On racism

 To Sci-Am

Dear Editors

Just read Abigail Libers' “How to Unlearn Racism” (Sci-Am, October 2020).

Racism, defined by Ms. Libers as a power hierarchy as well as prejudice against people of other (i.e., non-white) races or ethnicity, is not only rooted in American society but is also harmful to everyone. Ms. Libers also suggests that racism (again with exclusive reference to white people) is something that lies beneath the level of awareness. 

Ms. Libers does a fine job of defending this conception of racism. A few of her points, though, should raise eyebrows. Here is one:

To show how racism is harmful even to white people, Ms. Libers references a health researcher's view that white people are harmed by the “myth of meritocracy—the idea that working hard and pulling yourself up by your bootstraps leads to success.” Though the author is right in pointing out that some people are not successful despite their best efforts and that they therefore become disillusioned and stressed out, she overlooks the fact that this “myth” (flaws and all) is the very definition of the American dream, the dream that has attracted and continues to attract countless people, white and nonwhite, to the U.S, not excluding—I venture to say—her own parents.

On the subject of racism, or better unconscious racism, I can't resist mentioning this other thing: that Ms. Libers, as well as so many other people in the media, sees no problem with using the expression “people of color”, which she does several times in her article. In an environment that wants people to shed all vestiges of prejudice and strive toward inclusiveness and equality, shouldn't this expression be avoided in favour of something that does not proclaim separation and otherness?

Respectfully,

Ermes Culos