“Growing Up Amid the Rise of Racism”

Racist ideologies have long been part of American history, forming the basis of systemic practices such as institutionalized slavery, segregation, child separation into boarding schools, mass incarceration, anti-immigrant policies and practices, as well as discriminatory interpersonal treatments, such as racialized microaggressions and bias. The current sociopolitical climate has also stimulated an increase in overt expressions of racism and acts of purposeful marginalization and disenfranchisement. Events such as the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville brought together and renewed inspiration to groups that openly espoused white supremacy. Even after counter-protester Heather Heyer was struck by a car and killed by an alt-right Neo-Nazi protester, President Trump claimed that there were “very fine people, on both sides,” equating those who marched for white supremacy with those who opposed it. Meanwhile, those who marched in Ferguson in protest of the killing of Michael Brown were framed as terrorists and met with tear gas and police batons.