August 4, 2015
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Remarks
 Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid had privately described then-candidate Senator Barack Obama during the 2008 presidential campaign as a black candidate who could be successful because of his "light-skinned" appearance and speaking pattern "with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one".
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Here Reid employs narratives of racial superiority, determining that the greater the proximity to whiteness, the better the candidate. This form of colorism has a long history in the US. During the 20th century, a practice called the "brown paper bag test" was commonly used to determine which African-Americans would receive favorable consideration; if their skin color was darker than the bag, they could be excluded from social gatherings and institutions.
For more Reid's remarks see, " Reid apologizes for racial remarks about Obama during campaign ".
April 19, 2017
Senator Larry Taylor Remarks
During a hearing of the Joint Legislative Committee on Windstorm Insurance, Texas state representative Larry Taylor had harsh words for insurance companies that didn't pay the claims of disaster victims in a timely manner. "Your job is to pay the client...don't nitpick. Don't try to Jew them down".
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Racialized language and stereotypes that are normalized in everyday conversations perpetutate racial biases and can led to actual forms of discrimination and violence.
For more Taylor's Remarks see, " Florida State Senator Drops Racist, Profanity-Laden Rant on Colleagues "
January 25, 2012
Mayor Joe Maturo Remarks
After four police officers were charged for using excessive force against undocumented immigrants and covering up abuses, reporters interviewed longtime Mayor Joe Maturo of East Haven, CT and asked "What are you going to do for the Latino community today?" He immediately responded, "I might have tacos when I go home, I'm not quite sure yet."
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
A mayor's job is to serve his constituents; however, many politicians do not make an effort to cater to the needs of their minority constituents when they are a small portion of the voting pool.
For more see, " Conn. Mayor Joe Maturo Eats a Crow Taco After Latino Remarks "
March 25, 2015
Voter ID Laws Strengthened
As of March 25, 2015, 34 states have passed laws that require voters to show some form of identification at the polls. Some say such a law is needed to increase public confidence in the election process but, in reality, fraud of this kind is rare. The new law unnecessarily restricts the right to vote and imposes unreasonable costs on voters.
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?
These new voting laws illustrate how the "Black Codes" that were establised during Reconstruction to deter African Americans from voting still influences how the political system operates today.
For more see, " How States Moved Toward Stricter Voter ID Laws " .
June 3, 2015
United Airlines Incident
While aboard a U.S. domestic flight, Muslim chaplain and scholar Tahera Ahmad was alledgedly denied her request for an unopened can of soda by a flight attendant who told her that "it could be used as a weapon." However, the non-Muslim man in the seat next to her was given an unopened can of beer. When Ahmad complained, nearby passengers made islamophobic comments. No one on the plane defended Ahmad.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
The cultural representations of Muslims linked to terrorist attacks have led to racial profiling and discrimination against anyone who appears to be Muslim.
For more on the United Airline Incident see, " The Final Barrier " .
September 9, 2013
University of Alabama's Historical Greek Life
In 2013, a look into the sororities at the University of Alabama revealed that all-white sororities were still denying black students access to membership based solely on race. The next year, although some minority students were admitted to sororities and fraternities, the student Senate killed a resolution that proposed full integragtion of all greek life on campus.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
This occurrence demonstrates how the legacy of segregation (particularly as espoused by former Governor of Alabama, George Wallace) still persists many decades later.
For more on the racism embedded into the University of Alabam's Greek Life see, " University of Alabama Sorority Felt Blacks Were 'Bad for Our Status' "
April 18, 2014
University of Mississippi's Noose Incident
Three white members of a fraternity at the University of Mississippi were accused of placing a noose and Confederate flag around the neck of a statue of James Meredith, the first black student to enroll in “Ole Miss” in 1962. These students have since been expelled from the fraternity, and one student eventually pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of threatening force to intimidate African-American students and employees at the university.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
"We are under a system of systemic institutionalized racism in this state, on this campus, in this town. And...we have a culture that valorizes these racist depictions of the old Confederate South — once again in the state, in this town, on this campus. So I don’t think it should be a surprise that racist acts occur." -Brian Cooper Owens, Professor, African American Studies
For more on this incident see, " UMD Students Fed Up With Diversity Issues Following Found Noose "
March 13, 2015
University of Maryland's Kappa Sigma Email
An email allegedly sent by a white fraterntiy student to six individuals was filled with racial slurs against women of Middle Eastern, African, and Asian descent. The email also included a discussion of sexual intercourse, concluding with explicit advise to ignore "consent". Kappa Sigma's national office has since suspended the sender from the fraternity, although the University of Maryland did not suspend him from the school.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
While this is just one email sent to a few students, it provides important insight into dangerous racial biases against women of color.
For more on the email, see " UMD Frat Brother Allegedly Sent Racist Email, Signed Off With ‘F*** Consent ’"
March 4, 2015
Department of Justice Ferguson Investigation
The U.S. Department of Justice found that the Ferguson, Missouri Police Department engaged in practices and conduct that clearly violated the First, Fourth, and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution, including police patterns of conducting stops without reasonable suspicion and arrests without probable cause. The investigation also revealed local court patterns in which unjustified and inappropriately high fines were imposed on Ferguson's most vulnerable residents as a source of revenue. The identified injustices were disproportionally aimed at African American residents.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Many people falsely claim that blacks are disproportionately in prison because they commit more crimes. This example shows how blacks are disproportionately in prison because they are disproportionately targeted by police offers for minor offenses.
September 7, 2015
Media Portrayal of White Criminals
In one prominent example, an 18-year-old man and his 13-year-old girlfriend from Kentucky went on a multi-state crime spree, stealing vehicles and store items, as well as causing property damage in numerous localities. Instead of condemning their acts as criminals, many in the media romanticized the white couple as a modern-day "Bonnie and Clyde" and "teen sweethearts".
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
The way this couple was portrayed illustrates the central role that institutions, such as mass media, have in shaping racialized public perceptions of crime.
For more the media potrayal of white criminals see, " The Media White Privilege" .
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