How Racist Is America?

 David Brooks asks “How Racist Is America?” (Editorial, July 23):

He begins his answer by accurately describing the historical and continuing barriers to economic and cultural advancement faced by Black and Native Americans. Then he clouds the issue by describing the success immigrant groups have had in moving up the economic and social ladders of American society. He compounds the confusion by broadly defining “people of color”. While he may be technically correct, the simple fact, as Mr. Brooks seems to acknowledge in other parts of his essay, is that persons who are visibly identifiable as Black, whether native or immigrant, continue to face discrimination in the broader society.
The more Black a person appears to be, the more likely she is to face heightened barriers spawned by racial prejudice. That prejudice is baked into the structure of American life and is, thus, systemic. Yes, the concept of “color” is a complex one, made more so by disparities in self-identification. And yes, the growing phenomena of interracial marriage may change the future. But for now, despite the fact that America may continue to be a land of opportunity for an astounding diversity of groups from around the world, it remains a land of white privilege that stamps it as a white supremacist nation.