DEFEATING RACISM

What does it take?

By

Eva M. Abram

What is Race?

Race is a social construction created by

Those in political and economic power to

Maintain their privileged status.

RACIAL HIERARCHY

• Caucasian, White race

• Mongolian, Asian race

• Malayan, Brown race

• American Indian, Red race

• Ethiopian, Black race

RACISM DEFINED

Prejudice + Power = Racism

Prejudice – the belief that your race is

superior and others are inferior.

Power – the ability to act on those beliefs, creating and enforcing laws…

HOUSING – Pattern of Racism

COVENANTS AND REDLINING

No person/persons of Asiatic, African or

Negro blood, lineage or extraction shall be

Permitted to occupy… said property….

EDUCATION – Pattern of Racism

Seattle Public High School 2005 Study

…rates of discipline are skewed against Black and Latino students.

SHORT-TERM SUSPENSIONS:

16% of African Americans suspended

Compared to 6% of Caucasian students.

SEATTLE SCHOOLS DISCIPLINE DATAShort-Term Suspensions – High School

2004-5 2009-10 2010-11

Af. Am. 16.0% 14.2% 17.5%

Latino 9.0% 9.4% 8.1%

Native Am. 7.5% 9.5% 12.7%

Caucasian 6.0% 3.8% 4.0%

Asian 4.0% 3.0% 2.9%

EXPULSIONS – High School

2009 – 10 2010 - 11

African Am. .3% (8) .1% (2)

Latino 0.0% 0.1% (1)

Native Am. 0.8% (2) 0.0% (0)

Caucasian 0.0% (2) 0.0% (0)

Asian 0.0% (1) 0.0% (0)

Faces of Poverty

Poverty in Washington

% Below Poverty Line

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

White Black Asian Hisp.

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic

Ethnic Poverty - Seattle

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Wh Blk As Hisip. 2Races

White

Black

Asian

Hispanic

2 Races

List of Organizations

• Undoing Racism, www.pisab.org

• People’s Institute NW, www.pinwseattle.or

• www.Antiracistalliance.com

• www.colorofchange.com

• www.raceforward.org

• AAUW