All forms of racism are fruit from the same poisonous tree

A week out from the murderous spree that claimed the lives of eight of our own, our country and its communities are aching, especially our Asian American and Pacific Islander neighbors. The racial violence exhibited in Georgia is not isolated. Racism and hatred have shaped our past and continue to shape our present.

Yet, we know neither can have a place in America if we are to have a prosperous future together.

For years, security and defense leaders have been talking about the rise of white nationalism and white supremacy and the danger this puts all of us in. All forms of racism are fruit from the same poisonous tree.

White Americans have got to confront this. Our Asian American and Pacific Islander friends need true allies right now. We need to center their voices, make space for their stories to be heard, and listen. And we must stand shoulder-to-shoulder to demand justice. It need not matter the venues of the crime or the alleged mental state of the murderer; innocent lives were taken, and it appears to be racially motivated.

We have to make the conscious decision to see what’s right in front of us instead of looking away. We have to choose each other. To heal our divisions, we must be able to hear each other, see each other, and understand each other.

Mitch Landrieu

Founder & President, E Pluribus Unum

Equity in Brief

At EPU, we believe that evidence-based public policy must stand up to the challenge of answering the hard questions about how we can make the promise of America accessible to everyone. That’s why we have begun our “Equity in Brief” series, to help answer these hard questions using research and data in an easily digestible format. We will publish these “Equity in Brief” posts on a regular basis and will address issues that are timely and responsive to current public policy debates relating to opportunity, justice and democracy.

Read the first brief on vaccine equity and the role of media narratives

Meet the UNUM Fellows

Mayor Keith James
West Palm Beach, FL

This week, we’re highlighting the work of Mayor Keith James, our UNUM Fellow from West Palm Beach, FL. Mayor James founded a Task Force on Racial and Ethnic Equality, a citywide working group formed to address local equity issues in the wake of the protests following the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor last year. Its main priority is to examine & reduce disparities and improve outcomes for historically marginalized communities.

Learn more about Mayor James’ work

Divided By Design Podcast

What is at stake if we don’t act to address the current inequities seen within our democracy? How can we work to make our democracy accessible to all and to address systemic voter suppression?

In this episode of Divided By Design, we discuss these questions and more as we examine the history of democracy in America. The promise of America is that we all come to the table of democracy as equals. But our democracy is in crisis. Long before the 2020 election or the coronavirus pandemic, laws and processes have been in place to disenfranchise many Americans from exercising their right to vote. How did we get here? Featuring political leader, voting rights activist, and New York Times bestselling author Stacey Abrams, National Urban League CEO Marc Morial, and noted voting rights attorney and Democracy Docket publisher Marc Elias.

Please listen, rate and share!

Listen to Episode 6

Resources

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit behind the production of educational programming including Sesame Street, recently released resources to support families in talking to their children about race and racism with the “ABCs of Racial Literacy”.

Rooted in research and developed in consultation with experts, the videos, articles, and activities are designed to help all families as they start conversations with their children about race and racism by providing age-appropriate language and strategies to answer children’s questions and more. These resources are a part of a Sesame Workshop’s ongoing racial justice initiative, Coming Together.

Check out the “ABCs of Racial Literacy”

What We’re Reading

In addition to the racial violence last week, Georgia also captured the nation’s attention regarding voting rights. Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA) delivered a passionate sermon on the essential right to vote in his maiden address from the United States Senate floor. The attack on basic voting rights and access are something EPU will weigh in on heavily in the months to come.

Read Senator Warnock’s Remarks

NEW YORK TIMES – ‘This Is Jim Crow in New Clothes’

WASHINGTON POST – Which is easier in your state: Buying a rifle or voting?

USA TODAY – Stop Asian hate, Stop Black hate, stop all hate: Many Americans call for unity against racism