6 Reasons Why Racism Is Still Around (Part 3)

In the first part, I made the point that racism exists only because people believe it does and because some White men use it as a defensive tool to protect and maintain control and power. In the second part, I made the point that it existed because some use it as a hedge of safety by keeping them separated from perceived threats and because Christians either actively practice or silently condone the practice of discrimination and prejudice.

This week, I list my final 2 reasons why racism is still around which are:
5. Applied racism is a wealth building strategy. Yes, indeed! Racism applied systematically toward a people creates wealth for the profiteers. This works because racism effectively isolates and renders groups defenseless. Isolated and defenseless people are susceptible to all kinds of exploitation schemes necessary to build wealth.

This strategy is not original. It is a natural law of the wild. In the wild, one of the predator’s strategies is to isolate its prey. Once isolated, the prey is vulnerable to attack. In the same way, racism implemented properly isolates a group and increases defenselessness. Institutions of racism strip a people of resources, sufficient education, and political power. What remains are people who lack physical resources for gaining leverage, do not understand their leverage, and cannot organize properly to apply their leverage.

Those seeking wealth can then turn a profit by providing services and products that address conditions brought about by systematic discrimination and prejudice. High unemployment, crime rates, and convictions are connected to the growth of for-profit prisons and government jails. High levels of hopelessness and superficial living are connected to the booming illegal drug market. Low wage jobs are connected to mortgage industry predatory lending. Poor health conditions are connected to the increase in for-profit hospitals, pharmacies, and urgent care facilities. Poor and decaying neighborhoods are connected to the bottom lines of lenders and developers via gentrification.

I submit that social ills that impact the Black community as a result of systematic discrimination and prejudice are directly connected to profit centers. Solving these social problems would in essence undermine the profiteers and their enterprises. Both politically and financially, it is not in the interests of power brokers and community leaders to address these issues in some meaningful way. This should come as no surprise as capitalism will create a market wherever it is permitted by law, despite its social impact.

6. Some Blacks cannot function without racism. As a member of arguably the most persecuted race of people in modern world history, I assert that racism is surviving because some Blacks will not let it die. I'm sure my revolutionaries are saying, "are you serious...how can you blame the victim for the atrocities of the victimizer?" I agree, BUT, the extent to which some Blacks obsess over racism raises the question whether it has become a psychological crutch that undermines the efforts necessary to escape the holds of racism.

Admittedly, we cannot downplay the psychological impact of slavery, Jim Crow, and the nearly 400 year campaign of negative propaganda and discrimination directed towards Blacks. Clearly, that much negative attention and treatment scars a people for generations. Surely, the source of self-hatred behaviors, hyper-sensitivities, and glass-ceiling mentalities is planted in this trauma.

But at what point do Blacks recognize this, break loose from these psychological shackles, and resolutely pursue King’s “promised land”? Is that not the American experience…to overcome adversity? Is that not achieving the American dream? Instead, it’s as if, Blacks are waiting for an official apology. It’s as if an acknowledgement of mistreatment is in order before Blacks as a people, can move forward. It’s as if an apology or other acknowledgement would undo the damage.

I submit that the psychological trauma of racism is real; but, it seems that the response of Blacks to that trauma is to renew it in our daily lives and limit our own progress. Even the grandchildren and great grandchildren of slaves are holding on to the many limitations experienced by the slaves. Education opportunities abound nowadays. Yet, instead of problem solving the pertinent Black issues of the day, many are in the business of problem dodging, excuse making, and issue perpetuating.

Thank you for your indulgence on this topic. Leave a comment and let me know what you think about racism and this blog.