Discussion Forum - Module 4

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The Role of Federalism in Racial Segregation

How do we interpret the events of the summer of 2020, with the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, together with the events of Ferguson and Baltimore riots of the last few years? The media paints a picture of the citizens protesting and using violence as unruly mobs while individualizing the causes of the events. In Ferguson, the flash point was the shooting of Michael Brown while in Baltimore, the death of Freddie Grey. The question a social scientist would ask is, "Why are mostly African American citizens reacting in similar fashions to interactions with the police across America?" "What are the conditions for such action?" and, "Why are riots continually occurring throughout our history since the Civil Rights movement?" When we ask these questions, we are able to conceptualize the problem in ways past the immediate and superficial.

One way political scientists view problems stemming from the Minneapolis, Ferguson and Baltimore riots is from an institutional basis. We ask questions such as, "Could a contributing factor be the institutional arrangements of the American Government, more specifically federalism?" And, "How has policy at the federal, state and local levels created the conditions for the riots today?"

Second, and a really important concept to clarify, are the terms racism and racist. Racism in America today has a long tradition grounded in racist policy. In other words, the official rules with which we govern ourselves by have a basis in keeping people separate based on the human construct of race. Americans by and large don't see themselves as products of a racist society, nor do they consider themselves to be racists. Today, it is socially unacceptable to exhibit explicit racism such as discriminatory policy or calling someone a racial epitaph. However, a variety of evidence suggests we are still a racist society. So, how can we be a country that has racism without racists?

Social scientists see the problem differently than most citizens. Many in the social sciences see the problem as structural. Structural means the conditions such as the history, rules, geographic distribution of population, recurring patterns of interaction such as media images and the language we use, economic opportunities, and the relationships between the dominant and subordinate groups in a society. One way social scientists define structural racism is Prejudice + Power = Racism. In other words, our biases about subordinate groups (those different from dominant group) plus the social power of being in a dominant group tends to produce outcomes that disadvantage certain the subordinate groups to the advantage of dominant group members.

Today, we see hear the phrase, "white privilege." Acknowledging white privilege is really hard for many Americans because they don't see themselves as privileged. They worked hard for what they have. They overcame conditions of poverty, dedicated and educated themselves, and often worked two or more jobs to secure the things they have. They certainly don't call people derogatory ethnic and racial slurs, so they are not racists, and they don't feel privileged. In fact, many people become very defensive when discussing race.

There are a number of reasons for this. First, many Americans see racism as explicit and in the past. Second, we are not taught how to talk about race because frank discussions are generally not taught in the public schools. Moreover, depending on your position in a dominant or subordinate group, we conceptualize the idea of privilege differently.

Finally, what can we learn from a case study that could inform us on possible conditions across the United States? Are there similar patterns and practices at work? What can we learn from one case such as the Making of Ferguson that we can apply to future cases to help us interpret those events as they unfold?

Read the following article, The Making of Ferguson (Links to an external site.)from the Economic Policy Institute.

As you read the article, pay attention to the role of policy in shaping the events that could have contributed to the Minneapolis George Floyd killing and subsequent riots, the Ferguson and Baltimore riots. In other words, does policy set the course for patterns of future behavior? How so?

Make at least two posts. Your first post should include an Identification the practices and/or patterns that occurred that could have contributed to the making of Ferguson by 10/30/2021. Then, you are to respond to at least one post and ask a critical question to another student. That student must respond also by 10/31/2021.

NOTE FROM SYLLABUS: Consideration and Respect:

"Discussion is a crucial part of the learning process. We learn from the ideas of others and by exploring counter-arguments. We also come from different backgrounds/philosophical perspectives. There will be times when you don't agree with other people in discussion. However, you must be respectful of other ideas and opinions. Personal attacks or remarks are not tolerated and will result in a loss of participation points and further disciplinary action as defined by Saddleback College policy."