Lecture Notes: Tim Wise on Race and Racism in America

Introduction

• Significant progress in race relations in the U.S. (abolition of slavery, civil rights movement, election of a Black president)
• Despite progress, racial inequalities persist
  • Example: More African Americans under correctional control today than were enslaved in 1850
• Racial bias still affects perceptions and treatment

Tim Wise's Background

• Anti-racist educator and author
• Grew up in Nashville, Tennessee
• Early exposure to Black authority figures and peers
  • Attended a historically Black college for preschool
• Noticed racial disparities in treatment during elementary school

College Activism

• Attended Tulane University in New Orleans
• Involved in anti-apartheid activism
• Failed to address local racism initially
  • Realized this after being questioned by a Black student from Xavier University

Confronting White Privilege

• Reflection on privileges as a white person in Louisiana
• David Duke's political campaigns highlighted the prevalence of white support for racist ideologies
  • Duke received significant support from white voters despite his Nazi affiliations
• Realization of the need for white people to address racism within their own communities

Impact of Historical Racism

• John Howard Griffin's book "Black Like Me" explored racism by a white man temporarily living as a Black man
• Griffin's approach was flawed by not examining white identity and privilege
• Instead of exploring what it means to be Black, Wise suggests examining what it means to be white

White Identity and Privilege

• Whiteness is often unexamined and considered the default
• Historically, being white has provided privileges and benefits
  • Example: Naturalization Act of 1790, Social Security Act exclusions, FHA housing loans, GI Bill
• These programs disproportionately benefited white people

Modern Racial Inequalities

• Persistent disparities in income, wealth, education, and health
  • Example: Higher infant mortality rates and shorter life expectancy for African Americans
• Mass incarceration disproportionately affects African Americans due to drug war policies
  • Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow" highlights this issue

White Perceptions and Reverse Discrimination

• Some white people believe affirmative action and other programs harm them
• Studies show these beliefs are not based in reality
• Media portrayal of welfare recipients as predominantly Black contributes to misconceptions

Political Manipulation of Racial Fears

• Republican strategies have used racial coding to gain white working-class support
  • Example: Lee Atwater's explanation of race-based political appeals
• This strategy has led to cuts in social programs perceived as benefiting people of color

The Need for a Color-Conscious Approach

• Colorblindness ignores systemic inequalities and perpetuates racism
• Recognizing and addressing racial disparities is necessary for true equality
• Embracing a tradition of white anti-racism can help combat racial injustice

Conclusion

• The U.S. has a history of using racial fears to manipulate and divide people
• Addressing these issues requires acknowledging history and working towards racial justice