Structural Racism Timeline

December 5, 2011

Church Bans Interracial Couples

The Gulnare Freewill Baptist Church in Kentucky voted 9 to 6 to ban interracial couples from church services in 2011. The story reflected a similar decision that made headlines two years earlier; a Louisiana pastor had refused to officiate a civil marriage of an interracial couple out of fear that the children produced from such a marriage would "suffer."

HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:

For more about inter-racial marriage laws see, "Interracial Marriage Laws History Timeline" 

June 4, 2011

The Hate Crime of Cece McDonald

CeCe McDonald, an African American transwoman and LGBTQ activist from Minneapolis, came to media attention when she accepted a plea bargain of 41 months for second-degree manslaughter against a man who had harassed her with transphobic and racist comments. The man and his girlfriend had attacked and brutally beaten Ms. McDonald, and his death days later resulted from a wound that was inflicted during the attack. Ms. McDonalds was placed in a men's prison and served 19 months. This event is representative of the intensely disproportional amount violence inflicted on trans women of color.

HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:

Despite being the victim of the attack, McDonald was criminalized for self-defense, which would have been highly unlikely if she were a white women.

For more on Cece McDonald's case, see "The Case of CeCe McDonald: Murder or Self-Defense Against a Hate Crime? "

November 8, 2010

Long Island Teens Sentenced for Hate Crime of Marcelo Lucero

In 2010, four Patchogue teens were sentenced for the 2008 murder of Marcelo Lucero, which was determined to be a hate-crime. The night of the attack, the teens set out to harass Latinos and upon coming into contact with Lucero they beat him and killed him.

HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:

A recent report from the Southern Poverty Law Center found that Latinos in Suffolk County, which occupies about two-thirds of Long Island, have lived in a "climate of fear." The atmosphere of violence towards Latinos was created, in part, by anti-immigrant groups and some county elected officials who blamed economic problems on "illegal immigrants."

For more on Marcel Lucero's death see, " Climate Fear " .

July 7, 2010

Sharron Angle

Endorsing what many called "the most racist ads of the year," U.S. Senate nominee Sharron Angle was quickly condemned by many Hispanic politicians. The ads featured "illegal aliens" as violent Mexican gangmembers. In attempt to mend her reputation as more minority-friendly, Angle spoke to a large group of Hispanic youth, where she said "I don't know that all of you are Latino. Some of you look a little more Asian to me."

HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:

Politicians often use fear tactics to win support; however, in doing so they also reinforce dangerous racial stereotypes.

For more see, " Sharron Angle Tells Latino Kids They 'Look Asian ".

June 4, 2010

Jake Knotts

South Carolina Senator Jake Knotts lobbed racial slurs at candidate Nikki Healy, who is of Indian descent, and President Barack Obama, claiming "We've already got a raghead in the White House, we don't need another raghead in the governor's mansion." Knotts defended his comments bystating that they were meant jokingly.

HOW DOES THIS CONNECT TO STRUCTURAL RACISM?:

When politicians are openly and unapologetically hateful, they send a message to their constituents that it is acceptable to be racist.

For more see, " Knotts Calls Jaley, Obama 'rag-heads' on Online Talk Show ".