RJC Roots of Racism Part 1 Our Black Communities

Systemic racism - sometimes called institutional or structural racism - can be defined as a form of racism woven into society through laws and institutions that treat people differently based on race, contributing to perpetual inequalities in power, wealth, education, medical care, housing, dignity, and opportunity. These inequalities endure, even after the laws have changed and often without conscious animus. In a multi-part series, we examine the historic causes and continuing effects of systemic racism from the perspective of our Black, Latinx, Asian, and Native American communities, followed by a final program discussing potential responses. It is our hope that by understanding the past, we can better evaluate the present, and more wisely build toward a future of racial justice.
In this Part 1 of our series, we consider the watershed laws and events underlying systemic racism for our Black communities, the impact of systemic racism on those communities today, and the personal experiences and revelations of our speakers. Topics include:
- Slavery and the Beginning of Racial Narratives
- The Homestead Act, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow Laws
- Voting, Education, Property Rights, and Testimony in California
- Post World War II and Resistance to the Civil Rights Movement
- Reverberations in 2021
Moderator:
Terrance Evans
Speakers:
Dr. Shirley N. Weber, California Secretary of State
Professor Shauna Marshall, UC Hastings
Dawn Schock, International Rule of Law Development Consultant; Certified Appellate Specialist; Past-president, California Women Lawyers.
Co-sponsored by:
California Association of Black Lawyers
California Attorneys for Criminal Justice
Charles Houston Bar Association
CLA Litigation Section
Duane Morris LLP
National Bar Association, Region 9
Polsinelli
Queens Bench Bar Association
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Women Lawyers of Alameda County
Find out more about our Racial Justice Committee, register for future town halls & events, and browse resources here: calawyers.org/....
Racial Justice Committee Leaders:
• Adrieannette Ciccone
• Leif Dautch
• Terrance Evans
• Monique D. Jewett-Brewster
• Marjaneh Maroufi
• Ellen Miller