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The History of Racism: A History Lesson from Social Justice Activists

June 11, 2012 | Heather Haberman, Program Associate, NCCD

Dr. Joy DeGruy has researched the history of racism in the United States, particularly regarding African Americans. DeGruy’s research includes information about the journey of enslaved Africans, beginning with the slave castles in Ghana. The images of dark dungeons with little room to move are haunting. A picture of a death cell for resisters is even more chilling; the door with only a small number of holes drilled in it. People in that cell died a terrible death of starvation, dehydration, and suffocation.  

Dr. Joy DeGruy has researched the history of racism in the United States, particularly regarding African Americans. DeGruy’s research includes information about the journey of enslaved Africans, beginning with the slave castles in Ghana. The images of dark dungeons with little room to move are haunting. A picture of a death cell for resisters is even more chilling; the door with only a small number of holes drilled in it. People in that cell died a terrible death of starvation, dehydration, and suffocation.  

Racism permeated the beginnings of science. Carl Von Linneaus was an anthropologist who created racial categories. His descriptions of the character of various peoples fit the racist, ethnocentric beliefs held by Europeans. Blumenbach was a scientist who identified beauty as a scientific category. James Marion Sims, the founder of the field of gynecology, performed brutal gynecological experiments on African American women who were enslaved, and performed experiments on Black babies with a 100% death rate.

Racist U.S. policies emerged, justified by both religion and science. In early U.S. history, laws protecting Whites imposing violence on Blacks can be found, including an accidental killing policy, which arose due to an alarming rate of White women beating Black children to death— the children a product of their rapist husbands. 

Why discuss such injustice and tragedy from the past? The history of racism continues today. Garbage dumps in Ghana collect heaps of technological refuse from developed countries, poisoning the ground. In many areas of the world where human needs are not being met, racism often determines whose needs are met. In the United States, racial profiling continues, and a disproportionate number of people of color are in prisons. Discussing history helps in understanding the racism inherent in systems, be they education, legal, medical, or scientific. Awareness of history increases understanding of how racism can hide in systems, blaming its victims to avoid detection. Today’s racism is less about lynching and more about the new Jim Crow.       

Dr. Angela Davis speaks of women’s experiences in jail and prison, and of the racism that occurs in the justice system. She uses her own experience to demonstrate racial profiling. Davis’ activism prompted a warrant for her arrest, yet “wanted” posters described her as a Black woman with a fro, who was considered violent, dangerous, and wanted for kidnapping among other felonies.

Today’s racism affects youth as well, particularly in the realm of education. Dr. Fania Davis has been instrumental in creating a restorative justice program for youth in Oakland schools called RJOY, an alternative to combat violence and other behavioral problems so that kids can benefit from staying in school. The RJOY program eliminated violence and expulsions in Oakland schools. Additionally, the program reduced suspension rates considerably (> 75%). Such efforts are promising in combatting the school-to-prison pipeline of today’s racism.

For more information:

http://www.newjimcrow.com/

http://education-epicenter.net/thoth/leaders/adavis/

http://www.spiritlawpolitics.org/people/fania_davis.html

http://www.joydegruy.com/

Heather Haberman is a Program Associate at NCCD.