White Americans have historically received affirmative action through government programs, contributing to racial wealth and opportunity gaps.
The podcast explores the ongoing debate between competing narratives of American history, highlighting the focus on slavery and systemic racism versus denial and patriotic education.
Deep dives
Historical context of racial reckoning
The podcast examines the racial reckoning in America that followed the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and explores how the initial urgency of addressing systemic racism seemed to diminish over time, overshadowed by a wave of backlash and denial.
Competing narratives about American history
The podcast delves into the ongoing debate between competing narratives of American history, with one side emphasizing the 1619 Project's focus on slavery and black struggle, while the other side promotes the 1776 Commission and patriotic education, denying the existence of systemic racism.
History of affirmative action for whites
The podcast uncovers a history of affirmative action for white people throughout US history, starting with land grants and benefits given exclusively to white settlers, and progressing to government assistance programs like the Homestead Act and the GI Bill, which disproportionately benefited white Americans.
The continued impact of historical policies
The podcast highlights how these past policies and benefits continue to contribute to racial wealth and opportunity gaps by examining the long-term effects of redlining, exclusionary lending practices, and discriminatory educational policies.
When it comes to U.S. government programs and support designed to benefit particular racial groups, history is clear. White folks have received most of the handouts. Part of our summer mini-season of rebroadcasts.
By John Biewen, with Deena Hayes-Greene of the Racial Equity Institute and Season 2 series collaborator Chenjerai Kumanyika.
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