I think the lie of systemic racism is that it is based on biases, thoughts, and beliefs. This would place the problem in individuals not thinking correctly.

The problem is actually ‘systemic’, meaning its basis is economic, legal, and social institutions. If banks, government, schools, and churches did not support it, it would not be systemic.

I think there are two different problems, and two solutions. One is the United States has never dealt with its ‘shadow’ (from Jung) of slavery, and today we must expose this dark past and come to grips with it as a people. This is a social and psychological problem. The other problem is that we have kept African Americans from attaining wealth in our society. The main mechanism for wealth accumulation in the U.S. is real estate ownership. At every turn, from red-lining, to bank loans, to segregation, systemic practices have stopped African Americans from owning land, and developing wealth.

I’ve come to believe that our politicians have framed the problem as ‘systemic racism’ not because they want to solve the problem, but so they can use it as justification and distraction for not solving the problem. Place the problem on individuals being ‘racist’ and it is not the government’s fault for wealth inequality.