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 The article Settler Colonialism as Structure: A Framework for Comparative Studies of US Race and Gender Formation, by Evelyn Nakano-Glenn, provides for the reader exactly what is promised in its title. Nakano-Glenn establishes settler colonialism as a key term to be understood in studying race and gender relations in the United States, both in the past and in the present. Settler colonialism is a framework that “highlights commonalities in the history and contemporary situation of indigenous peoples in many parts of the world” (Nakano-Glenn). She separates it from colonialism more broadly, establishing that settler colonialism occurs with the explicit purpose of settling permanently, changing the colonialists relationship with indigenous inhabitants. Settler colonialists seek ways to eliminate indigenous occupants, whether by genocide, force, or assimilation. As Nakano-Glenn recounts, this has made a big impact on race relations in the US, as Native Americans have historically represented a barrier to white settlement on American soil, leading to a cruel history and futures of racism, from the Trail of Tears to forced assimilation policies. This contrasts with the racisms against African Americans, who were viewed as more ‘profitable’ for the forced labor they provides on plantations. This shaped a settler-native-slave triad, wherein it benefitted the colonizer to perpetuate the disappearance of Native Americans, and the exploitation of Black Americans. She also describes settler colonialism as a race-gender project, as white Americans have projected white gender roles onto those they colonized. I see these themes as a very important foundation for this class and for understanding daily life as a whole. Without addressing root causes for racial inequality today, we will never move past it. This understanding situates everyday interactions and power hierarchies that have formed the tenants of American society.

The introduction and first chapter of the book Critical Race Theory introduces a theoretical framework very much related to those ideas presented in the Settler Colonialism reading. They define perhaps the most important key term in the reading: Critical Race Theory (CRT). CRT is defined as an academic discipline with an activist dimension, that studies the relationship between race, racism and power. CRT questions the status quo, and tackles issues of social organization and race. It is made clear that CRT is not only a theory, but a movement, and understanding this approach contextualizes many of the arguments that the authors make, as well as emphasizing their importance. The authors give a brief history of Critical Race Theory, as well as an overview of some of the principle figures of the discipline. They define the basic tenants of CRT, and their consequences: the ordinariness of racism, interest convergence, social construction thesis, differential racialization, intersectionality and finally the notion of a unique voice of color. Finally, in the next chapter, the authors provide definitions for two opposing schools of thought when it comes to racism and discrimination- realists vs idealists- and gives perhaps far more credence to the realists point of view, who point out that racial hierarchies shape virtually every aspect of everyday life, and only by remedying the material situation of people of color can we begin to achieve equality. At the end of the chapters, they include questions for discussion/reflection. I really like these questions, because they force myself, and others, to rethink how we approach activism, and reflect on how the academic theories discussed in the chapter can change our daily patterns of thinking. They ask: “If society agreed to think only kind thoughts about people of color, would their condition improve very much?”. I take this as a clear reference to the idealist school of thought, which would classically argue that yes, because racism is a matter of ideology, if this ideology was remedied then much greater equity would be achieved. Contextualized by the Settler Colonialism article, it becomes more apparent that a change in mindset is not nearly enough to dismantle the racial hierarchies that are deeply embedded in our society. The US is a racial project, founded on systems of oppression, that situates white people in a position of power. For them to ceed this power would require much more than kind thoughts. The ordinariness of racism that was founded by settler colonialists and never challenged by those in power, has led to a deeply flawed system, and while unlearning these will help (although even this is a challenge, as evidenced by the recent Florida bill banning the teaching of CRT), it becomes apparent that a total overhaul is necessary.