Systemic Racism

The United States is the only country to be founded on slavery. Without racism, the United States would not exist today. For 340 years (88% of our history) the United States has had formal, explicit, and legal OPPRESSION of blacks and minorities. For 340 years (88% of our history) the United States has had formal, explicit, and legal PRIVILEGE for whites. Race is not biological, but socially constructed. Systemic racism is the theory that links the historical, institutional, cultural & interpersonal aspects of racism. Racism is not simply "tacked on" to society, but it is foundational and systemic. Race and gender discrimination has pervaded an array of major institutions including law, employment, housing, education, health care, and politics. Institutionalized racism often goes unnoticed because it persists even without conscious bigotry by its constituents. The goal of affirmative action is to counteract the effects of systemic racism.