It's Never Been a Level Playing Field
It's Never Been a Level Playing Field offers a profound exploration of the deeply entrenched issues of race, privilege, and systemic inequality that have shaped the fabric of our nation. With keen insight, Brigham dissects the myths that perpetuate racial disparities and presents bold ideas for dismantling these longstanding injustices. To those in pursuit of John Lewis' good trouble, this book stands as a vital roadmap for understanding the roots of racial injustice and a compelling call to action for all of us to take part in building a more just and equitable society. A beloved community."
State Delegate Jazz Lewis, Maryland House of Delegates, 24th District (Prince George’s County)
In It’s Never Been a Level Playing Field, the author embarks on a journey to dissect and challenge the deeply ingrained myths that continue to perpetuate racial inequality in America. Through a candid exploration of history, policy, and societal norms, he confronts the uncomfortable truths surrounding race and racism, particularly as it relates to an America still dominated by Whites.
Each chapter delves into a specific myth, from the fallacy of equal opportunity to the enduring inequalities in housing, education, and justice systems. Through meticulous research and analysis, the book reveals how these myths intersect and perpetuate racial inequity and injustice in modern America.
In this book, you will:
- Uncover the pervasive influence of White-oriented systems and beliefs that have shaped American society for centuries.
- Confront the uncomfortable truths surrounding race and racism in America.
- Understand the historical structures, both legal and cultural, that have upheld White advantage and supremacy.
- Dispel the illusion of a level playing field and expose systemic biases that disadvantage African Americans.
- Explore the fallacy of equal opportunity and the enduring inequalities in housing, education, and justice systems.
- Learn how these myths intersect and perpetuate racial inequity and injustice in modern America.
- Discover a roadmap for systemic change and transformative policies to build a more equitable future.
It’s Never Been a Level Playing Field is a call to action for all Americans to work towards a more just and inclusive society. It serves as an essential guide for understanding race issues in America and contributing to the fight for equality. Read this book and join the movement toward a more just and inclusive America.
Comprehensive and bold, It’s Never Been a Level Playing Field challenges readers to rethink racial inequality in America. Critiquing the fallacy of individual meritocracy, the book exposes the dirty underbelly of White supremacy and domination at the heart of the American project and its consequences for Black Americans. From urban renewal and redlining to the dumping of toxic waste in Black communities, Brigham shows how White Americans and institutions have upheld an unjust system through their action and inaction. In tracing how violent practices have endured and shape-shifted from slavery to our pretense politics, he shows why racial disparities and disadvantage persist in everything from education, health care, and criminal justice to housing and entrepreneurship—and what we can do about it. It’s Never Been a Level Playing Field is sure to spark needed debate in classrooms and boardrooms, and around kitchen tables across the country.
Willow S. Lung-Amam, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning at the University of Maryland, College Park
