Pass The Mic: Defining Systemic Racism

Good morning! I went to the page “Bookshelf” to find some more books to read, but nothing’s there. What did I miss?

Also, thanks so much for this episode!

I listened to this podcast to see if I could come to a different understanding of what’s happening in our country; which I definitely feel is not a country problem; but it is a people and heart problem. The term systemic racism is new to me and had no idea what was being said. Also the white privilege idea, which was put off. I am a white woman that is 62 years old. I grew up at a time that was volatile … the 60’s were horribly terrible on the one hand (if I can say that) and amazing on the other hand. As a child I was appalled at the treatment mankind would inflict on another just because of their difference. Created many wars in my house with my parents. My mother said I was backwards-ly prejudiced towards my own race … I felt that I was fighting for the whole … we are all human before we are a race. Fast forward to now and this is all smacking me in the face! I’m somewhat lost. I do believe that white privilege existed, but I don’t see it the same now. I’m sure it’s colored by watching my son, my white son trying to get on with the fire dept. Do mostly to how the ‘fixes’ that were put in place, to fix a real problem … has become a ‘system’ that held back my son from doing what he wanted to do, which was be a fireman. All the fireman I talked to said that he had 2 strikes against him … he was white and he was male. Many of his ethnic friends got hired easily … with no passion for the job … just wanting to work fewer days. He had a passion for the job, it was his heart. It’s time for the pendulum to swing to center. Race or gender shouldn’t even be in the mix. So for my son, there was no white privilege at all. Maybe I live in a cocoon I don’t know it. I don’t think so … very involved in life and community. Oh … I do use the word thugs, but not a group of people … but for behavior. If a person acts like a thug I’ll call them a thug. I don’t care the race.