America comprises different racial and ethnic categories, such as Whites, African Americans, and Asian Americans. Unfortunately, a particular group believes that its racial and ethnic identity is superior to the rest, which results in micro-aggression, discrimination, and interpersonal, institutional, and individual racism. When combined, such aspects cause racial inequality in the United States. This situation has led to the deaths of African Americans such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor due to police brutality and the racial wealth gap (Chui, Prince & Stewart, 2021). President Joe Biden pledged to center racial equity using his entire administration to repair the social system of the U.S, which is possible in numerous ways.
Centring Racial Equity using the U.S Government
One of the priorities of President Joe Biden’s administration is uniting America through centering racial equity. This quest is overdue, considering the unjust suffering that African Americans have endured under government systems due to centuries of policies that uphold systematic racial oppression. Racial equity is a possible task since impossibility would result in further social and economic divisions. It could improve socioeconomic systems and re-establish a just society, thus boosting the public’s, sectors’ and companies’ financial well-being.
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President Biden’s administration could begin structuring efforts across the federal government by creating a racial equity office in the White House. Past United States Presidents have established goal-oriented offices using their executive orders. For instance, President Obama created the White House Office of Health Reform, which improved access to quality health care, and fronted and oversaw the passing and implementation of the Affordable Care Act through Congress (Solomon & Roberts, 2020). Using such history, the Biden administration could create a respective office to prioritize racial equity and guaranteed the creation and implementation of concerned policies. This White House Racial Equity Office would be a potent symbol of the importance of the matter, motivating all federal agencies to assume supportive roles throughout the government and propel meaningful systematic change.
Assigning a president’s senior adviser on matters regarding racial equity would make the new office effective. The appointed person would be responsible for administration-wide efforts coordination to close racial gaps. The senior adviser would also voice the White House’s concerns during racial equity policy development processes to ensure desirable outcomes. Other roles would include advancing equitable policies throughout the federal government, whose accountability and collaboration are possible through coordination with numerous entities. Such include the Office of Cabinet Affairs, Domestic Policy Council, National Economic Council, and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. Using the help of the President or his chief of staff, the senior adviser would also be responsible for developing a policy agenda, coordinating data collection, and introducing racial equity opportunities within the management.
The government could hasten racial equity focus by making changes in the internal policy process to federal agencies and the President’s Executive Office. Improvement of racial equity would require the Office of Budget and Management to conduct the concerned matter’s assessments on policy measures. Such action would guarantee that policies continually advance the administration’s goals through various evaluations and measurements such as data collection and analysis and report production. Encouraging agencies to prioritize unique data collection on race would enable them to set goals based on research and various data aspects, including collection, disintegration, and accessibility expansion to the public and researchers. Consequently, the said agencies would provide relevant information that could play a significant role in policy implementation, such as impacting people of color.
In light of the suffering caused by racial violence in the past and present, leaders need to create a better future for all Americans. As the Biden administration works on national economic recovery, it can focus on racial equity measures that are sustainable for many years. Acknowledging the persistent disparities among U.S citizens is not enough, so federal government leaders should intentionally identify and destroy the oppression system. Racial equity could pave the way to the closure of the wealth gap, making America prosperous.
References
Chui, M., Prince, S. & Stewart, S. (2021, February 17). America 2021: The opportunity to advance racial equity. McKinsey & Company . https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/diversity-and-inclusion/america-2021-the-opportunity-to-advance-racial-equity
Solomon, D. & Roberts, L. (2020, November 13). Centring racial equity in a new administration. Centre for American Progress . https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2020/11/13/492887/time-now-create-white-house-office-racial-equity/
