The connection between “whiteness” and racism is whiteness has power and privilege, it’s used to perpetuate the idea of racial capitalism and keeping the idea of whiteness on top. In terms of capitalism it needs inequality more specifically, racism to exist to keep a power dynamic between whiteness and race.

According to Gilmore, the prison system creates new criminals by targeting certain behaviors, certain communities, and types of people. By targeting people in low income or in poverty can perpetuate to the creation of criminals. The prison system also enforces social inequalities because these communities lack education, proper resources, or jobs. Instead of providing these thing many in power build more and more prisons.

What I understand when professor Gilmore said “liberation struggles” is that we need to focus and understand what processes and situation people go through so we can go against struggles like racial disparities.

1. Ruth Gilmore’s statement about capitalism ceasing to be racial capitalism when white people disappear from the narrative highlights the intrinsic connection between “whiteness” and racism. In many societies, whiteness has been historically privileged and constructed as the norm, while non-white identities have been marginalized or oppressed. This racial hierarchy is deeply embedded in social, economic, and political structures, including capitalism. Whiteness often serves as a marker of privilege and power, reinforcing systemic racism by perpetuating inequalities in access to resources, opportunities, and representation. Thus, Gilmore’s assertion suggests that racism is fundamentally tied to the perpetuation of whiteness within systems like capitalism, and dismantling racial capitalism requires challenging and dismantling the privileges associated with whiteness.
2. Gilmore argues that the criminal justice and prison system contribute to the creation of new “criminals” through the perpetuation of the category of the “criminal person.” She suggests that this occurs through various mechanisms, such as over-policing of certain communities, biased sentencing practices, and the warehousing of individuals in prisons. These systems disproportionately target and penalize marginalized communities, particularly Black and Brown individuals, perpetuating cycles of incarceration and criminalization. Gilmore’s perspective implies that the construction of criminality is not inherent to individuals but is rather shaped by societal structures and institutions. Whether one agrees with her view depends on their understanding of the role of the criminal justice system and their stance on criminal justice reform.
3. In the last part of her video, Gilmore refers to “liberation struggle” as a collective effort to challenge and transform oppressive systems. This struggle encompasses various forms of resistance, activism, and organizing aimed at achieving liberation from systems of oppression such as racism, capitalism, and imperialism. It involves challenging existing power structures, advocating for social justice, and promoting collective liberation for all marginalized communities. Gilmore emphasizes the importance of solidarity and collective action in liberation struggles, highlighting the interconnectedness of different forms of oppression and the need for intersectional approaches to social change. Overall, “liberation struggle” represents a commitment to systemic transformation and the pursuit of freedom, equality, and justice for all.

1. Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s statement in “Geographies of Racial Capitalism” underscores a critical connection between “whiteness” and racism within the framework of racial capitalism. In essence, she suggests that capitalism’s inherently exploitative and oppressive nature is intertwined with racial dynamics, particularly the privilege and power associated with being white. The connection between “whiteness” and racism lies in the systemic advantages afforded to individuals perceived as white, which perpetuates inequalities and reinforces hierarchies based on race. This is evident in various aspects of society, including access to employment opportunities, education, housing, and the criminal justice system.
2. Ruth Wilson Gilmore’s analysis sheds light on the systemic process through which the criminal justice and prison system perpetuates the creation of new “criminals.” She articulates that the categorization of individuals as “criminal persons” is not inherent but rather constructed and perpetuated by the workings of the system itself. The targeting of marginalized communities, particularly Black and brown populations, through discriminatory policing practices such as racial profiling and over-policing of certain neighborhoods. This results in disproportionate rates of arrest and incarceration among these groups, often for non-violent offenses or minor infractions. Once individuals are within the criminal justice system, they are subjected to a cycle of punishment and surveillance that makes reintegration into society challenging. Limited access to education, employment, and housing opportunities. I find Gilmore’s view compelling with her analysis of how the prison system functions as a mechanism for creating and perpetuating “criminals.” The system’s reliance on punitive measures rather than addressing root causes such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity heightens rather than resolves issues of crime and social harm.
3. In the part of the video “Geographies of Racial Capitalism,” Prof. Ruth Wilson Gilmore emphasizes the concept of “liberation struggle” as a critical framework for challenging and dismantling the oppressive structures of racial capitalism. From my understanding, liberation struggle, as articulated by Gilmore, encompasses a multifaceted approach to resistance and social transformation. Liberation struggle involves recognizing the interconnectedness of various forms of oppression, including racism, capitalism, imperialism, and patriarchy. Gilmore underscores the importance of solidarity among diverse communities fighting against these systems of domination. This solidarity acknowledges that liberation cannot be achieved for one group alone but requires collective action and mutual support across different struggles. Gilmore highlights the resilience of communities impacted by racial capitalism, emphasizing the importance of centering their voices and experiences in the struggle for liberation.

