![]() ![]() Perhaps we should not use the word racism since that implies a moral failing. Whites can think it is unfair for us to look at institutional racism since this type of racism can happen regardless of whether a person is personally racist. But the result is still an unfair advantage that whites are given over people of color. Indeed, this could be a good strategy to find a hard worker since current employees are unlikely to irritate the employer by sending the job announcement to a lazy uncle. The employer may well have had no intention of being racist. So in this way whites can gain jobs that people of color never even knew were open. If their employees tend to be white, then chances are their social network is pretty white as well. That is, when they need to find someone for a position, they ask their employees if they know someone who needs a job and is a good worker. Or to use another example, sometimes businesses hire by word of mouth. The results are unfair outcomes for people of color. It does not matter whether there was a racist intent in the disparity of the laws. Since African -Americans, relative to European-Americans, who abuse drugs are more likely to use crack instead of powder cocaine, this disparity is one of many factors why blacks serve longer sentences than whites. For example, although it is better, we still have a serious sentencing disparity for those who use crack and those who use powder cocaine. What we would lose from getting rid of those laws far outweigh any benefit we get from ending this racial disparity.īut we must make that calculation on other policies disproportionately impacting people of color that are harder to justify as being worth the differences in racial disparity. For obvious reasons we should not rid ourselves of those laws. Since African-Americans are more likely, even after controls for individual characteristics, to commit murder, then one can argue that laws against murder are examples of institutional racism. To be sure one can argue that some of these mechanisms are justified. I define institutional racism as mechanisms that lead to racial inequality regardless of whether there was an intent to have racial inequality. That is not the case and thus now I will address those who endorse colorblindness as the route to racial harmony by exploring institutional racism. ![]() This may give the impression that I do not believe in institutional racism or the detrimental effects of historical racism. I felt that was necessary as antiracism has been the dominant approach among cultural elites. My first few entries back to looking at racial issues have addressed the inadequacy of antiracism. I believe there is a group that wants to address the unfair racial outcomes in our society, but knows that the heavy-handed antiracism method does not work. It is quite another when you have an opportunity to make a difference. It is one thing to stay on the sidelines when there is little chance that your activism will do any good. But recent events have brought some of my ideas to the limelight and now I feel an obligation to dive into racial issues. My work had not received a lot of attention and I felt no need to work too hard to promote it. However, this year I realized that I can no longer remain on the sidelines. I have been pretty happy to stay away from racial issues, for the most part, during these past ten years. Barriers focused on using sociological research and theories to justify that approach. But Gridlock was written for a Christian audience and used Christian theology to justify my approach. ![]() The Mutual Obligations Approach detailed in the book was similar to the ideas I promoted in another book – Beyond Racial Gridlock. At that time I had come out with a book – Transcending Racial Barriers – which basically stated what I wanted to talk about as it concerned racial issues. To be honest I thought I was mostly done talking on racial issues about ten years ago. And that will continue for the foreseeable future. I have been posting a lot on race lately. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |