Racism
Understanding Racism
Undoing Racism
Racism and Faith
Educational Resources
Understanding Racism
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Individual attitudes and behavior
Institutional practices and procedures
Structural policies and patterns
Who benefits?
Paradigms / Conceptions
of Race
• Biological/genetic
• Cultural “ethnicity”
• Structural/materialist
Defining Race
• A population considered different
because of physical characteristics
• A social construct, an
epiphenomenon with little or no
scientific justification
• However, “race” has enduring social
significance
Defining Racism
• A system of racially
conferred -- and denied
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Privilege
Advantage
Benefits
Status
• Racism: a defense of
racial privilege
Racism
is
Prejudice
Plus
Power
Distinguish Between
Personal Prejudice
and Personal Acts
versus
Systemic and Institutional
Preferences for Whites
Individual Racism
• Discrimination Model
– Victim/perpetrator
– Prejudice (bad actor / bad apple)
– Intent (purpose and motive)
Institutional Racism
• Recognizes that racism need not be
individualist or intentional
• Institutional and cultural practices
can perpetuate race inequality
without relying on racist actors
What is Structural Racism?
If the KKK keeps people out of
school, we understand that as
racism
But if Fewer People of Color
Can Afford to Attend Private
Schools, College and Graduate
Schools Is that Racism?
Structural Racism
• Attention to inter-institutional
arrangements and interactions
• Structure: “the arrangement or
interrelation of all the parts of a
whole” (Webster’s Dictionary)
Flip side of stark racial
disparities
• White privilege:
– The reality of unearned advantage, conferred
dominance, and invisible privilege enjoyed by
white Americans, to the detriment, burden
and disadvantage of people of color.
– the reality that in U.S. society “there are
opportunities which are afforded whites that
people of color simply do not share.”
We have long since grown
accustomed to thinking of
Blacks as being “racially
disadvantaged.”
Harlon Dalton
Rarely, however, do we refer to
Whites as “racially
advantaged,” even though that
is an equally apt
characterization of the existing
inequality.
Harlon Dalton
Race Advantage
Racism enters into every sphere of
social relations
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Economic exploitation
Military subjugation
Political subordination
Cultural devaluation
Psychological violation
Sexual degradation
Verbal abuse
• Racism: a defense of racial
privilege
Racism is
“a whole of interacting and developing
processes which operate so normally and
naturally and are so much a part of the existing
institutions of society that the individuals involved
are barely conscious of their operation”
James Boggs, Racism and the Class Struggle 147-148.
Not Just White and Black
HISTORY
Racism has been part of the social fabric of
America since its European colonization.
Whether it be the tragic past of the Native
Americans, the Mexicans, the Puerto Ricans,
or the blacks, the story is one of slavery,
peonage, economic exploitation, brutal
repression, and cultural neglect.
None have escaped one or another form of
collective degradation by a powerful majority.
Racial Justice
Economic Justice
Gender Justice
Are Intertwined
Isn’t Racism Over?
Because the Courts have
eliminated statutory racial
discrimination and Congress has
enacted civil rights legislation, and
because some minority people
have achieved some measure of
success,
many people believe that
racism is no longer a
problem in American life.
The continuing existence of
racism becomes apparent
when we look beneath the
surface of our national life.
Look beneath the surface
Education?
• African-Americans receive more and
tougher disciplinary action than their white
counterparts, even for the same infraction.
• Drop-out rate is far higher than their white
counterparts' rate.
Housing Segregation
Patterns
Opposition to Immigrants
Blacks comprise 13 percent of the
national population,
but 30 percent of people arrested,
41 percent of people in jail.
Human Rights Watch:
Incarceration and Race
Opposition to Affirmative
Action:
Undoing Racism:
Moving Beyond
• Beyond “polite behavior”
• Beyond “intentionality” to results
• Beyond our “comfort zones”
Start “at home” and look more deeply within
the worlds around us
How start to combat
racism?
Can You Restrict With One
Wire?
