Posed Question: Reflect on the discussion about history, our foundational structures, the "red lining" of families of color out of opportunity for economic advancement, the connection between poverty, educational opportunity, and incarceration. Are you able to see those connections?
Response: Understanding and reflecting on the breadth and depth of systemic racism and its cascading effects is so massive, consuming and insidious it's hard to tell what societal systems it has NOT affected. How do we create supportive and positive systems of change without deconstructing the tainted foundations that everything else has been built upon? Addressing socioeconomic ills by addressing the capitalistic structures of exploitation seems like a good place to start to me, but that requires monumental changes that I feel the average American simply isn't willing to make because they value peace and what's known when facing the unknown even when the motive is to create something better that invests in ALL our citizens. Investment in people... that to me makes a lot more sense as a foundation to build a strong nation upon. Solutions that revolve around social safety nets, increasing wages to a livable wage, rehabilitation over punishment, equitable access to education and resources, revamping the criminal justice system, etc. are just a few that come to mind.
I think this idea of deconstructing is a powerful one. I truly believe that it will require deconstructing, defunding, tearing down of foundations that are rebuilt explicitly with an eye towards race and an understanding of how to make a system work for those who are entering it from a place of systemic and historical disadvantage. However, I agree that the biggest challenge will be for the average American to even understand it, agree with it, much less, put in the work to make it happen. I do see some promise in a few very specific areas of focus and physical geographies. Overall, this course is opening my eyes to the depth and breadth of racism in so many of the the systems that we never even think about, but simply function within.