What is Systemic Racism?

Defining Systemic Racism in 12 Charts

Ending racism is not a matter of poor people pulling themselves up by their bootstraps. Its a matter of the system being stacked against African Americans, and more broadly the poor.

I'm summarizing the article from USA Toady dated June 18, 2020.

Glenn Harris, president of Race Forward says systemic racism leads to disparities in many "success indicators," he says, including wealth, health, criminal justice, employment, housing, political representation and education. 

Disparities start in the delivery room

Black women die 3 times more often giving birth

Pregnancy-related deaths per 100,000 live births

Black Americans are dying at a disproportionate rate from COVID-19

Black Americans are also almost twice as likely as white Americans to lack health insurance, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, making it difficult to receive proper care. Disparities are seen across a number of chronic diseases, as well as in the current pandemic.

Black men and women live shorter lives

From the classroom to the C-suite ...

In schools, Black students face disproportionate suspension rates. For instance, Black girls often receive more severe penalties for the same behavior as white peers, experts say. They are nearly 6 times more likely to get out-of-school suspension. The disparities continues through graduation rates and college.

Black unemployment rate among highest

Four Fortune 500 CEOS are black

Black median household income trails other races

Black homeownership rates remain lowest in US

Black poverty rate more than double white rate

Criminal justice

Black men are 2.5 times more likely to be killed by police than white men, according to a study from the University of Michigan, Rutgers University and Washington University. Bias has also been documented in plea bargains and sentencing. After decades of rising incarceration rates that followed the “get tough on crime’’ mandate of the 1980s, ’90s and early 2000s, the problem of mass incarceration is slowly declining, according to Pew Research data.Voices in Washington

Voices in Washington

According to Pew Research, African Americans view “political representation as a potential catalyst for increased racial equality.” However, voter suppression remains a critical issue. While there has been increased Black political leadership in the House of Representatives, the Senate only has three Black senators. 

All of this data is backed by decades of research.