Depends on
How You
Arrange the
Wires
Start with the understanding that racism is
“hard-wired” into our society and institutions.
It is like the electric wires in the walls,
or the plumbing,
or the air and heat ductwork.
Invisible. Important. Always There.
It is a life-long struggle for justice.
Structural Racism Directs Us to
Examine the Way the Wires
(Institutions) Are Interconnected
Importance of Structures
Race Disadvantage
6 Stages of Becoming
Anti-Racist Institutions
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Exclusive Segregation
Passive “Club”
Symbolically “ Multicultural”
Anti-racist identity
Structurally transforming institution
Fully inclusive transformed society
Stage 1 Exclusive
Segregated Institution
• Intentional exclusion
• Enforce racist status quo
• Formal policies institutionalize racism
• Usually also excludes other
oppressed groups
Stage 2 Passive “Club”
Institution
• Tolerant of limited # of “proper” people
• Secret limits despite public policies
• Intentional maintenance of white
privilege through policies, decisions
• “We don’t have a problem”
Stage 3 Symbolic Change
A Multicultural Institution
• “Multicultural” policies
• “non racist” open self identity
• Intentional inclusivity “recruiting”
• Expanding view of diversity
BUT
• Little or no change in culture, policies
• Unaware of continuing patterns
Stage 4 Identity Change an
Anti-Racist Institution
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“Anti-Racist” Institutional identity
Growing understanding of racism
Analyzes systemic racism
Anti-racism training
Conscious of institutionalized power and
privilege
• Beginning accountability to excluded
BUT
• Unchanged structures and culture
Stage 5 Structural Change:
A Transforming Institution
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Process of intentional restructuring
Based on anti-racist audit
All aspects of institution examined
Inclusive decision making
Commits to dismantle racism
Multicultural diversity as an asset
Redefines all relationships based on antiracism
Stage 6 Fully Inclusive
Transforming Institution
• Future Vision of overcoming racism
• Full participation with diverse groups
– shared power, shared decisions
shaping the institution
• Sense of restored community
• Becoming allies with others
combating oppression
Racism and Faith
Christian Social Responsibility
Feeling Right
Thinking Right
Social Analysis
Theological Reflection
Acting Right
Catholic Resources
• Brothers and Sisters to Us (1979)
• Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself Compendium (1997-2000)
• Catholic Charities USA: “Poverty and
Racism: Overlapping Threats to the
Common Good” 2008
Sinful Racism:
personal and social
Racism is a sin:
a sin that divides the
human family,
blots out the image of
God among specific
members of that family,
and violates the
fundamental human
dignity of those called to
be children of the same
Father.
Goal is Justice not Guilt
Movement toward justice
demands a simultaneous attack
on racism and economic
oppression.
Bishops point to 5 areas that
illustrate continuing racism:
Employment
Education
Housing
Criminal Justice
Opposition to Affirmative Action
The educational, legal, and
financial systems, along with
other structures and sectors of
our society, impede people's
progress and narrow their
access because they are black,
Hispanic, Native American or
Asian.
The structures of our society are
subtly racist,
for these structures reflect the
values which society upholds.
They are geared to the success
of the majority and the failure
of the minority. Members of
both groups give unwitting
approval by accepting things
as they are.
Perhaps no single individual is to
blame.
The sinfulness is often
anonymous but nonetheless
real.
The sin is social in nature in that
each of us, in varying degrees, is
responsible.
Under the guise of other
motives, racism is manifest in the
tendency to stereotype and
marginalize whole segments of
the population whose presence
is perceived as a threat.
Racism is manifest also in the
indifference that replaces open
hatred.
The minority poor
are seen as the
byproduct of a
post-industrial
society -- without
skills, without
motivation,
without incentive.
They are
expendable
people.
In my class and place, I did not
recognize myself as a racist
because I was taught to see
racism only in individual acts of
meanness by members of my
group, never in invisible systems
conferring unsought racial
dominance on my group from
birth.
