As a young teenager in contemporary society, it is easy to wonder why racism exists. Although being one of the heaviest topics to consider, it seems simple to think that if you don’t possess negative thoughts pertaining to race that it doesn’t translate to much higher degrees. Unfortunately, this simple way of thinking is not the reality of the systematically damaged country that was founded as America. As a nation so heavily skewed, the first men building this nation and our founding fathers have established a rich foundation of racism that cannot be overlooked.

In Ibram X. Kendi’s text, the first thing to be read in the introduction is, “to know the past is to know the present” (Jason). While assuming everything is fixed based off your own belief, it is essential to look at how this country has illustrated the story of racism. Kendi breaks people down into three categories of segregationist, assimilationist, and anti-racist. One English philosopher, John Locke, who is quite well-known with readings still cited today was a segregationist who believed that Africans had dirty brains and simply were blemished to the core (Jason, ch.3). Another segregationist, Lucilio Vanini, created the polygenesis theory to explain that Africans were of another species, born from a different Adam from the Bible (Jason, ch.3). These are just a couple examples of people who were completely embellished with the thought of supremacy and whose works are still noted today.

Dialing down from segregationist, assimilationist is not nearly as overtly hateful. Perhaps, their hatred can be contracted by a system that has steered their beliefs or just having other economical reasons. To planters in early America, slaves meant cash. Saving crops and harvesting meant slaves, so it only made sense to primarily value farming to assimilationist. To contribute the segregationist opinion of slaves being savages, assimilationist believed that slavery made them savages (Jason). Another assimilationist belief, rooting from William Perkins, was that they were missionaries pursuing the will of God and that owning slaves was a part of a loving, godly family unit (Jason, ch.2).

One of the most popular assimilationists is Thomas Jefferson, who wrote an antiracist sentiment within the Declaration of Independence, which were obviously edited out by other delegated, yet later had writings claiming that blacks are inferior by nature and only operate on instinct (Jason, ch.8). It almost seems as if the assimilationist is just completely confused. Is the structure and systems of America to blame for that? It is hard to tell when their logic is so incoherent and inconsistent. It’s seeming as if they value blacks as humans, but only if that definition of human matches theirs. As in, assimilationist is comfortable with blacks once they adapt to their ‘white lifestyle’ of going to church, having no vices, getting married, learning proper English, adopting trades, and having an education (Jason, ch.9).

The last that Kendi describes is anti-racist, who still play an active role in contemporary society. William Lloyd Garrison was one of the most radical anti-racists who spoke out about slavery, advocated for immediate emancipation, and believed that blacks were equal in every way (“William”). Garrison was a true anti-racist; asserting that blacks were as much entitled to a “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” that other white Americans were and that they would naturally assimilate into society once freed (“William”). Blacks are every much as equal and do not need to be directed in how to live a stereotypical perfect American life. Garrison was a powerful figure during this radical time. As a white man advocating for change, he devoted much of his passion into his newspaper, the Liberator, with 1,820 issues over thirty-five years (“William”).

Another important historical figure that played an important role in the anti-slavery movement, was Frederick Douglass.Another important historical figure that played an important role in the anti-slavery movement, was Frederick Douglass. After a hard life growing up as a son of a slave and escaping to his freedom, Douglass devoted his life to anti-slavery efforts (“Frederick”). Garrison was Douglass’ mentor before their differences grew. Garrison never let free of his radical beliefs, whereas Douglass’ ideas aspired into an independent, pragmatic way of thinking. A couple of the differences between the two were that Garrison firmly believed the Constitution was a pro-slavery document and that the Union needed to be dissolute (“Frederick”). On the other hand, Douglass thought the Constitution could instead be utilized and flaunted in hand of emancipation. Douglass also did not want to isolate the slaves in the south by a dissolution of the union (“Frederick”).

Personally, I am more inclined to agree with Garrison. We see how great emancipation has synced with the everlasting Constitution. The segregationist has left a legacy of racism, the assimilationist has left a legacy of oblivion, and the anti-racist still fight to combat the skewed beliefs that are deeply embedded into the educational, religious, and philosophical systems of our country (YouTube). From John Cotton and Richard Mather, the Quakers, establishing churches to President FDR establishing programs after the Depression excluding blacks to Trump rallies speaking out about blacks using welfare, this country has consistently failed its own people by a systemically favorited basis.

Michelle Alexander quotes, “We haven’t ended racism in America, we just redesigned it” (YouTube). The same media that portrayed governmental assistance as a systematic means to get families back to stability in the 1950s now illustrates coverage on how many blacks take advantage of welfare systems, creating a whirlwind of mayhem and a confused perception for taxpayers, middle class, every day, naive people (YouTube). In this contemporary society that prides itself on being colorblind, there are more blacks in correctional control than were enslaved in 1850 (YouTube). It’s hard for me to justify and be confident in a constitution and government that was founded on white supremacy, deeming much closer to Garrison’s way of thinking. 

-Azlee