1. The cultural and historical construction of whiteness as the standard by which other racial identities are judged, sustaining systems of privilege and disadvantage, has resulted in a strong historical and systematic association between “whiteness” and racism. Racism functions by diminishing or excluding other racial groups and promoting the idea that some racial groupings, often associated with whiteness, are better. Laws, regulations, and social norms that preserve racial structures and favor the perceived white while disadvantageous people of color have institutionalized this belief system. The term “racial capitalism” in the context of capitalism refers to the abuse of racial structures for profit, the maintenance of uneven access to wealth and opportunities based on race, and the labor and resource extraction from underprivileged populations as means of sustaining inequality. According to Ruth Gilmore, capitalism won’t stop being racially motivated until the structures and institutions that support racial hierarchies, such as the value placed on whiteness, are destroyed. This will require a change in larger social, economic, and political structures in order to address and end racism and inequality.
2. Ruth Gilmore thinks that a number of techniques used by the criminal justice and prison systems encourage the development of new “criminals”. One way this happens is when laws and regulations that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, people of color and those from low-income backgrounds, in particular, are selectively enforced. For instance, if someone is entangled in the criminal justice system, they frequently encounter obstacles to their release from the system, such as difficulty finding housing, work, and social services. This can cause them to turn to illegal activity in order to survive. Gilmore also emphasizes the ways in which the prison-industrial complex, which is fueled by financial interests, encourages the growth of prisons and the incarceration of more people by, among other things, enacting laws requiring mandatory minimum terms.I agree Gilmore’s belief that criminal laws and systemic injustices lead to the production of new “criminals” in the criminal justice and prison systems. Criminal activity is more likely when there is a focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation within the system, as well as when resources and assistance are limited for those who are released from prison. 
3. I understand the concept of “liberation struggle” as Ruth Gilmore means, captures group endeavors to confront and subvert oppressive structures, especially those originating from racism, capitalism, and imperialism. This idea promotes intersectional approaches to liberation and shows the connections between different types of oppression. Gilmore emphasizes the importance of underrepresented voices in these fights, empowering communities, and community organizing. In the fight for liberation, one must fight repressive systems, promote legislative changes, form alliances with other social organizations, and establish places for group discussion and education. As it works to create more inclusive and equitable societies, it places a high priority on elevating the experiences of those who are most affected by injustice and challenging prevailing narratives and power structures.

1. To me, the connection to “whiteness” comes from the power dynamic white people get from racism. White privilege gives people a sense of superiority and is a marker of privilege and dominance within our society. As Ruth Gilmore is saying, there’s racism within capitalism because of this power dynamic set up by white privilege. 
2. I agree with Gilmore’s view that the criminal justice and prison system play a significant role in perpetuating the creation of new “criminals” by failing to address underlying systemic issues and instead perpetuating cycles. I think one way this happens is through the criminalization of certain behaviors often targeting marginalized communities disproportionately. Another way we can see this system of racism is by how society perpetuates poverty, which creates lack of education and good jobs and inevitably pushes people to engage in criminal activity, which they are then punished for more greatly. This cycle then leads to facing even more hardships because once they are involved within the criminal justice system, it is harder for them to find jobs and reenter society. 
3. “Liberation struggle,” as described by Prof. Gilmore in the video, refers to collective efforts aimed at challenging and dismantling systems of oppression, such as racism, capitalism, imperialism, and other forms of structural inequality. I see the liberation struggle as the struggle within that system.

1. The connection between “whiteness” and racism is that the concept of “whiteness” has been historically constructed as a means to justify and maintain systems of power and oppression. This has resulted in the privileging of specific individuals based on their perceived race while simultaneously marginalizing and oppressing others. The notion of “racial capitalism” suggests that capitalism and racism are intertwined, with race being used as a means of maintaining economic and social hierarchies. Ruth Gilmore’s statement indicates that for genuine progress to be made toward eliminating racism, there needs to be a dismantling of the power structures that have been built around the concept of “whiteness.”

