The Sum of Us Flashcards

Zero-sum Paradigm

• The average white person perceives racism as a zero-sum game, believing that progress for black people comes at the expense of white people.
• The concept can be illustrated by historical examples like slavery.

Chapter 1 - An Old Story: The Zero Sum Hierarchy

• American independence was supported via slave labor, with French assistance in exchange for tobacco.
• White women in slaveholding areas viewed slaves as assets contributing to their freedom.
• Zero-sum narratives are propagated by wealthy interests for profit, despite most governmental assistance benefiting white individuals.

The Inequality Era

• Characterized by a narrow middle class with significant income inequality at both high and low ends.

Chapter 2 - Racism Drained the Pool

• Life on plantations prioritized self-sufficiency, neglecting wider community welfare.
• The South remains economically disadvantaged largely due to historical slavery, with nine of the ten poorest states being located there.

The Impeding Crisis of the South (1857)

• Highlighted disparities in public service institutions between free and slave states, arguing slavery negatively affected even non-slaveholding whites.

Government (Defined by Public Works)

• Refers to public structures aimed at enhancing economic opportunities, fostering a citizen mindset rather than mere consumers of services.

Racial Resentment

• Emerged post-Civil Rights era; white individuals no longer consider black people innately inferior but believe they lack American values.

White Hostility to Government Assistance

• Rooted in racial resentment and stereotypes regarding work ethics of people of color.

Southern Strategy - Dog Whistle Politics

• Utilizes fear tactics towards people of color.
• Encourages hostility towards government initiatives and promotes faith in market solutions.

Decreased Public Funding for Structures

• Driven by racism; many public resources were privatized post-segregation, leading to exclusion of white residents from benefits.

Political Alignments Along Racial Lines

• White voters have increasingly opposed Democratic nominees since the party's civil rights alignment under Lyndon Johnson, driven by fear of retribution from marginalized communities.

Fairground Park Riot

• Large protest against pool integration leading to the closure of Audubon pool, showcasing racial tensions regarding shared public resources.

Chapter 3 - Going Without

• Documents the history of public funding in higher education and its impact, particularly noting that 40% of college students are people of color.

Rising College Costs

• Shift from tax-funded college education to reliance on loans since the 1970s, making access more challenging for white populations.

Debt to Diploma System

• The U.S. educational system imposes substantial student debt, unlike systems in other countries with free healthcare and college.

American Healthcare System

• Universal healthcare is commonly advocated, yet over 120 rural hospitals have shut down in the last decade, decreasing access for marginalized groups.

Chapter 4 - Ignoring the Canary

• Examines the historical exclusion of black Americans from the mainstream economy.

Subprime Mortgages

• These loans, intended for individuals with low credit, are often issued based on racial criteria rather than creditworthiness.

Redlining

• A practice where banks delineate areas on maps and refuse lending for property purchases or improvements within those boundaries.

Deregulation

• The process of removing governmental controls over markets, affecting economic stability and equity.

Glass-Steagall Rollback

• Enabled companies to exploit consumer deposits for risky investments, increasing economic vulnerability.

Chapter 5 - No One Fights Alone

• Discusses weakened unionization efforts, which prevent collective bargaining across racial lines, ultimately benefiting elites.

Threat Posed by Unionization

• Unions challenge racial divisions and foster community solidarity among diverse workers.

Decline of Unions

• Major anti-union lobbying in the 1970s and impactful actions by the government, such as Reagan's firing of striking air traffic controllers, contributed to declining union power.

Chapter 6 - Never a Real Democracy

• Discusses the dominance of economic interests over democratic principles, revealing inequalities in political representation.

Ethnic Antagonism

• A phenomenon where white individuals fear losing political and cultural dominance, motivating support for exclusionary policies.

Voter ID Laws

• Laws requiring identification suppress voter registration, disproportionately affecting marginalized groups and college students.

Ohio Voting Purging

• A strategy targeting infrequent voters, disadvantageous for demographics that tend to favor Democratic policies.

Chapter 7 - Living Apart

• Argues that white people are among the most segregated in society, with good education correlating to higher housing costs.

White Spaces

• Environments perceived as superior, often regarded as synonymous with "good" education and opportunities.

White Communities

• Tend to lack the close-knit dynamics found in black communities, with POC often more familiar with white cultures due to navigating dominant social norms.

Success in Diversity

• Diverse educational settings yield better outcomes, promoting creativity and varied perspectives.

Government Actions Creating Disparities

• Practices include redlining, restrictive zoning, highway construction, and gentrification, leading to socioeconomic divides.

Chapter 8 - The Same Sky

• Explores how race intersects with environmental concerns, including pollution and climate change.

U.S. Pollution History

• The U.S. has been the largest historical carbon polluter, with minimal legislative action from conservative parties to address the issue.

Republican Stance on Progress

• Recent legislative blockages, such as refusal to address polluter regulations, illustrate partisan strategies against climate initiatives.

Climate Change Policy and Racism

• The resistance to climate action among conservatives is linked to racial resentment and zero-sum thinking.

White Voter Opposition to Climate Change

• Opposition to climate initiatives surged following Obama’s advocacy for environmental policies, revealing a racial dimension to climate denial.

Reflections Post-Chapter 8

• Highlights the role of black individuals in historic progress and questions the societal implications of white guilt regarding racism.

Chapter 9 - Hidden Wound

• Calls for white individuals to recognize their complicity in racism as damaging for all, shaping political views and policy outcomes.

Joining White Supremacist Groups

• Disappointment and ignorance fuel participation in these organizations, serving as a racial scapegoat.

Life After Hate

• Founded by Angela King, this organization aims to reintegrate former white supremacists into society and combat hate.

Manifestations of White Fear

• Includes racially aggressive laws, defensiveness in racially unequal environments, and preferences for racial homogeneity in hiring.

Similarity in Scapegoating Between Groups

• Economic frustrations are projected onto marginalized groups, diverting attention from systemic inequities upheld by legislators.

Perception of U.S. Meritocracy

• Wealthy white individuals often minimize the extent of inequality, attributing it to cultural failings rather than recognizing public policy and discrimination.

Chapter 10 - The Solidarity Dividend

• Examines how Somali refugees contributed to economic growth in a small town, contrasting this with less diverse, all-white communities.