In a recent meeting held by SURJ-Boston (Stand Up for Racial Justice) and the Boston Anti-Racism Knapsack group, we talked about all the laws and practices that have led to structural racism throughout our history. This is the list we came up with collectively; it is not exhaustive. From a systems thinking point of view it is quite damning.

The word STRUCTURE in structural racism is used correctly. When systems thinkers say structure, we are referring to laws, customs, and practices. We are also talking about the movement and stockpiles of money, of people, of material, information, and perceptions, and even emotions. These stockpiles endure, so what is happening today is inextricably linked to what has happened in the past. For example, if a big pile of money has accumulated over the years, it gives the owners, and their children, an advantage. This is one of the biggest ideas from systems thinking.

Structure drives behavior. Structure drives performance, and success, or lack thereof.

Below is a partial list of legal and business practices that have prevented people of color in the United States from having the same access to wealth and happiness that white people have received since the beginning. These laws and practices are part of what is meant by “Structural racism”, they are structures that have not worked for all people, only white folks. And “white privilege” refers to the exclusive benefits that white people have gotten (and continue to get) from these and many other structures.