January 20, 2026: The Racializaton of Resources

Elder Ned joined co-hosts Margie and I to discuss the third leg of MLK's 3-legged stool;  racism.  Elder Ned led encouraged us to redefine racism as the racialization of resources, including assets, opportunities and privileges.  In this USA capitalist economic system, where winners require losers (Opollo describes this as the zero sum game), there is a connection between the distribution of economic resources not only according to skin color but also other characteristics.  

When we accept that we are all people of color, our "whiteness" and "blackness" are often determined by our countries of origin and other characteristics, not necessarily by our appearances.  Our economic system is designed to benefit the few at the expense of the many, resulting in the inequitable distribution of resources,  Once we understand, acknowledge and accept that it is the system that provides privilege to whiteness, we can devote our efforts to changing the system, away from zero sum, to a more equitable distribution that leaves us all able to have what we need, and maybe even enough left over to get what we wants.  They key is to understand the system and organize to get better outcomes for everyone, not just the privileged few.  

As I drove home from this radio show, I was struck by the disparities of resource distribution wherever I looked and better understood the urgency to better understand racialized disparities and think of how we can come together to bring economic equity to our communities and country.

In the next two weeks, VoR will address issues surrounding Yamacraw Village, a public housing project facing possible demolition and dislocation of its residents, destroying not only buildings but community in this historically black neighborhood, and The People's Blueprint being offered by Your Space Collective.