Sharing this information within and between our cities will help inform, inspire, and include all citizens. Use local and national networks to share ideas, information, best practices, and outcomes. Racism is about skin color-it is about the denial of equal rights and equal opportunities to people based on the darkness of their skin. Racism is a problem whose effects are not readily apparent to white Americans but are a daily fact of life for African Americans, Latinos, Asian Pacific Americans, and members of other groups. Racism is nowhere more apparent than in the radical segregation of American metropolitan areas.
Racism is entrenched, pervasive, and multisystemic in America today.
By Changing Ourselves. On the one hand, working against racism means changing what we, as individuals and elected leaders, are doing to keep racism alive-for example, by separating ourselves, intentionally or not, from individuals of different races, or by not speaking up when those around us make racist comments. By Changing Our Policies and Institutions. Dismantling racism also means changing the policies and the social and institutional systems that allow racism to remain an oppressive force-for example, by enabling police to stop motorists because of the color of their skin or by permitting banks to treat loan applicants of different races differently. The following questions are a place to start as you consider what needs to happen in order for your municipality to become a part of the solution to racism.