Who We Are: Our Buried History of anti-Black Racism

"One of America's darkest myths is that the abolition of slavery and the 1960's dismantling of segregation policies created a racially equitable and just society. But in this illuminating work, Jeffery Robinson uncovers just how deeply anti-Black racism is still woven into the fabric of our nation. White supremacy fueled the country for over a century and is still deeply ingrained in our culture, and racist laws that were outlawed and deemed unconstitutional had been replaced by more covert new ones. Robinson takes us on a dramatic journey through America's dark past, from the first group of Africans that were captured and enslaved on American soil, to the racist policies and practices that are still impacting our country today. Robinson examines the consequences of property taxes being used to fund public schools after centuries of intentional racial segregation, the haunting legacy of Black codes and Jim Crow laws, the various strategies still being used today to inhibit Black people from voting, and how modern day policing and flagrant disparities in punishment have created a system as close to slavery as possible. Clear-eyed, explosive, and stirring - Who We Are shines a light on our country's darkest stain, revealing who we are in an effort to transform who we become"-- Provided by publisher.