Equal justice for all. That was the vision for America outlined more than two hundred years ago that still has not been fully achieved. The myth of racial difference has led to discrimination, continued segregation, and criminalization that endures today. Though progress in this country has been made through generations of activism and civil rights movements, we must acknowledge that there is still work to be done. We continue to strive towards equality and justice for all. While this is a considerable issue to tackle, there are many ways to get involved.
Here are three steps that you can take this election year to promote racial justice.
Pay Attention to Proposed Public Policy and How it Affects Racial Justice
Evaluating policy may seem like a daunting task, but there are a few basic questions that you can ask yourself to better understand what the effect of a specific policy may be. A policy is any law, procedure, or practice put into place by the government or other institutions, and evaluating policy is simply understanding its merit or worth. Policies that may be framed as promoting racial justice and equity do not always have that intended effect.
To understand who is going to benefit and who is going to pay the cost, try to answer these key questions:
How is the issue being defined? Who is defining the issue?
Who is being blamed for the problem? Is it appealing to racial fears?
What is the core issue? What is the historical context of this issue?
What is being proposed as a solution, and who would benefit?
How would this proposal affect people of color? How would it affect white people?
How would it affect women? Young people? Poor and working people?
What are the other options for addressing this issue?
Evaluate Your Local Candidates
As a country, we put a lot of weight on presidential elections. While these are certainly important, local and state elections often have a greater influence on serving justice in your community. From your local school board to your city government, and every other elected position in between, there is a direct connection to promoting racial justice. This year, you have an opportunity to vote for candidates that will be instrumental in handling this key civil rights issue. Truly evaluating whether or not a candidate will promote racial justice requires more than taking what they may say at face value.
Here are some easy questions you can ask to help decide what candidates you may choose to support:
Who have they professed solidarity with?
Who benefits from the policies that they advocate for?
Who finances their campaign?
Do they seem to understand the interconnections of racism, sexism, and economics?
Will they represent the interests of the most disenfranchised groups in the community?
Are they willing to work for long-term, structural change in our society?