So Much for the Assertion that Systemic Racism No Longer Exists and My Son, David's New Book: "Saving Democracy"

 How do these two strands link together? Let me try to explain.

The just released devastating report on the racially biased conduct of the Minneapolis police department--conduct neither new or unique to that city--undercuts claims we here from many people, including presidential aspirants Tim Scott and Nikki Haley, that systemic racism no longer exists. Yes,  there has been progress on the racial front over the past century, but we still have deeply embedded systemic racial inequities which require decisive action. 

Now, turning to my son, David. 

He has released two books over the last year. The first, "Laboratories of Autocracy", identifies in meticulous detail how gerrymandered state legislatures are passing and advancing bills that are counter to majority opinion. They include suppressing voting rights, controlling what children are taught in schools, limiting the right of women to choose, banning books, and weakening already overly permissive gun regulation. All actions that threaten our democracy to the core.

This book has secured a wide and enthusiastic group of readers. However, it has led to a provocative question from many readers. 

"I get it; we have major issues threatening our Democracy. You have convinced me of that. BUT, just knowing that leaves me frustrated; what can I do as an individual to counter this threat?"

That question led to David's second and just published book: "Saving Democracy: A User's Manual for Every American". As David writes: "Saving Democracy is meant to spur action. Your action. It is structured to challenge and guide each reader on how you can play a more active role in lifting democracy than you might have imagined". The book detail many, many examples of individuals doing exactly that and organizations who will help them do it. 

Here the point of this short essay

I believe we face the same challenge David is addressing to Save Democracy when it comes to racial justice. We need to do two things:

1. We need to document through easily understood and transparent facts that systemic racial bias and actions do continue to exist. We need to identify what they are through impartial, apolitical communication of reality.

2. We then need to help people understand what they can do individually and as part of their organization and community to counter racial bias and system outages. We need to share "best-case" examples of individuals and organizations taking action and changing their behavior to make progress. There are many of them. 

Today, many people will acknowledge we continue to face racial and social justice inequities. But they don't know what they can do to make a difference. We need to guide people in how they can make a difference in combatting the racial inequities that still exist.