After I retired I began to look into some of the systemic racist policies that continue to oppress people of color. Although there has been much Federal legislation passed to prohibit discrimination, the practice continues in different forms. In housing, some real estate agents “steer” people of color to non-white neighborhoods. Thereby limiting their choices for housing. In employment, a black sounding name is less likely to get an interview. In wages, a black man is generally paid 70% of what a white man makes for the same job and a black woman is paid 60%. In education, schools in poor neighborhoods don't receive adequate tax money to provide quality education. In criminal justice black people are given harsher treatment than white people. These and other polices continue to keep people of color at a disadvantage compared to white people.
As a religious community we need to really try to “love our neighbors as ourselves”. We must all work to end systemic racism in this country. Below are the names and web sites of four local organizations that are now working to end systemic racism. I urge you to investigate them and join in the fight to end racism:
This is a local inter-racial, ecumenical group that works to build relationships between people of different races.
The mission of this local group is to foster knowledge and engagement that will break down resistance to confronting our country's shared legacy of slavery.
This Naperville group works to have a positive impact on the relationships between police and civilians
This is probably the best known organization for fighting racism and they have a local chapter.
