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' "
May 11, 2013
"IQ and Immigration Policy" Dissertation
Jason Richwine of the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank located in Washington DC, released a paper claiming that the intelligence levels and mental capabilities of the non-white immigrant population are far lower than that of the "white native population." Richwine further suggested that Hispanic immigrants recieve an IQ test before being admitted into the United States and to only allow entry to the "smart immigrants."
WHY IS THIS RELATED TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?
"Phrenology", popular in the 19th century, was a pseudoscientific technic of measuring the size and shape of someone's head to determine brain size and shape (as a measure for intelligence and emotional stability). "Scientists" and slave-owners used this tool to justify slavery, claiming that Africans had enlarged areas of the brain that correlated with their need for "a master." The practice has since found to be false, not unlike Richwine's claims, because there is no genetic or scientific difference between the brain's and intelligence of people by race. Continuing to perpetuate this myth means an endorsment of the claims for white supremacy.
For more see, " Why Did Harvard Give a PhD for a Discredited Approach to Race & IQ ? "
November 15, 2012
Maine Commisioner Remarks about Native Americans
Philip Congdon, former Maine cabinet member and chair of the Department of Economic and Community Development, was quoted as blaming the current situation of poverty among Native Americans on "bad parenting", urging them to "get off the reservation."
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
For more on the current state of discrimination against Native Americans see, "This is Modern-day Discrimination Against Native American Looks Like"
November 26, 2012
Student Told to Cut Her Hair or Leave School
Despite other students teasing 12-year-old African American student Vanessa VanDyke, the young girl said that she loved her poofy, natural hair. However, after VanDyke's parents informed school officials that there daughter was being teased, the school informed VanDyke that she had a week to decide whether to cut her natural hair or leave Faith Christian Academy, citing it as a "distraction" to other students. Fortunately, after the story began to circulate and the controversy reached the press, the school decided to retract their ultimatum.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Throughout history, "natural hair", for both African-American women and men, has been the subject of extensive controversy; from the banning of protective styles in the military to the emotional stress of not living up to dominant "standards of beauty."
For more on the policing of Black women's hair see, "Black Women Natural Hair At the Workplace"
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 " .
September 20, 2012
"Lynching" Empty Chairs
At the Republican National Convention, actor Clint Eastwood performed a 12-minute skit in which he criticized an empty chair representing President Obama. The speech quickly became a hit with republican voters around the country. In a violent twist, instances of citizens "lynching" these symbolic empty chairs from trees began to pop up, often adding American flags and labels that referred to President Obama. When reached out for questioning, the citizens who hung the chairs defended their actions.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Symbolic lynching serves as a culture reminder of white supremacy and while they do not directly inflict physical violence, they inspire and reinforce discriminatory behavior that sometimes leads to physical violence.
For more on lynching see, "The Lynching of Empty Chairs".
August 6, 2012
Wisconsin Sikh Temple Shooting
40-year-old US Army veteran Michael Page murdered six people and injured 4 people in a Sikh
Temple. Page, a white supremacist, was covered in tattoos linking him to neo-nazi organizations and was openly involved in the "white power music scene."
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Though violence against Sikhs in Wisconsin was unheard of before the shooting, many in this community said they had sensed a rise in antipathy since the attacks on Sept. 11 and suspected it was because people mistake them for Muslims.
For more on the Sikh Temple shooting see, " Shooting Reported at Temple in WInconsin "
Febuary 13, 2012
Subtle Discrimination Against Jeremy Lin
Since Jeremy Lin's arrival in the NBA, sports fans have blurred the line between "funny" and prejudice. In fact, even Madison Square Garden permitted the display of Lin's head popping out of a fortune cookie on the jumbotron.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Asian-Americans, even those whose families have lived in the US for generations, are still widely viewed and treated as "foreign". While often seen as the "model minority" (a racist title that presumes Asians to be the superior race second to whites, based on levels of achieved success), many narratives are employed to stereotype Asian-Americans as "un-masculine" and therefore un-athletic males. Because Lin seems to be the exception to this stereotype, he is sensationalized for his race rather than for his impressive talent and hard work.
Read more at, "Why do discriminatory comments against Asian-Americans never cause a stir ? "
February 26, 2012
The Death of Trayvon Martin
Unarmed African American teenager Trayvon Martin was killed by George Zimmerman as Zimmerman was patroling a gated community. Zimmerman suspected that Martin was guilty of something and followed him (despite having been told not to by the police non-emeregncy line that he had called). Zimmerman was found not guilty of murder.
HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:
Zimmerman defended killing Martin on the basis of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" (SYG) law, which allows the claim of self-defense. A study showed that in SYG states, "the shooting of a black person by a white person is found justifiable 17 percent of the time, while the shooting of a white person by a black person is deemed justifiable just over 1 percent of the time." (Citation: Race, Justifiable Homicide, and Stand Your Ground Laws: Analysis of FBI Supplementary Homicide Report Data).
For more on Trayvon Martin's death see, " Race, Justifiable Homicide, and Stand Your Ground Laws: Analysis of FBI Supplementary Homicide Report Data "
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 "
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