2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: To close racial gaps, the economic status quo must change... [View all]MellowDem
(5,018 posts)First, our economic system allows for very little economic mobility, so that people who are born poor mostly stay poor and people who are born wealthy mostly stay wealthy.
Our economic system takes historical inequalities and perpetuates them indefinitely in this way. It helps perpetuate racial gaps that already exist. Even if attitudes change, and they have to some degree, it won't make a dent in racial gaps of there is no economic mobility. Increased economic mobility would reduce some of the racial gaps.
Second, our society is still incredibly segregated. Again, the current economic system perpetuated this segregation, even as attitudes shift. Market forces dictate that it's most economically advantageous for the wealthy to live, work and send their kids to school with other similarly wealthy people, and poor people are seen as a threat to neighborhoods because of their potential impact on schools and housing prices. Our economic system incentivizes segregation. Segregation leads to unequal funding and unequal opportunities between different races. Decreasing segregation would give increased opportunities and resources to minorities, which would help close the racial gaps.
On a side note, segregation and racial gaps also encourages racial bigotry and stereotyping, so reducing both would also help attitudes about race.
It's not the only solution, but if economic incentives for segregation aren't removed, and if economic mobility remains low, what are the chances that racial attitudes improve, much less that racial gaps are closed?