- 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?
2. 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?
3. Describe how your understand what Prof. Gilmore – in the last part of her video – calls “liberation struggle”?
Melissa Boatswain
POL-100
Discussion board 14.1
1. The Connection Between Whiteness and Racism
Ruth Wilson Gilmore suggests that capitalism relies on racial divisions, with "whiteness" serving
as a framework for power and privilege. Whiteness isn't just about skin color; it's a social
construct that justifies racial hierarchies and sustains economic inequality. Racism enforces the
idea of white superiority, making whiteness central to racial capitalism. Essentially, the two are
intertwined because whiteness perpetuates systemic advantages that uphold capitalism. To
dismantle racial capitalism, the structures that center whiteness would need to be addressed.
2. How the Prison System Creates “Criminals”
Gilmore argues that the prison system creates and reinforces the category of "criminal" by
targeting marginalized communities and criminalizing behaviors linked to poverty or systemic
inequities. Over-policing, discriminatory sentencing, and inadequate resources for rehabilitation
trap people in cycles of incarceration. Once labeled as " criminal," individuals face barriers in
accessing jobs, housing, and education, making recidivism more likely. I agree with her—rather
than addressing root causes like poverty or mental health, the system prioritizes punishment,
perpetuating inequality and ensuring its survival.
3. Definition of "Liberation Struggle"
In her video, Gilmore defines liberation struggle as the group’s endeavor to overthrow oppressive
structures, such as the corrupt state and racial capitalism, and install just and compassionate
systems in their stead. It's about envisioning a future in which everyone prospers while opposing
oppression. This, in my opinion, entails realizing the connections between our problems and
cooperating to bring about long-lasting social change.
1. I do think racism is linked to whiteness through the institutionalization of “whiteness” as a structure of domination and control. As Ruth Wilson Gilmore says, capitalism is racial because it has always been linked to practices that create and maintain racial hierarchies. She argues that capitalism will no longer be racial capitalism: it will be so through much more than the eradication of white people from life; rather, it happens when the structures of exclusion and privilege that “white” represents are dismantled. In this context, “white” represents a construct of unchecked power and privilege that marginalizes some for the benefit of others. It creates and maintains hierarchies that dehumanize and exploit different groups.
2. I agree with her view. The prison system has expanded the category of “criminal” through systemic mechanisms that include longer sentences, broader definitions of crime, and obstacles to reintegration into society post-incarceration. It has criminalized poverty, homelessness, and systemic inequality, and this creates an endless stream of people labeled as “criminals.” Gilmore critiques this system as a product of racial capitalism, designed to concentrate surpluses and control marginalized populations rather than address underlying social issues.
3. Gilmore describes “liberation struggle” as a collective, place-based process where communities actively resist oppression by addressing local needs. This struggle is grounded in solidarity, mutual dependence, and a commitment to rethink and reconstruct systems that oppress and marginalize. For example, she mentions the work of self-built communities in Lisbon, where people resisted displacement by organizing and educating themselves about colonialism, racism, and broader systems of inequality. It is about creating spaces for collective consciousness and action that aim for systemic transformation.