A call for Activists of Color

All activists of color interested in working on a web forum for student activists to interact with the older cadre, please email me at crt.law.mama@gmail.com so that I can give you details and coordinate the launch of the blog. Looking for former Black Panthers, Civil Rights leaders, professional activists, academics who engage in activism, etc. Please forward my information on to interested parties. Thank you!

Please visit my pride and joy: Michigamua Exposed

Institutionalized Racism

I have been neglecting this blog. Unfortunately, I have been lax in my recruitment of CRT scholars to help get this site going. I will make a point to make contact with some of those I lost contact with and get things moving on here.

I was prompted to write this post because of a young activist at the University of Michigan who is going through and dealing with many of the same issues I had as a student there (as well as countless other Black students and students of color). The issue is long and complicated, but it boils down to this- institutionalized racism, what is it and how does it operate? Here are some of the points I made:

1. Racism- is defined differently by people of color, particularly Black folks, and mainstream (read white if you'd like, it's true) America. Until we come to that understanding, the discussion is moot.

2. In response to someone saying that the term "racism" was being used recklessly, I explained that to say that [activists of color are] misusing the term "racism" is not accurate. We just use the term differently. We believe that covert acts that serve to reinforce institutionalized racism (whether it be via the perpetuation of negative stereotypes, etc) are inherently racist in nature. The problem thus becomes, when we label them as "racist" immediately everyone goes on the defensive because it is not politically correct to be a racist. And so we go in circles. We identify the issues and instances of racism, only to be told that are energies are misdirected, that we should focus on the "real racists" who walk around in white sheets and lynch people. Unfortunately, for many of us, the more insidious enemy is the one who purports to be color-blind, free of racism, yet perpetuates negative stereotypes, images, and misinformation about people of color and related issues.

I concluded by explaining that: One does not need an “agenda” against the Black community to contribute to racism, to perpetuate racism, or to embrace it. It is called Institutionalized racism and many classes in the sociology department will assist you on your quest for discovery. Again, our definitions of racism differ, so until we are on the same page- dialogue is fruitless. It is like speaking Korean to an Egyptian who doesn’t understand Korean. How can dialogue progress? So my challenge to you, those who claim racism is not an issue with the Daily cartoon, is to educate yourself on covert racism, institutionalized racism and the forms that this takes. For particular reference material, anything by Professor Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, former University of Michigan Sociology Professor, including the Detroit Area Study of 1997 (I believe) should assist you on this quest. However, I encourage you to read the many genres that discuss institutionalized racism, including Critical Race Theory authors such as, Kimberle Crenshaw, Cheryl Williams, Derrick Bell, Frank Wu, Mari Matsuda, email me for a complete list...

Let me know what you think...