Power
After reflecting on this week’s materials, I keep coming back to the concept of power: power in the system, power in certain individuals, and the lack of power that so many feel every single day. The systemic racism embedded in American institutions continues to exert a chokehold on nearly every facet of society, from education to healthcare to the justice system. The Brookings research summary by Dhaliwal et al. (2020) illustrates how even unconscious educator bias can contribute to racial disparities in student achievement and discipline. What is striking to me is not that such bias exists (because we have learned that we are all victims of implicit bias), but that it compounds over time, creating a cyclical disadvantage for younger generations who then carry those inequities into their adulthood. A teacher’s low expectations or biased disciplinary practices may seem small by itself, but the compounded effect is powerful enough to shape academic trajectories, limit opportunities, and reinforce systemic inequities for generations.
This same cycle of inequity appears in healthcare. Brondolo et al. (2011) show how racism—both structural and perceived—has lasting consequences on health outcomes. Systemic barriers in medical institutions do not only affect one’s immediate well-being; they also ripple across generations, as marginalized communities inherit both the physical and emotional toll of the systems that discriminate against them. The Shepherd et al. (2018) study further reinforces the reality of these cycles, highlighting how systemic disadvantage, especially in justice-involved youth, is perpetuated rather than disrupted by the very systems meant to provide support. Together, these studies illustrate that racism is not just an interpersonal problem; it is a systemic force that consistently reproduces inequity.
The inequities are not limited to education and healthcare. Dai (2011) highlights disparities in green space accessibility across racial and socioeconomic groups. On the surface, access to a park or public green space might seem like a minor issue compared to healthcare or education, yet the implications are definitely there. The lack of safe, accessible green space has measurable effects on physical health, mental well-being, and community strength. When communities of color are systematically deprived of these resources, their quality of life diminishes, and the cycle of disadvantage is reinforced yet again. It demonstrates how systemic racism infiltrates even the most basic aspects of daily living, dictating where one can safely walk, play, or breathe clean air.
Vigdor et al. (2014) add yet another dimension by examining the “digital divide.” The disparities in technology access and digital literacy mean that students from marginalized backgrounds often start at a disadvantage that becomes more pronounced in a society increasingly dependent on digital tools. In a world where information, education, and even employment opportunities are accessed through technology, those without reliable internet access or digital training are left behind. Like bias in classrooms or healthcare, this divide perpetuates systemic inequity, denying future generations the resources they need to succeed in a digital economy.
As I reflect, I feel caught between recognition and helplessness. On one hand, I realize that I hold power and privilege because of the color of my skin. I can move through life in general with fewer barriers, and in subtle ways, the systems we interact with are designed to benefit me. Yet, despite that, I often feel powerless to effect meaningful change. If I, with the privilege of racial identity, feel this way—what must it feel like for those who are actively marginalized, discriminated against, and silenced by these same systems? The exhaustion, frustration, and generational burden must be overwhelming.
This leads me to the question that lingers at the end of every reflection: What will it take for the cycle to break? Awareness and acknowledgment are necessary first steps, but they are not enough. Structural change demands not only policy reform but also shifts in individual actions from people in positions of power, system-wide accountability, and collective attitudes–shifts that are actually moving in the wrong direction in our current political climate. It requires those with power to not just recognize their privilege but to use it deliberately in the service of equity. Until that happens, the cycle of disadvantage will continue to reproduce itself, shaping the lives of future generations before they even have a chance to claim their own power.
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