2. Ruth Gilmore argues that the prison and criminal justice systems perpetuate the category of “criminal person,” creating new “criminals.” This is achieved through the over-policing and disproportionate punishment of certain social groups, especially Black and Brown communities, as well as the absence of resources and opportunities available to these groups. As a result, the criminal justice system becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, creating the very criminals it purports to rehabilitate and punish. I believe that Gilmore’s view holds considerable merit. While the criminal justice and prison systems are not entirely responsible for creating new “criminals,” they can contribute to the problem by perpetuating the marginalization and discrimination of individuals labeled as such. To address the root causes of criminal behavior, such as poverty, lack of education and job opportunities, and systemic racism and discrimination, we must strive to reduce recidivism rates and prevent the creation of new “criminals.”

3. Ruth Gilmore uses the term “liberation struggle” to refer to the collective efforts of individuals and communities to resist and challenge systems of oppression and discrimination. This struggle involves fighting against the structural and systemic barriers that perpetuate social inequality, such as racism, sexism, and classism. For Gilmore, the liberation struggle is not just about individual actions but also about building alliances and coalitions across diverse groups to achieve common goals. Individuals and communities can create a more just and equitable society by working together to challenge and dismantle oppressive structures.

1.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 professor actually says that capitalism won’t stop being racial capitalism when (if) all the white people disappear from the story because capitalism existed even within Europe, before Europeans started the slavery trade in other parts of the world. The point she is trying to make is that capitalism needs inequality in order to exist, and racism (and racial practices) are factors that contribute to this inequality and thus perpetuate capitalism. However, she does acknowledge that, historically, the differences between those who own the means of production compared to those who are exploited are related to racial practices. So, I think this is the connection between “whiteness” and racism: the historical practices that reinforce and maintain the capitalism as it is today, with Black people being discriminated.

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?

She makes the point that criminals are being created by the criminal justice system through the terrible jail system and all the barriers imposed upon those who are returning to life in society. The professor defends that this system exists to maintain this inequality necessary for capitalism to exist, and she brings up an interesting question: “how the elite uses the government to achieve their own interests?”. I agree with her view because, as discussed in previous modules, the mass incarceration came as a response not to crime, but the ascension of the Black society. So, it make sense that, for the status quo continue as it is, the prison system needs to “create criminals”.

3. Describe how you understand what Prof. Gilmore – in the last part of her video – calls “liberation struggle”?

At the end of the video, the professor mentions that it’s important to be attentive to the different ways people achieve consciousness through the continuous spreading of liberation struggle – which I understand (based on the video) that means people coming together, discussing, and fighting for their rights and better conditions. She gave a very interesting example of it, people in a community arguing about their right to continue to live there, and I found it interesting because it also happened in the community I grew up in. There, the houses were also self-built, without much planning, and for years the municipality tried to take people away. But, through liberation struggle (people coming together and arguing their rights), the community not only gained the right to continue to exist there, but also achieved other things, such as a day care, public lighting, etc.

1. The connection between “whiteness” and racism, is a racial hierarchy. Also capitalism in a sense of without racism and whiteness capitalism works.
2. According to Gilmore, the prison system creates new criminals by a large of group criminals and people getting caught in the sense and can’t get out of it.
3. A liberation struggle typically refers to a collective effort by a group of people to achieve freedom, independence, or autonomy from perceived oppression or domination. This struggle can take various forms, including political, social, economic, and armed resistance, depending on the circumstances and the goals of the movement.

1. The connection between “whiteness” and racism is that that “whiteness” is a social construct that has been used to maintain and perpetuate racial hierarchies and systemic racism. Whiteness is not just about skin color, but also about privilege, power, and social status. It is a way of defining and categorizing people based on their race, and it has been used to justify and legitimize racial discrimination and inequality. 

2. According to Gilmore, the prison system creates new “criminals” by criminalizing certain behaviors and actions, and by disproportionately targeting and punishing certain groups of people. This is done through policies and practices that disproportionately target and criminalize certain groups of people, such as people of color, the poor, and the homeless. This creates a cycle of poverty, crime, and incarceration, which perpetuates racial inequality and systemic racism. 

3. I agree with Gilmore’s view that the prison system creates new “criminals” by criminalizing certain behaviors and actions, and by disproportionately targeting and punishing certain groups of people. This is because the prison system is not just a place to punish criminals, but also a system that perpetuates racial inequality and systemic racism. 

4. In the last part of her video, Prof. Gilmore calls “liberation struggle” as the fight to end racial capitalism and systemic racism. This involves challenging and changing the ways in which race, and racism are used to create and perpetuate inequality and injustice. It involves fighting for equal rights, opportunities, and treatment for all people, regardless of their race or ethnicity.