Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man

Chapter 7 opens with a question about racism in contemporary American society, presenting it as a problem of the past. For many White people, racism refers to fringe individual behavior, like cross burning. As Acho observes, however, systemic (or structural) racism is a more pervasive problem. Systemic racism is a subtle form of oppression that gives advantages to White people, while simultaneously harming racial minorities. It refers to biases interwoven into the fabric of American society, creating inequalities in power, opportunities, laws, and so forth.

For example, structural barriers hinder Black people from building wealth through homeownership. Although redlining was outlawed in 1968, barriers preventing Black families from purchasing homes still exist, notably, discriminatory lending. As a result, Black families tend to live in poorer neighborhoods—which in turn, affects the quality of education. Public schools rely on local, state, and federal tax dollars to operate. Homes in poorer neighborhoods are worth less than those in more affluent areas, so they bring in less tax revenue for schools; this means schools in poorer, predominantly Black areas are less well funded than those in affluent White communities.

Opponents of busing programs and redistricting exacerbate the learning gap between Black and White students.