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Why Racism Persists: An Uncomfortable Truth
Investigations into racism tend to be one-sided with an almost exclusive focus on those discriminated against. “Why Racism Persists. An Uncomfortable Truth” explores what has been virtually ignored: the causes and motivations for White racism in America. Beginning with its European roots, Dr. Collier traces the evolution of racism, and delves into factors that have sustained the system of White privilege and anti-Black racism in America. What his analysis unearths are new areas of dialogue about racism and how we might bring solutions to this most difficult problem.
126 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2018
Interesting topic and raises good questions but gets a bit off track for the reader not for the author---when focusing on spiritual life and evil. I skimmed that part but I thought the earlier part of book gave some interesting and thoughtful points to discuss.
April 19, 2021
Dr. Walter V. Collier, a doctorate in public policy analysis, has had a long career in research and strategic planning for a number of significant educational and non-profit entities.
Here he addresses one of the most pressing problems of America in our time: racism and its origins. In the preface, Dr. Collier mentions that he wrote this book during the second term of President Obama, from 2013-2016. Much of the racially-motivated antipathy towards thwarting President Obama's agenda came from the Republican Senate, including preventing his Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, a White Jewish man, from even being considered.
I can only wonder what Dr. Collier might have added about the years of the presidency of Donald Trump, where we saw ever more outrageous behavior by White Supremacists towards Black Americans egged on and abetted by Trump himself, in no uncertain terms, leading up to the assault on the Capitol and our legislators on January 6th of this year. In addition, another variety of racism, against Asian-Americans, came directly from Trump when he called the COVID-19 pandemic a China virus and other derogatory terms. Thirdly, during the Trump years, there was a substantial increase in anti-Semitism, highlighted by the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Dr. Collier addresses the historical economic issues that led to the Civil War as well as economic inequality in modern America. He discusses Whiteness and White Privilege, the psychopathology of racism and racists, the persistence of racism from generation to generation, political institutions and spiritual concerns and their impact on behavior.
We have a lot of work to do in the United States to confront and address these issues and while there won't be instant change or easy answers, nothing will get better until we face our problems and take steps to move in a positive and inclusive direction. Dr. Collier has laid out the issues and their basis of existence and now we need to act on his research and observations.
Here he addresses one of the most pressing problems of America in our time: racism and its origins. In the preface, Dr. Collier mentions that he wrote this book during the second term of President Obama, from 2013-2016. Much of the racially-motivated antipathy towards thwarting President Obama's agenda came from the Republican Senate, including preventing his Supreme Court pick, Merrick Garland, a White Jewish man, from even being considered.
I can only wonder what Dr. Collier might have added about the years of the presidency of Donald Trump, where we saw ever more outrageous behavior by White Supremacists towards Black Americans egged on and abetted by Trump himself, in no uncertain terms, leading up to the assault on the Capitol and our legislators on January 6th of this year. In addition, another variety of racism, against Asian-Americans, came directly from Trump when he called the COVID-19 pandemic a China virus and other derogatory terms. Thirdly, during the Trump years, there was a substantial increase in anti-Semitism, highlighted by the massacre at a Pittsburgh synagogue.
Dr. Collier addresses the historical economic issues that led to the Civil War as well as economic inequality in modern America. He discusses Whiteness and White Privilege, the psychopathology of racism and racists, the persistence of racism from generation to generation, political institutions and spiritual concerns and their impact on behavior.
We have a lot of work to do in the United States to confront and address these issues and while there won't be instant change or easy answers, nothing will get better until we face our problems and take steps to move in a positive and inclusive direction. Dr. Collier has laid out the issues and their basis of existence and now we need to act on his research and observations.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews