Fresh Air How Racism Costs Everyone
19 snips
Jan 19, 2026 
Heather McGhee, an author and scholar specializing in democracy and racial justice, delves into the pervasive influence of racism on society’s progress. She discusses the harmful zero-sum narrative that claims gains for one group cause losses for another, tracing its roots to colonial strategies. McGhee emphasizes the economic toll of racial inequality, revealing how collective action can lead to substantial benefits for everyone. She also highlights the transformative role of multiracial coalitions, using the revival of Lewiston, Maine, as a powerful example.
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Zero-Sum Is A Political Lie
- Heather McGhee says the zero-sum story paints progress for some as loss for others and is a deliberate political narrative.
- She calls it a lie because civil rights and diversity have broadly benefited society, not just specific groups.
Drained Pools As A Metaphor
- Heather McGhee describes towns draining public swimming pools rather than integrate them after desegregation orders.
- Those drained pools became a metaphor for sacrificing public goods rather than share them across races.
Public Goods Were Often For Whites Only
- McGhee links New Deal public goods to racial exclusions that limited who benefited from social programs.
- Federal policies like housing programs required racial covenants, embedding racial inequality into wealth building.
