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Systemic racism is imbued into all policy domains of the United States. The result is a divided country with differences in the lived experiences of Black and white communities. By unpacking the historical influences of white supremacy, this article explores how systemic racism manifests in criminal justice, housing, education, health, and elections policies. Through our policy discussions, we assert substantial evidence of systemic racism against Blacks and offer a call to action to move forward. In implementing public policies, public administration and public policy leaders have a fundamental responsibility to create social change that dismantles systemic racism.
Keywords: Racism, Criminal Justice, Housing, Education, Health, Elections
"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. "
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
An undeniable chasm exists in the United States of America. For some members of society, the American Dream is a continued manifestation of freedom, democracy, and inalienable rights. For others, the "American Nightmare" involves oppression, discrimination, and racism (Kendi, 2020, para. 15). This chasm, built on the hypocrisy of white supremacy, leads to differences in lived experiences. When compared to whites, Blacks have limited access to power and privilege in a system of governance with an undeniable history linked to white supremacy. If social justice is the pursuit of all things being equal, how then do we overcome the chasm of racism in the United States?
This manuscript is an exercise in "naming, blaming, and claiming" racism in the United States of America (Gooden, 2014, p. 66). The Scholar Strike for Racial Justice, an action and digital teach-in held virtually on September 8 - 9, 2020, addressed racism and injustice in the United States. Organized on Twitter and YouTube, the two-day Scholar Strike was inspired by Drs. Anthea Butler and Kevin Gannon to fight for racial justice by raising awareness of police shootings and racialized violence (https://www.scholarstrike.com/). Like Colin Kaepernick and other professional athletes, raising awareness of the original sin of racism in the United States moved many scholars to activate, agitate and advocate for racial justice. In just a short time, faculty, staff, and students in higher education institutions participated in the national movement to raise awareness and educate others on the topics of race, racism, and injustice. The virtual event underscored the...