Derrick Bell's concept of 'racial realism' asserts that anti-Black racism is deeply entrenched in American society, presenting a critical view on notions of progress, particularly following the Obama presidency. In a conversation with Timothy Golden, it is argued that despite legal changes, racism has intensified, particularly during the Trump administration. Bell urges recognition of the permanence of racial inequality to foster realistic resistance strategies, promoting a shift from hopes of temporary solutions to long-term engagement with the issue of systemic racism.
If we believe that racism is a temporary phenomenon... there is a real risk that we rush to come up with theories and solutions to help solve a problem that we have failed to engage.
Black people will never gain full equality in this country. Even those Herculean efforts we hail as successful will produce no more than temporary 'peaks of progress,' short-lived victories that slide into irrelevance as racial patterns adapt in ways that maintain white dominance.
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