Oppression is by Design

June 29, 2020

Video Description:

“In US news and current events today, Richard Rothstein, The Color of Law author, continues his lifelong mission to debunk the myth of de facto segregation and explain how modern-day segregation is enforced by US law and policy.
Insidious tactics like redlining have contributed to modern-day segregation, and it leads to modern school segregation, modern housing segregation and housing discrimination, and so much more. De jure discrimination didn’t end with the passage of the Civil Rights Act, it simply became more insidious and baked into the housing, lending, and education systems that have prevented Black Americans from earning and keeping wealth.
Modern segregation is no less immoral and unjust than explicit segregation, and the entire system needs an overhaul if we are ever to reach true equality and assert that Black lives matter.”

I’ve been learning a lot about Liberatory Design thanks to some good colleagues at The National Equity Project, and I’m still reflecting on four pieces of context that were shared at a recent institute as it relates to systems of oppression, and movements for liberation:

History is a series of design decisions.–The housing segregation explained in the video is but one example of many.

Systems produce what they were designed to produce.

Everything is by design.

We are ALL designers.

Each of those premises provided me with affirming clarity, but I am finding the line about us all being designers to be a significant reminder and call to action. Oppression is intentional and the work for liberation must also be intentional.

Ubuntu,

From Aspiring Humanitarian, Relando Thompkins-Jones

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Relando Thompkins-Jones

I'm a macro social worker, social justice educator, and consultant who uses media and education to advance equity and social justice within people, organizations, and communities. I am also the Founder, Host, Editor and Producer of Social Justice Origin Stories, a storytelling project that highlights the personal stories and defining moments that have inspired individuals and organizations to labor for equity and social justice. I started Social Justice Origin Stories because I believe in the power of storytelling and making our experiences accessible to others, because I believe in the liberatory effects of social justice education, to support justice-seekers in finding community and feeling less alone given the relentlessness of oppressive systems, and hopefully to be a resource of support and reflection for those who are thinking through how they could best contribute to the work. We need all who can, to do what they can.