This word confused me when I started to hear it in connection with George Floyd and other stories about police abuse. I have researched the word because I am a writer. Words are my brushes and paints in the artistry of my writing. Other writers know what I mean. I must understand what my and others’ words are supposed to mean.

A word or phrase that is used is not always the correct way to express an idea. I work hard to make my words understood. I am as dedicated to being sure of what your words are supposed to mean. Often this process is difficult.

Such was my problem with the phrase “systemic racism”. Finally, I determined that it is the prejudice that is built into our laws and rules. Usually, it refers to civil rights violations against a minority group. Racism is currently being exhibited publicly on television and in other media.

Putin is shown as being against Ukraine. They have been enjoying freedoms that the Russian people are not given. Their economy is blossoming, and it makes their time in the USSR seem to be a block of wasted time. Their success is a black eye for the founding country of the United Soviet Socialist Republic. They are the target because they have not joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization yet. One of the Soviet leader’s reasons that were voiced before the invasion was that he did not want Ukraine to join NATO as Poland and other former USSR states had.

Is this “systemic racism”? I think it falls in that category. The USSR as an entity is opposed to former member nations making their own choices. The resources they lost when the Berlin wall came down and former leaders allowed the Soviet Union to break apart have damaged the ability of the communist party leaders in Russia to maintain their extravagant lifestyles.

Isn’t this the same situation the African Americans experienced after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed? They fought for over a hundred years to gain the freedoms and rights of other American citizens. The Black Lives Matter movement claims that the racism that exists in the U.S. comes from our existing laws.

I do not believe that their conclusion is the correct one. George Floyd was killed by one man. He was a police officer who violated the rules that are supposed to protect all citizens from excessive force by law enforcement. We hear of these cases from time to time between not only police but individual citizens or even military or other officials against each other and civilians. A few of these reports are picked up by the media because of the racism that is assumed to be involved.

Another ongoing story of blatant bigotry is being played out in our country. One man verbally promised to show racial favoritism should the opportunity arise. That chance has been given to him and he is following through on his pledge.

President Joe Biden nominated Ketanji Brown Jackson to replace Stephen Breyer as Associate Supreme Court Justice. He stated that he would nominate a black woman to this body if he was elected president. I agree with him that the Supreme Court should be more racially and gender-specific in its makeup. I disagree with his method.

I am not saying that his nomination is systemic racism. I am saying that we allow individuals to make decisions based on race and gender in a process that is legal under our laws. There is no statute that says that the President of the United States cannot choose whomever he wishes for this position.

If he had promised the next nominee for this position would be a white man, that would be considered biased. Why are we accepting his refusal to consider any candidate who was not African American and female as acceptable when we have Americans of all genders, races, and backgrounds protesting for equal treatment for all people?

We as freedom and equality-loving human beings want Putin to stop his war against Ukraine based on his soviet prejudice against a free nation. We also want every American with the experience and qualifications to be able to fill a position on the highest court in the land.

The question is “Did the president look at all of the Federal Justices in the same light when he chose Justice Jackson?” She is undoubtedly qualified to be on this august body. Did everyone else get the same consideration? What about the lighter-skinned African American women Federal Judges?

©Copyright 2022 by Charles Kensinger