Introduction
As a global citizen with firsthand experience navigating the United States’ justice system, I see the effects of deliberate systemic inequality designed to maintain a social hierarchy with roots dating back centuries. Many of the social divides and structural biases we face today are not accidental but stem from the practices of colonial powers like England, Spain, and France. These empires established a racial hierarchy to rationalize their control and exploitation of indigenous lands and enslaved African people, embedding white supremacy as a societal norm that would carry on even after these empires retreated from direct rule.
Colonial Foundations of Systemic Racism
The early European colonizers justified their actions through doctrines of racial and cultural superiority, as seen in British colonial policies in America, which stripped Indigenous populations of land and autonomy. This belief in Anglo-Saxon supremacy formed the basis for the United States’ legal and social frameworks. Thomas Jefferson, for example, despite proclaiming that “all men are created equal,” owned slaves and viewed Africans as inherently inferior—reflecting a deep-seated hypocrisy that permeated America’s founding documents. Harvard historians argue that this racial hierarchy was enshrined in law and perpetuated through generations via school curricula and societal norms that reinforced these ideas, presenting a biased history that underrepresented the perspectives of non-white individuals and masked the brutality of slavery and conquest.
Perpetuation Through Institutional Racism
The U.S. education system has long played a role in reinforcing racial bias by teaching a skewed version of history that sidelines the experiences and achievements of non-white groups. Throughout the 20th century, textbooks often romanticized the notion of a benevolent America while ignoring or downplaying the realities of slavery, indigenous displacement, and systemic oppression of African Americans. This practice, described as “the white racial frame” by historian Joe Feagin, injected white supremacist narratives into public consciousness, creating a legacy of “us versus them” mindsets that persists today.
“America speaks of rights and freedoms, but its institutions are often where those very rights are undermined, one policy at a time.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Governmental practices further reinforce this disparity, as seen in policies that disproportionately affect communities of color, from biased policing to unequal healthcare. The War on Drugs in the 1980s disproportionately targeted Black and Latino communities, leading to mass incarceration that continues to affect these groups. Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, racial health disparities highlighted the ongoing impact of institutional racism in American healthcare, where communities of color faced higher infection and mortality rates due to limited access to resources and adequate care.
Economic Control and Manipulation
This racial divide is also economic. Historically, Black and Indigenous people were systematically excluded from wealth-building opportunities, from discriminatory housing policies under the New Deal to the redlining practices that marginalized communities of color. Today, a stark wealth gap persists, with Black Americans owning only a fraction of the wealth of their white counterparts. This is no accident; it’s the result of deliberate policies meant to maintain racial hierarchies established during colonialism.
“No nation can survive while undermining its own foundations; the United States risks its own undoing by refusing to address its systemic flaws.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Ultimately
Despite over 250 years of opportunities for reform, the United States has consistently demonstrated reluctance to genuinely embody the principles enshrined in its own founding documents. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution proclaim ideals of equality, justice, and liberty for all; however, historical patterns reveal persistent structural injustices that contravene these ideals. The Constitution’s Bill of Rights asserts protections for free speech, fair trials, and the protection of individual freedoms. Yet, these rights often remain disproportionately inaccessible, particularly for marginalized communities. Disparities in law enforcement, incarceration, and voting rights illustrate this inconsistency.
Moreover, the U.S. has frequently resisted alignment with international standards on human rights and fundamental freedoms, sometimes contradicting globally recognized principles of international law. For instance, the refusal to ratify critical international treaties, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), reflects a long-standing unwillingness to adapt domestic policies to align with global human rights norms
This resistance indicates a pattern where U.S. leadership often places national sovereignty over global cooperation on human rights—a stance that challenges the United States’ own claim to moral leadership on the world stage. This ongoing tension between proclaimed ideals and actual practices risks pushing the nation toward a point of social and political decline, creating a cycle that jeopardizes not only domestic stability but also its standing in global affairs.
“For over two centuries, the United States has had every opportunity to honor its Constitution, yet time and again, it has chosen the path of selective justice.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Ultimately, the U.S.’s reluctance to commit to its constitutional principles fully, compounded by its refusal to adhere to international standards, places it in a precarious position. Such a trajectory, left unchecked, could lead to a spiral where internal discord and diminishing international credibility signal the decline of a once-prominent global power.
Conclusion: Moving Forward by Facing the Past
To dismantle these inequities, we must confront and understand America’s true history and reject the sanitized versions taught in many schools. Recognizing that these injustices are not accidental but are the result of calculated policies and practices is critical in developing real solutions. By examining historical records and addressing systemic injustices openly, there is potential to work towards a more just society where all Americans can genuinely access equal opportunities.
“In the United States, my history class taught me of the ‘American Revolution‘ in the 10th grade at public school, but in 8th Grade in private school in Belize, I was taught of ‘insurrection and treason against England‘.” – Ewing Redmond Samuels III
Sources:
- Harvard Gazette on white supremacy in U.S. history education.
- Berkeley News, series on racial justice in America.
- Springer’s analysis of systemic racism in the U.S.
Until Next Time…
I Am,
Ewing Redmond Samuels III
