So You Want to Talk About Race
A comprehensive guide to discussing race and racism in America.
Summary of 6 Key Points
Key Points
- Understanding Microaggressions
- Intersectionality and Racism
- School-to-Prison Pipeline
- Cultural Appropriation
- Systemic Racism
- The Myth of a Post-Racial America
key point 1 of 6
Understanding Microaggressions
Microaggressions are understated, often unintentional, acts or remarks that communicate negative messages or assumptions to a particular group of people. They are often subtle but can have a cumulative and significant impact on an individual’s mental and emotional wellbeing. Microaggressions, while may seem harmless or trivial to some, essentially reinforce stereotypes and contribute to a broader culture of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 6
Intersectionality and Racism
Intersectionality is a concept that acknowledges the multiple facets of identity that intersect to shape the experiences of individuals, particularly in the context of power, privilege, and oppression. When it comes to understanding racism, the author emphasizes the importance of considering intersectionality to fully grasp the complexity of how race and racism operate within society. The concept, originally coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, highlights the fact that people experience discrimination in varying degrees and forms based on the interplay of their race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other identity markers…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 6
School-to-Prison Pipeline
The school-to-prison pipeline is a disturbing national trend wherein children are funneled out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Many of these children have learning disabilities or histories of poverty, abuse, or neglect, and would benefit from additional educational and counseling services. Instead, they are isolated, punished, and pushed out. ‘Zero-tolerance’ policies criminalize minor infractions of school rules, while high-stakes testing programs encourage educators to push out low-performing students to improve their schools’ overall test scores…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 6
Cultural Appropriation
Cultural appropriation is a complex issue that often manifests in the adoption or borrowing of elements from a culture without permission and devoid of its original context, meaning, or respect. It frequently involves members of a dominant culture borrowing from a culture of people who have been systematically oppressed. The issue arises when the appropriated aspect is used outside of its original cultural context – often devoid of its original cultural connotations, and reduced to an exotic novelty for the dominant culture. ..Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 6
Systemic Racism
Systemic racism refers to the pervasive, deep-seated, and institutionalized discrimination that is a part of the everyday life and functioning of society. It manifests not only in overt forms of bigotry, but also in subtle ways that unconsciously influence people’s behaviors and attitudes, and is embedded within societal institutions, systems, and structures. It is a form of racism that is not limited to individual actions or prejudices, but involves a broader system of racial bias across institutions and society…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 6
The Myth of a Post-Racial America
In the assertion of a post-racial America, the notion is that the United States has moved beyond the racial prejudices and injustices of its past, having achieved a state of racial equality. This perspective suggests that skin color no longer has any bearing on a person’s opportunities or experiences. However, this perspective is fundamentally flawed. It overlooks systemic and institutionalized racism, perpetuating the illusion of equality while maintaining a status quo that disproportionately disadvantages people of color…Read&Listen More