Systemic Racism Review
Emily Perkins
Professor E. J. Hernandez
Race & Poverty in the Americas, Section 007
04/01/2014
Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression
Feagin divides his book into essentially three sections, all of which have a focus on the
historically strengthened white-on-black oppression. The preface itself reveals Feagin’s goal
with writing Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression. Feagin writes, “In this book I undertake
a major effort in what might be termed, “leukology”; that is, a focused study of the reproduction
of white power and privilege in this society over several centuries. I search out numerous truths
about white-on-black oppression as it has persisted, in shifting forms, over a very long period.”1
Feagin divided the book into sections ‘The World of Slavery,’ ‘Legal Segregation’ and
‘Contemporary Racial Realities’ all erected into two subdivisions subtitled ‘Through the Eyes of
African Americans’ and ‘Through the Eyes of White Americans’. He then explores each section
using the understanding of slavery, permissible discrimination and modern racial truths through
the two conflicting positions. By using this approach, Feagin delivers a laborious, at most times
repetitive, analysis and comparison of both published works and personal interviews with
Americans of each race. Feagin uses his findings of different historical stages to disclose a clear
correlation between contemporary day racism and the social realities of race in the past.
1
Feagin, Joe. Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression (Routledge, 2006), Location 125, Kindle Edition.
1
Amongst the pages of Systemic Racism, Feagin brings to light a multitude of themes.
The themes addressed in his extensive analysis include the dehumanizing effect of systemic
racism on all dimensions of African American lives; the clear conflicting relationship between
oppressors and those that they oppressed; the interdependence of capitalism, patriarchy and
racism; and the role that historically notable people such as Thomas Jefferson and George
Washington played as not only slave-owners themselves but as originators of the racism found in
the law itself, the government and even in finances. By expounding these important themes,
Feagin introduces us to concepts that highlight the resilience and flexibility of racism throughout
American history. Feagin successfully develops a unique commentary that challenges the view
of racism as abnormal, rather than a deliberate and fundamental aspect of American fiscal,
governmental and public systems. Unlike other works on racism, Feagin suggests several ideas
on how to eliminate systemic racism after it is successfully identified. These ideas range from an
entire reconstruction of the education system, to compensations for groups that have been
oppressed, to the creation of an entirely new government.
Despite Feagin’s clear findings of racism in modern day American society, there are
several problems with Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression. First and foremost, as a white
American, I felt personally victimized and oppressed by Feagin’s work. Feagin developed an
approach that targeted whites as the same, all with a white supremacist attitude. By taking this
narrow-minded slant and stereotyping all whites as accountable for the racism we see in today’s
society Feagin disregards those of white descent that are attempting to abolish racism in
America. It is understood that Feagin attempted to unveil an entirely racist modern country,
however, he is in turn instilling racist thoughts into the minds of all of those who read Systemic
Racism. If America is attempting to entirely obliterate racism in America, it is pieces of writing
2
such as this that create controversial conversation and allow racism to remain in our country.
Singling oneself out from the entire population of America as “oppressed,” perpetuates the
oppressive acts that are faced. I did not find Systemic Racism to be an easy read; in fact, I felt it
was entirely too repetitive and focused in favor of African Americans all too much. American
society has a growing array of characteristics and beliefs that provoke the question of privilege
versus disadvantage that should be addressed. This is not to say that the prevalence of racism in
the United States is completely non-existent; it just suggests that Feagin is entirely too focused
on white-on-black oppression and as a result is neglecting black-on-white oppression, straight-
on-gay oppression, black-on-Asian oppression, etc. Racism in America is not simply in black
and white as Feagin seems to suggest.