Race: A Divisive Social Construct
Last time, I got a bit emotional—race has a way of bringing out strong feelings, and for good reason. It’s one of the most misunderstood concepts in our world. At its core, “race” isn’t about biology, skin tone, or science. It’s a social construct created to divide people, to rank one group as superior and another as inferior.
Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, in his powerful book Stamped from the Beginning (pp. 9–11), explains that racial discrimination came first, leading to the creation of racist ideas to justify those actions. Ignorance and hate didn’t cause racism—they were byproducts of a system built on division. The very term race perpetuates these divisions, acting as a barrier rather than a bridge.
We avoid facing this reality by soothing ourselves with terms like “post-racial,” pretending the problem no longer exists. But ignoring history doesn’t erase its impact—it’s like covering a flower bed with black plastic to stop the weeds. Without addressing the root cause, the problems persist.
Acknowledging our past is difficult. It can stir up guilt, anger, and frustration. But true healing—whether personal, societal, or spiritual—requires us to confront the truth. Forgiveness, a cornerstone of many faiths, can only happen if we understand and admit the harm we’ve done. That understanding brings us to an even more charged topic: reparations.
How do you “make up” for 400 years of atrocities? The slaughter of Indigenous peoples, the destruction of their livelihoods, and the theft of their lands? The enslavement of Africans, treated as less than human, whose forced labor fueled the wealth of nations? These are truths that must be faced by both adults and the next generation. Only by teaching our children the full story can we begin to dismantle the systems of oppression that persist today.
This conversation is difficult but necessary. Reparations, acknowledgment, and action are the steps toward a more just future. Let’s continue this journey together.
For more, read my book:
Racism: Can We Listen, Learn, and Live Together?
And join us at: becomingantiracist.org
Sincerely,
Dr. Gordon Griffin
