Reference no: EM133621795

Discussion

One of the pressing issues in contemporary America is how to deal with institutional racism. This concept supposes that institutions like the prison system, the judicial system, the educational system, the banking system as well as many other institutions that create the infrastructure in America, have not purged themselves of the racism that was built into the foundation of America, primarily through slavery. The thought that institutional racism actually exists is something that is questioned by some. The recent verdict against, and subsequent incarceration of, officer Chauvin for the death of George Floyd reignited the debate of whether institutional racism exists and if so, how best to dismantle it. We have been in a national debate if deep historical, institutional racism is still at play in policing practices in contemporary America. Recently, a debate emerged around the idea that teaching slavery should include the "benefits" of slavery as well. I put in italics because that is hotly debated if anything of value was retained by the slave due to his her enslavement.

The online questions is this, do you think that today's racism has a direct link to what happened in the American past? Why or why not? Make an argument either way. If you think there is a connection to our deep past then describe what are the historical links that bind today to the past?