Escaping the Catastrophic Logic of Separation

In the philosophical system of American Apartheid, "race" is a fact, racial hierarchy a key corollary, and "separation of races" in status, rights, and geography a logical inference. The concept of racial hierarchy proved useful in the early colonial period in Virginia and elsewhere, first begun in the 1600s to keep indentured servants and enslaved people from joining together and overthrowing the plantation oligarchy. The discourse of separation has continued to be a key tactic for gaining and maintaining power, with profound harmful consequences for the nation. This article will explore three themes that are important for these times: (1) the ongoing "redlining system" that continues to ensnare us in a geography of apartheid; (2) the paradox of apartheid that "separation" binds the parts more firmly together; and (3) the "new racism" that attacks progress with the use of such farfetched ideas as the "replacement theory." From these explorations, I propose ways in which TRUTH and RECONCILIATION can be mobilized to put us on a new path.