January 1, 2017
Muslim Ban
President Donald Trump signs an executive order that halts the admission of Syrian refugees and limits refugees from six other "terror prone" nations—Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia. The executive order also gives preference to refugees from Christian countries.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?
This order reinforces the false notion that Islam and terrorism are synonymous and that refugees from certain countries pose a threat to the safety of American citizens. In addition to ignoring so-called "home-grown" terrorism committed by American citizens, the mandate also disregards the fact that refugees from the aforementioned seven countries only accounted for seven percent of all terror attacks in the United States since September 2001.
For more on the Muslim Ban see, " Trump's Muslim Ban is No Surprise " .
April 6, 2016
Brutality of Sureshbhai Patel
 57-year-old Patel was visiting his son in Alabama from India. A neighbor saw him standing in front of the family home and called the police to report "suspcious behavior." Patel, who does not speak any English, was confused by the situation. The police slammed the man on the ground within 90 seconds of arrival. He suffered severe injuries and is now partially paralyzed as a result.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
The neighbor who called the police described Patel as a "skinny black man wearing a toboggan." Patel's proximity to blackness made him "suspcious"; another example racial profiling followed by excessive force, both of which are common in law enforcement incidents.
For more the Sureshbhai Patel case see, " Police Chief Guilty of Contempt in Surshbhai Patel Excessive Force Case "
August 4, 2015
The Death of Walter Scott
After a traffic stop in North Carolina, 50-year-old African American resident Walter Scott was running from police officer Michael Slager when Slager open fired at the unarmed man's back. Slager was later charged with murder when video evidence of him killing Scott in broad daylight contradicted his account of the incident.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
The abuse of power and control by some authority figures exemplifies the disregard for black lives that is prevalent throughout the criminal justice system.
For more on Walter Scott's death, see "Walter Scott Shotting: Killing was Motivated by 'Overt Racism', mourners at Funeral Told "
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 ".
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" .
July 19, 2015
Police Shooting of Samuel DuBose
Outside of his policing jurisdiction, Officer Ray Tensing pulled over 43-year-old- black man Samuel DuBose for not having a license plate on the front of his vehicle. Within minutes of talking to DuBose, Tensing reached for his pistol and shot DuBose. Tensing and his partner later claimed that DuBose was driving away and dragging him with the car, but video footage from his own body camera directly contradicted his excuse.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
This an example of the dehumanization of black life in this country that began with slavery and is still enforced through state violence.
For more see, " The Shooting of Samuel DuBose ".
June 8, 2015
Texas Pool Party Violence
At a Texas public swimming pool, a physical altercation began when a white patron made racial comments about a young black woman, telling her to return to her "Section 8 housing" and eventually slapping her in the face. When police arrived (in the midst of confusion), numerous black teenage poolgoers were soon forced to the ground and a police officer drew his handgun. The officer later resigned when a video surfaced of him unnecessarily restraining a 15-year-old black girl in a bathing suit by forcing her into the ground.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
As evident in the video of this event, the police officer singled out African American teenagers, and used excessive force. This is expressive of a history of police policies that have disproportionately targeted and criminalized African Americans.
For more see, " Texas Pool Party Chaos " .
June 17, 2015
Charleston Church Massacre
A mass shooting took place inside the historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church when 21-year-old Dylann Roof set out to harm African Americans. He murdered nine people, including State Senator Clementa C. Pickney. Despite Roof's own testimony that this was a calculated racial hate crime, many media sources attributed the cause to "mental illness". Additionally, a number of nationally known politicians downplayed the racist motives that fueled the attack.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
This horrendous massacre reminded many people of the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, in which four black girls were killed. After reviewing Roof's manifesto, sociologist Dr. R. L'Heureux Lewis-McCoy pointed out that the killer subscribed to beliefs about the superiority of whites and the "natural" order of the races. Despite the decades since the 1963 bombing, the violent dehumanization of blacks still continues.
For more information see," Racism is Not a Mental Illness ".
July 10, 2015
South Carolina House Votes to Remove Confederate Flag
 In the wake of the Charleston Church Massacre, debate concerning the continued flying of the Confederate flag at the SC statehouse erupted.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
For more on why the Confederate flag is a symbol of hate, see ERASE Racism President Elaine Gross's editorial "Confederate Flag has No Place on Long Island"
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 " .
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