Peggy McIntosh, 1988
Today's racism flourishes in the
triumph of
private concern over public
responsibility,
individual success over social
commitment,
and personal fulfillment over
authentic compassion
Be willing to move beyond
your comfort zones
Transformative Education
Educate Self and Community
about history and reality
of the barriers
of structural racism
How it affects us,
How it affects others.
CREATE a safe environment for open and
honest discussion
Study Bishops Pastorals
“Brothers and
Sisters All”
Listen to People of Color
There are
resources for
training &
expert help
Secondary Educational
Resources
• School atmosphere
• School structure
• Campus ministry
• Academic disciplines
– Social science
– Natural science
– Literature, etc.
• JSEA?
Questions for Reflection
• Personal observations of examples of
Prejudice Plus Power?
• Structural or Institutional Racism in our
community – Housing patterns? Criminal
justice? Education – public & private?
Employment? Response to Affirmative
Action? Economic Justice, Gender
Justice
• Not about guilt, but identifying and
challenging unearned privilege and
replace it with Justice.
Future Ethical Reflection
Bryan Massingale
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Shift from racism to white privilege
Shift from parenesis to analysis
Shift from personal to structural sin
Shift from “decency” to distributive justice
Shift from moral suasion to liberating
awareness
• Shift from unconscious supremacy to
intentional solidarity
•Roots/Genesis
•Mission
•Activities
•Staff
Roots/Genesis
Jesuit Province Initiative (pre-Katrina)
The Mission of the Society of Jesus:
serving faith, promoting justice
Recent Document:
“The Importance of Social Research”
JSRI “Concept Paper” developed 20052007
Proposes a collaborative institute
between SJ Province and Loyola
Joint Loyola/Province
Committee
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Provost Walter Harris
Dean Brian Bromberger
Dean Larry Lorenz
Vice Provost George Capowitz
…and several others representing
SJ province and Loyola
Memorandum of
Understanding (11/26/07)
• Purpose
• Mission
• Geographical Scope
Affiliation (CSS)
• Activities
• Collaboration
• Structure
– Staffing
– Board
– Facilities
Mission
• Based in
– Catholic Social Thought
– & SJ mission
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Interdisciplinary
Participatory research
Social analysis
Theological reflection
Practical strategies focusing on
• Migration
• Poverty
• Racism
Resources
• Funding: Operating Expenses
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New restricted endowment
Not out of “salary pool”
1/2 Province 1/2 Loyola
Goal: $6 million -- 2/3 already raised
• Projects, Presentations and Programs
– Income based on stipends, fees, grants,
donations
Activities
• Research and Analysis
• Education
• Facilitation
• Advocacy
• Immersion Experiences
Activities: 20072008
• Year of planning and development
• Consultation / Listening
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Within Loyola
Southern/ Southwestern U.S.
Gulf / Caribbean Region
Mexico & Central America
• Common reflective process
Activities: 20072008
• Infrastructure, board and staff development
• Migration: articles, testimony, visits to detention
centers, advocacy.
• Racism: collect, study of “best practices” e.g.,
“Black Males Left Behind”.
• Poverty: consulting on economic development
project in Central America
Staff: 2007-2008
• Edward B. Arroyo, SJ, Ph. D. Duke
– Director / Senior Fellow / Sociologist
• Michael Bouzigard, SJ, D. Phil. Oxon.
– Research Fellow: Poverty/Economic Development
• Thomas Greene, SJ, J.D. Loyola
– Research Fellow: Migration
• Mary Baudouin, MSW Wash.U (1/4) time
– Link with SJ province ministries / Social Justice
• Shera Maiden, MA Southern U
– Administrative Assistant
http://www.loyno.edu/jsri
JESUIT SOCIAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Loyola University New Orleans
Website: www.loyno.edu/jsri
e-mail: jsri@loyno.edu
6363 St. Charles Avenue, Box 94
Mercy Hall 306
New Orleans, LA 70118
Tel: (504) 864-7746
Fax: (504) 864-7745