America has been racist from the start. Racism is defined as prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized (U.S Dictionary). Black individuals were rejected from college admissions for being of the Black race. America has grown and expanded through the exploitation of Black slaves and BIPOC individuals. Black slaves built America. By using their hands and backs to always please the White man. America continues to be racist through residential housing, government SNAP benefits, our healthcare system, our criminal justice system, education system, and labor workforce.
Racism is not a new topic. It is not a new ideology that had become foreign to us. Plantations and cotton fields spread all throughout America. Even now in 2022, we are still not far from the horrific and traumatizing experiences of Black individuals. Canada, Haiti, United States, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, China, Turkey, Iran, Northern Nigeria, Ethiopia, Germany, Soviet Union, Saudi Arabia, Yemen all contained slaves. These are all racist practices that affect all of us and everyone around us that has been derived since the upcoming of The United States of America. The social construct of race has been at the expense of Black individuals; through the blood on their backs and the scars on their hands, racist tactics began since the foundation of this country. When answering the question of whether or not America has always been racist, yes. The United States has always profited from the backs of the working class; not to mention that it’s lands were stolen from indiginous individuals and occupied by the English. Whether or not America has been foundationally racist is not the question to answer here, but instead ask the question why has America always been foundationally racist.
During the 15th century, slaves were kidnapped from West Africa and taken to Europe to be servants and please the White man. Our country was built on stolen land and at the risk of Black and BIPOC individuals. Ibram X. Kendi once argued that in order for us to move into a more anti-racist society and abolish racism, we must first acknowledge our past failures and create long-lasting change to a history filled with corrupt and racist ideals. We don’t need to go too far back into History to establish that America is foundationally racist. If we analyze and observe the Jan 6th capitol riot that occurred at the beginning of 2021, we see America and true “patriots’ ‘ were able to break into a federal building and walk out alive. Yet, Black and Brown individuals are serving years in prison for weed position or unpaid parking tickets. Our criminal justice system is racist, our education system is racist, healthcare, SNAP government support programs is racist. The books we read and the History we are taught is an attempt to erase racist tactics from the U.S and paint us to be this welcoming, inclusive melting pot. Instead, it’s a place derived from racism and stolen land and the expense of the inferiors.