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Overview

Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an essay in 1968 called “A Testament of Hope” where he expressed his hope for a better future. A lot of progress has been made since the Civil Rights Movement, but there is still a long way to go before we can live in a truly equal society.

This book will look at the origins of black poverty and police violence against blacks, as well as an analysis of where America is today. Some say that America has reached a state in which race doesn’t matter, but there are many examples to the contrary. This book also looks at how racism can be found throughout society, such as welfare cuts and criminalizing blacks. There’s also a movement within black communities for change.

In this passage, the author lists several key points that are important to remember. First, he says that Obama perpetuated the myth of black culture being bad. He also claims that a color-blind society is used as a cover for racial discrimination. Finally, he discusses what the Black Codes were and how they led to black criminalization.

Big Idea #1: Problems in black communities are often misidentified as a cultural issue rather than a systemic one.

Although slavery was abolished in the southern United States during the Civil War, President Lyndon B. Johnson (speaking nearly one hundred years later) made it clear that “freedom is not enough” and that we still need “equality as a result.”

President Lyndon B. Johnson was instrumental in passing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which outlawed discrimination based on race or color. However, it did not solve all problems that plagued African-American communities at the time (and continue to this day). One reason for this is because there’s a perception that black people are lazy and uncivilized. For example, when Republicans blame high unemployment rates among impoverished blacks on their “culture problem,” they’re saying these people don’t value work. Similarly, when President Obama suggests bad choices made by black youths in Chicago are responsible for violence there, he implies these young men have no respect for authority or education.

Black poverty is a major issue in the United States. The economy and democracy of America was built on slavery, which supported its cotton, sugar, rice and tobacco industries. After slavery was abolished and civil rights were won, black people continued to suffer from unemployment as well as underemployment for many years. During the Nixon and Reagan administration there was a cut in social welfare programs which still has an impact today on black communities.

The following are the key points I want to make about racism in America. Racism still exists long after the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and it’s fueling a new black liberation movement.

Big Idea #2: Politicians have spread the false message of a “color-blind” society in order to push a harmful agenda.

It would be a big mistake to think that any bill passed by Congress will eliminate racism in the United States.

But this is not a true picture of the United States. Racism still exists in America, and politicians have tried to cover it up by claiming that we are a “color-blind” society.

The phrase “color-blind” is a myth because it implies that racism doesn’t exist. It also perpetuates the idea that any inequalities in poor black neighborhoods can be eliminated with self-help programs, and not by addressing racial discrimination.

The Nixon administration enacted a series of discriminatory economic policies during its six years in the White House.

Nixon said that America is a free and open society so people would take responsibility for their own poverty or crime. He wanted to make clear that these issues are beyond the help of social policies, so ameliorative measures aren’t even worth the effort.