% of individual responsibility and lead the way as people of true heart. This transformation is gradually taking place… Read more »
I want to thank James Edgerly for addressing one of today’s most crucial and sensitive topics for all Americans. Despite the lofty and revolutionary goal of the Founding Fathers to create a democratic republic, universality of American full citizenship was denied to minority groups and women until the 20th century. In my opinion, one of the symptoms of this injustice was the diminution of personal identify development from birth of all races. This was and is a primary factor in the lack of a true self image that would have promoted true family values at the inception of this nation. Both blacks as descendants of formally enslaved people and whites whose ancestors may or may not have owned slaves are suffering from various degrees of trauma, shame, guilt and other forms of undiagnosed mental neurosis. These neuroses are at the root of personality disorders that have affected some of our… Read more »
Hello Lorman – I see there are three segments to your response. Regarding this first segment, I agree, the vision of our Founders was not extended to include “all people” as promised in the Declaration. Perhaps the divine inspiration behind the Declaration was too advanced, too revolutionary, for that time? At that time, slavery was practiced across the British Empire. So, at the Constitutional Convention, the Southern States forced the compromise that allowed for the institutionalization of slavery in the US for about 90 years. But we know the mentality of supremacy or non-acceptace or non-inclusion did not end with the Civil War. So, to me, the problem is not “insitutional” or “systematic”. It is deeper than that. It is spiritual, intergenerational, inherited and it must be addressed accordingly. Changing “systems” will never eliminate the root cause problem. And yes, agreed, to varying extents, we are all traumatized, desensitized, made… Read more »
That there is such an incompatiable range of opinion, is itself an issue. That there is now a Juneteenth day as well as a Martin Luther Kings Birthday is an encouraging sign that there is some sort of breakthrough possible whihc is encouraging. I am from New Zealand. While there are no full blooded Maoris there, it seems possible that there are not any full blooded African Americans in the U.S. either, but I haven’t seen any discussion of that. A few years ago a terrorist bombed and shot a lot of people in two Mosques in Christchurch. The Prime Minister, Jacinta Ardern, said that “In New Zealand, WE are all part of US. However this terrorist is not part of us.” He was from Australia, but isn’t representative of Australians. Here, in the U.S. can WE say that WE are all part of US? Unfortunately, this doesn’t appear to… Read more »
Regarding your last point (ancestry of Jacinta Ardern), I think that most would agree that appreciation of an individual’s ancestry is important to be aware of their sensitivities, perspective, temperment. However, identification of ancestry is not important in terms of a person’s legal standing, inherent dignity and rights in society. Every and every individual has certain inalienable rights.
Frank, lots of points here. Yes, there is a huge and incompatible range of opinion on this issue; many different perspectives. However, to me, the broad reaction to the George Floyd murder conveys to us loud and clear that a diagnosis of “let”s get over it and move on” is out of touch with social/cultural/political reality. Do all racial (I prefer the word “tribal”) groups feel like they are all fully accepted as part of the U.S.? That is the key question. U.S. history tells the miserable story of one particualy group continuously struggling to find full and welcome acceptance and equal standing within the U.S. mainstream. I agree with you that, sadly, NO, that process of acceptance is still NOT completed. European-Decended Whites may feel it is complete; various newly arrived ethnic immigrants may believe that accepteance is more or less available to them, even some Slave-Decended Americans may… Read more »
There is only one race! The HUMAN RACE! The sooner people realize that the sooner all the hate will end. On forms that ask for race I click other and if there is a space to explain I put, “Human.” I invite you to do the same.
Yes Jeremiah, good point. The terminology in standard use seems to be loaded and inaccurate. I think what we are actually talking about are “tribal” rather that “racial” issues. What do you think about highlighting that distinction?
As the song in Avenue Q says, everyone is a little bit racist. It can be benign, and easily overcome.
The biggest problem we are facing, however, is not white supremacy, but the race hustlers who use it as an excuse to divide us up by race.
If we are divided, it is far easier for leaders to manipulate us to get what they want, to our detriment.
The other thing I see is the confusion of race and culture. There are less savory things in every culture, but to defend those less savory parts by calling the person who points it out “racist” is inaccurate and not at all helpful.
Thanks Craig. Interesting points.
It sounds like you don’t think there remains much to be concerned with regarding race relations in the U.S., but that the misappropriation and manipulation of the race problem for political purposes is a separate and more serious problem.
I don’t qute understand what you have stated in your final paragraph. Can you clarify that point.
Certainly. Often people who are critical of rap or hip hop are called racist, as if only one race does rap and hip hop, and everything in rit is perfectly fine and acceptable, when it is not. Lyrics in those genres are very often extremely misogynistic and advocating violence against police. You speak out against those lyrics, often you are simply waved off as a racist.