March 27, 2015
Duke University's Kappa Sigma Party
The national organization of the Kappa Sigma fraternity at Duke University suspended the Duke chapter following an Asian-themed party that mocked East Asians by inviting people to wear stereotypical Asian-styled costumes, such as conical hats and geisha outfits.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Making a mockery of cultural forms of expression reduces highly diverse groups of people to degrading stereotypes.
For more see, " Outrage at Duke Over Fraternity's Asian-Themed 'Racist Rager' "
April 26, 2014
Donald Sterling Remarks
An audio tape of former owner of the Los Angeles Clippers, Donald Sterling, made headlines when it revealed Sterling repeatedly making extremely racist comments in an attempt to deter his girlfriend from socializing with African-Americans. Sterling's words were not the only evidence of his racist proclivities. Federal prosecutors accused his rental company of refusing to lease Beverly Hills apartments to African-Americans and a group of tenants accused him of "numerous discriminatory statements and housing practices."
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Even in an industry that many have called "dominated by African American athletes", a racial hierarchy persists. 98% of NBA team owners are white, while a majority of the players are black.
For more on the diversity within professional sports see, " Diversity in the NBA, NFL, and the MLB" .
August 6, 2012
Rick Santorum Remarks
During a campaign stop in Iowa in 2012, presidential candidate Rick Santorum made a decision to single out black welfare recipients by stating insulting and inaccurate stereotypes. He told a mostly white audience that he does not want to "make black people's lives better by giving them someone else's money". He went on to say that very poor people have bad working habits and no knowledge of how to make an income "unless it's illegal".
HOW DOES THIS RELATE TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?
This is an example of how centuries of overt discrimination against blacks in employment, housing and education has been erased from public consciousness so that people are erroneously made to believe that blacks are disproportionately in poverty because there is something wrong with their character.
For more see, " NAACP Rips Rick Santorum for Comment about African-Americans, Welfare " .
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 "
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