Racism Is Profitable

For this bonus episode of Raci$m Is Profitable, Robert Reich joins the show to look back at earlier episodes and discuss the shared themes — and visions — that emerge. From redefining “belonging” to demanding that public dollars be equitably and democratically spent, we dig into what “racism is profitable” really means.

For this episode of Racism Is Profitable, we're exploring governance. Run by corporations and elite policymakers who put markets above all else, our current economy is designed to exclude and literally kill us. Understandably, people of color have very little confidence in government today, yet it's also the pathway to winning our power in the economy. So we're here to bust assumptions about our so-called democratic processes and, more importantly, reimagine what governing could and should be. What if we redefined the relationship between elected officials and movements? What if American governance was rooted in community? Demos President Taifa Butler joins the show to cut through the chaos and help us envision a new governing moment.

In this episode, we're examining credit and the oppressive narratives that limit our economic power. America loves to promote ideals like self-determination and choice, yet people of color literally and figuratively can't afford to risk much. And to participate in the economy in ways that will give us a chance to build generational wealth, many of us have to rely on an inherently racist credit system that sees — and treats — us as risky. The money myths that shape who deserves to be made whole help cement a dual financial system that prices us out of prosperity. ACRE's Maurice BP-Weeks is here to say what needs to be said.

Liberation in a Generation Action co-founders and co-executive directors Jeremie Greer and Solana Rice joined OFF-KILTER host Rebecca Vallas for a look at the story behind LibGen and how it's working to dismantle what they have termed the “oppression economy” by putting people of color at the center of policy change. The group also takes a sneak peek at the Raci$m Is Profitable podcast.

From the constant villainization of undocumented people to the misguided belief that we have to earn our civil, political, and economic rights, the idea of citizenship comes down to who belongs and who doesn't. While people of color are still buying our freedom with our labor, white people get it from birth — and they get to redefine it and take it from us. We might dig into some legalities here, but we're really trying to lift the curtain on why US citizenship is denied to so many and why it has yet to be fully realized for most Americans. People of color aspire to be part of this country, and we hold our democracy accountable to its promise. But we know that we don't have democratic citizenship, and we damn sure don't have economic emancipation either. Greisa Martínez Rosas of United We Dream joins us to call out the lies and speak all truth.

On this episode of Raci$m Is Profitable, we're talking about personal responsibility. You know, the idea that if you're not right in the economy it's because you're doing something wrong. Endless political and policy decisions are rooted in this toxic assumption, driven by the flawed belief that people's behavior and choices are in their way. “Just pick yourself up by your bootstraps already.” We know it's really the systemic barriers — and the blatant racism that built them — that let policymakers minimize our deservedness and ultimately deny Black and brown folks access to economic opportunity and government support. Hear this: The struggles that people of color endure are not the consequences of our own actions or inactions. Michael Tubbs of End Poverty in California (EPIC) joins us to say it straight.

We wanna talk about the fact that when it comes to money and paying for our fundamental needs in this country, scarcity is used as a racist lie. Yes, we should tax billionaires out of existence, but our government can afford nice things anyway. And by “nice things,” we mean taking care of people of color and consistently investing in our communities. Two years into the Covid recession, and Congress is still squabbling over how much they're willing to spend to keep people safe, housed, and fed. We're not here to get technical about monetary policy; we want to dig into the role of money and how it's distributed. At the end of the day, it's OUR money — the people's money — to spend. The only thing we can't afford is more oppression. Demond Drummer of PolicyLink joins us to call out this lie and name our truths.

From the expectations of grind culture to an obsession with Black excellence, the oppression economy tells us that we're only valued — and valuable — if we work hard and produce, produce, produce. Part of the same flawed belief system as personal responsibility, we're expected to meet impossible standards determined by who you are, where you're from, what job you have, and what systems you have access to. It's time to smash the illusion that keeps us building wealth for other people when we deserve to build it for ourselves. Hear this: You are and always have been worthy — of safety, security, and economic wealth and well-being. Lauren Jacobs, executive director of PowerSwitch Action, joins us to call out this lie and name our truths.