Your Vote Counts - Part 2

The final day of voting is tomorrow, so today we continue the conversation we started last week about the importance of doing so, especially for people of color. In this episode, we talk about many different examples of institutional racism in America as a way of emphasizing the importance of taking action to create a more fair and equal society with your vote.

We start with a clip from Little House on the Prairie, where the character Solomon articulates his wish to be white rather than Black, using this to springboard our conversation about institutional racism. It is important to recognize that the society Solomon lived in which made him feel that way was architected by white leaders who shouldn’t be celebrated. We talk about some examples of white anti-state terrorism in America, making the point that these groups were not penalized to nearly the extent they would have been had they been Black, this being due to systemic racism. We use a bunch of other examples to highlight institutional oppression today, including an experience Kojo had in court after finding out he was one of a group consisting predominantly of people of color who had to appear that day. From there, we bring up the topic of the myth of Black racism, using a clip from a lecture by Dr. Joy DeGruy where she elucidates how racism is defined by an intersection of race and power.

In today’s show, we also talk about the idea that while we cannot judge if one is racist in their heart or soul, their actions and language can be used as a measure. Apathy toward the suffering of people of a different race than you is a form of racism from this perspective. So tune in and hear some of the facts, and stay with us until the end where we present a line of action you can take to help change things. Exercise your right to vote, stay educated, and if today’s show struck a chord with you, you’re on the right track.