Systemic racism isn't about one bad person or even a few bad laws. It’s a self-operating system that keeps racial inequality in place by controlling money, land, and power. It ensures that even when Black communities succeed, the rules of the game are rigged to make that success temporary. Here’s how it works, using three key historical moves: 1. The Block: Taking the First Step Back Systemic racism starts by blocking wealth creation at the source. It’s a broken promise made by the government itself. The Land Betrayal: After slavery, the government promised formerly enslaved people “Forty Acres and a Mule.” This land ownership was the essential first step toward wealth and independence. However, President Andrew Johnson quickly revoked that promise and returned the land to the white former slave owners. The Result: By denying this initial wealth transfer, the system immediately forced millions of Black families into sharecropping—a form of economic servitude—rather tha...