The nation’s domination story, which says that people can achieve the American Dream of economic success through resilience and courage and by taking personal responsibility, causes great harm. We have stigmatized poverty with racist language and misperceptions as “welfare queens and capricious fathers,” instead of acknowledging our history. This story upholds the privilege of Whites and tells those in stigmatized groups that opportunity is there if they seize it and work twice as hard.
Work doubly hard to overcome systemic and structural barriers that damage health. Evidence shows how disparities in health outcomes increase with education and income, contradicting a narrative that emphasizes personal responsibility and hard work.
For example, racial disparities in infant mortality actually worsen with higher education and income. It is clear that the stigma and burden of overcoming racist structures leads to devastating health consequences.
Is there a solution to combat this story and address the racial gap between rich and poor?
We must move away from encouraging people to adopt attitudes, norms, and behaviors seen as beneficial and instead empower them with resources that provide self-determination to achieve success. And we must recognize the responsibility of government to ensure adequate access and wealth.
To address this, the two anti-racism policies that I advocate for are restitution and child bonds. The report is direct and retrospective acknowledging dignity and redressing while addressing resource shortages. Recognition is vital to dignity and government must be held accountable for state-facilitated exploitation.
However, given our dire history and especially the ongoing ways that tend to merge and repeat for some to the exclusion of others, a one-time fix is unlikely. enough. Everyone has an economic right to wealth, and that’s where child bonds come in. A child bond is a trust account for children. The money is kept in a public trust until a child becomes an adult. The funds can then be used to buy a home, start a business, and/or fund education. To address disparities and promote racial equity, Connecticut this year became the first state to pass an Infant Bond program for each child born insured through Medicaid. The laudable goal is to allow children who do not benefit from an inheritance to pursue the same opportunity to build an inheritance as other children.
How have the events of the past year – pandemic, economic decline, racial reckoning and political instability – changed the dominant narrative?
The events of the past year have created a pivotal moment when we can change the story. The pandemic, the summer of protests against the murder of George Floyd, the many facets of political unrest, the fighting within political parties, all show that the system is ripe for change. One silver lining of the pandemic, for example, is how it led to unprecedented government interventions like sending people checks for $1,200. When lawmakers decided it was necessary to distribute money widely and to do so, they changed their mind about what the government could do.
Youth attitudes are also creating momentum to change the story. Young people are speaking out and saying: The status quo doesn’t work. We want an economy based on equity and sustainability.
That makes this a time when the system that we’ve had for 50 years is on the rise and can have real change. It is time for social movements and charities to boldly commit to economic justice, a new story and our values, not pessimism. It is time to acknowledge that economic justice includes wealth, health, the right to work and income, the ability to move without threat of detention or violence because of one’s identity, and move freely without discrimination, bondage and fear. I hope for a moment when we commit to economic and racial justice for all.
How can the New York City Racial Justice Commission influence other communities that want to remove structural racism?
The New York City Racial Justice Commission has been tasked with rewriting the Charter and shaping city policy to eliminate structural racism for all in the City. New York City.
One of the biggest impacts we can have is to establish values that emphasize inclusion, belonging, power, equality, racial and gender outreach as the responsibility of all aspects of government in New York City. Through this committee, I believe that our city, with its size, influence and media, can set an example for other cities, states, and the nation at large. That, in and of itself, is valuable.
Dr. Darrick Hamilton of the RWJF National Advisory Committee on Action Policies. Learn more about the program’s research results on building an inclusive pandemic recovery for all.
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