- Ruth Gilmore says that capitalism will stop being racial capitalism, when all the white people disappear from the story. What’s the connection between “whiteness” and racism, do you think?
The connection between “whiteness” and racism lies in the historical and social construction of race. Whiteness has been constructed as the norm or standard against which other races are compared, leading to the privileging of white people in society. Racism is a system of power that operates to the advantage of white people while disadvantageing non-white people. Therefore, whiteness is inherently tied to racism as it reinforces systems of power and privilege based on racial hierarchies.
- Gilmore makes the point that criminals are actually being created by the criminal justice and prison system (she says “the category of ‘criminal person’ can be perpetuated”). According to Gilmore, how does that happen, how does the prison system create new “criminals“? Do you agree with her view?
Ruth Gilmore argues that the criminal justice and prison system perpetuate the creation of new “criminals” through various mechanisms such as selective law enforcement, harsh sentencing policies, and inadequate social support systems. These systems disproportionately target and criminalize marginalized communities, particularly people of color and those from low-income backgrounds, leading to cycles of poverty, incarceration, and recidivism. I agree with Gilmore’s view that the prison system plays a significant role in perpetuating inequality and creating new “criminals” by failing to address underlying social issues and resorting to punitive measures instead of rehabilitation.
- Describe how your understand what Prof. Gilmore – in the last part of her video – calls “liberation struggle”?
“Liberation struggle,” as described by Professor Gilmore, refers to collective efforts aimed at challenging and dismantling systems of oppression and inequality. It encompasses a range of social, political, and economic actions aimed at achieving justice, equity, and liberation for marginalized communities. This may include grassroots organizing, advocacy for policy change, direct action, and solidarity across different social movements. Overall, liberation struggle seeks to transform society to create a more just and equitable world for all individuals, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and oppressed.