What is the root of oppression?
We decided to do something a little different this month and approached this question from 3 different perspectives. These approaches are not mutually exclusive, but instead demonstrate various ideological inflections that inform our approach to social work. This question and the way we answer may seem overly theoretical. Why have a conceptual argument over the root of oppression rather than put our energy toward analyzing concrete systems and how to fix them? The Disruptor contributors contend that no matter how we do the work, it is inevitably informed by ideology. We may all agree that we are fighting for social justice, but how the concept is defined and the methods we employ to achieve it are not always straightforward. It is worth considering the underlying conceptual frameworks that inform our work and foster in-depth interrogation of the systems in which we operate.
The U.S. we know has a history of savagery from its foundation through its present existence. We harbor a history of oppression from the first explorers pillaging the original inhabitants, to forcefully and unwillingly uprooting a people from their native land and exploiting their gifts and strength to build a nation that, like other minorities, they cannot enjoy. In 1845 journalist John L. O’Sullivan coined the term manifest destiny. The idea was that the U.S. was destined - by God - to expand its dominion and spread democracy and capitalism across the entire North American continent. While the term may have begun as controversial, there is evidence to suggest that the premise of this concept is consciously and subconsciously embedded within laws, social processes, and structures within our society.
So, which occurred first? What is the source of oppression that riddles the U.S.? Is it economic, human, or racial injustices? Richard Rothstein in his book The Color of Law states, the stereotypes and attitudes that support racial discrimination have their roots in the system of slavery upon which the nation was founded. It is my humble opinion that racial issues came first. Evidence of this exists in the carefully crafted neighborhoods across the U.S. such as Baltimore City.
Baltimore City is one example of de jure segregation, subprime lending, and redlining. De jure segregation exists because of laws like the Fair Housing Act, signed into action under former President Lyndon B. Johnson to address housing discrimination but not upheld. Financial lenders purposely refused financial funding for Blacks and in some cases through subprime loans extracted astronomical amounts of finances from these families. Numerous Black families continue to live in subpar government housing or planned neighborhoods, many of which were developed during the 1900s.
Originally, these structures were developed following the Civil War and during the Great Depression, but were meant for Whites only. Eventually, “housing” facilities were developed for Blacks, however they lacked the resources of their White counterparts. These facilities did not meet housing standards, were developed in areas that lacked access to transportation, supermarkets, and other resources necessary for survival, and were often constructed next to factories which were considered undesirable areas for Whites.
These conditions remain today and when viewed from a map, the city of Baltimore takes the shape of a butterfly; termed the Black Butterfly. Blacks living in established neighborhoods outside of the White L, continue to lack access to reliable and affordable public transportation; employment opportunities with liveable wages; and grocery stores with fresh produce instead of corner stores with canned foods.
My list can continue, however this is not the time or the space. Human nature perpetuates the racial and economic injustices that exist. Manifest destiny is replaced with gentrification, and we continue to ignore several hundred years of former and modern slavery that plagues our constitution, laws, and hearts deeming us individualistic and oppressive in our actions.
References:
Brown, L.T. (2021). The Black Butterfly: The Harmful Politics of Race and Space in America. Johns Hopkins University Press.
History.com Editors. (2019, November 15). Manifest Destiny. History. https://www.history.com/topics/westward-expansion/manifest-destiny
Rothstein, R. (2017). The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. Liveright Publishing Corporation.
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