| Nostaldub said: When we speak about systemic racism we need to speak to the white poor too. Their benefits from systemic racism are minimal. But the democratic party has failed to communicate and to create policy to really make a difference in wealth distribution. |
I think a key point here: systemic racism exists, but it doesn't mean everyone in the "right"demographic (aka white) profits the same way.
I think we need to remember capitalism and how it works, as already Karl Marx described. Working people produce value with their work. But they need the means of production (tools, machines, working places, raw materials, distribution and marketing of the products). Rich people spend their wealth (aka capital) to make these means of production available, but in turn they take value from the work the workers do. In all actuality, the rich people become the owners of the business, not the workers.
Now you could argue this is all fair, because the means of production are needed to be able to produce something. But the problem is, that a capitalist has hundreds or even thousands of workers producing value for them, while they only participate with their bank account. Even if they take a small-ish share, that means they got a lot more out of it than each of the workers do. American culture idolizes these capitalists. I often read how hard they work for their success. Let me tell you: none of these super rich can produce any of the money they make on their own work - they always need others working for them to get these amount of results.
What has all of this to do with racism? To keep the system going in which a few profit off the work of the majority of people, they need to keep the working majority in line not rebelling against the systems. There are multiple ways to do this. Keeping them wealthy enough to keep them satisfied (at least a big enough amount to matter) is one way, and it was back in the 60s and 70s. But racism is actually another - creating discord between the people being exploited so they fight amongst each other instead of uniting against the capitalists.
Systemic racism is real. But that doesn't mean the working class white people are really profiting off it. It is just the few at the top, that are profiting off everyone. Not always the same amount, but white and non-white people are both exploited by the rich.
