Ruth Gilmore makes the claim that the connection that is made between whiteness and racism is based upon capitalism not having the ability to stop being racial capitalism even if all white people were removed from the equation. The main issue that causes racial capitalism is the comparison that is made from capitalism and the racial hierarchy. The term whiteness refers to the advantages in society that white people have and upholding inequalities between race groups. The concept of whiteness is rooted in how distinctions in race are used to display inequality and because of that, implies how racism isn’t made about specific groups of people. Instead, it relies on a systemic structure that depends on that division of race. 

Gilmore’s claim on the prison system creating criminals explains how instead of focusing on the rehabilitation of prison inmates, the system rather creates a category of criminals that keep returning to jail. The creation of this category of criminals are created in a cycle that have individuals being categorized and leading to longer sentences. Because of portrayals of bad behavior, other individuals can be perceived as “criminal” regardless of the severity of the crime. From the labeling made by the prison system, it causes individuals to be punished and assists in more people being incarcerated. I would personally say I agree with Gilmore’s claim mainly because of the fact that prison is supposed to be for rehabilitation, but the use of labels causes individuals to be defined by that criminal status. 

Gilmore explains “liberation struggle” as a collective effort that makes a change towards social and political change. She affirms that liberation struggles are made up of specific issues that individuals have and the needs of those individuals in particular locations. To understand these struggles means to understand the context from racism, global capitalism, etc. This kind of struggle is being able to recognize the injustice that exists and fighting against it. It’s something that grows overtime that relies on other people to enact.