In today's show, we look at racism, what it is, what it actually looks like, how it affects all of us,

and most importantly, what we can do about it.

Welcome to the most hopeful podcast on the internet where we look at big intimidating topics and try to find the tiniest leap we can take to make big changes in the world around us. My name is Greg Klunis and when we get back, we'll try to find the hope in racism. Oh, yeah. Now I'm going to say something that I don't think is going to shock anyone listening to this podcast. Racism is a big problem. In the US alone, as of 2019, and this is from a Pew research study back in 2019,

65% of those surveyed believe it's more acceptable to express racist or racially insensitive views compared to previous years.

65 percent.

59 percent of white Republicans and Republican leaning people believe that slavery has had not much or no effect on black people in society today.

And 77% of white Republican and Republican leaning people believe the biggest problem with racism is seeing racism where it does not exist.

And according to Heather McGee, the author of the phenomenal book, The Some of Us,

it doesn't just affect the groups targeted. Now in her book, The Some of Us, Heather McGee explores the history of racism in America and offers solutions for building an inclusive society.

McGee begins by recounting how America was founded on principles of racial inequality,

which have been perpetuated through policies and cultural norms.

She argues that racism has always been used to divide and conquer the American people and that it benefits no one in the long run.

Now here's a few thoughts on how racism affects everyone.

Discrimination in Housing, education, and employment,

leading to less diversity in the workplace,

less diversity in our neighborhoods,

less diversity in schools, less exposure for those who are in those schools,

less understanding of the world around them outside of their own cultures.

There is the physical and emotional trauma that honestly exists on a societal level, a trauma that we are all suffering from.

Yes, those who are descendants of slaves and those who are

still living that trauma today and experiencing that trauma today might be hurting more and

might be affected more. But White America is very much

...