The Legacy of Racism

The legacy of racism in our country it’s not structural, it is not systemic, it’s not even economic. The most pervasive and damaging legacy of racism in America is psychological; the inability of some people to look beyond race, and the constant inclination to view every issue through the lens of race. The real “white privilege” in America is that psychologically most white people are able to view themselves as individuals and not part of their racial group. They’re able to embrace the concept of a color-blind society because they have not had the history of being discriminated against based on their race. While minority groups who have suffered under the legacy of discrimination have a much more difficult time seeing themselves as individuals, and not a member of their race, and it is that psychological inability that prevents many minorities from excelling the way they are capable of.

If people have not suffered discrimination, then it is easier to embrace the concept that success is determined by what they do, how hard they work, how smart they are, how well they mastered the task at hand. But if they have experienced discrimination, then it is much more difficult to separate out the point of their discrimination as a determining factor in their success. So, if people believe that a factor outside their control determines their success or failure, they may not even try because every effort they make will be thwarted by the rigged society they live and work in. Many of these people believe they are defeated before they even begin because psychologically the legacy of discrimination has told them that there is no use to even try.