The Evolution Of Whiteness In The United States

Our understanding of race and racism is constantly changing. A myriad of events in the last few years, including the election of former President Donald Trump and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement, have catalyzed more conversations about race. There has been a shift in the social consciousness as the U.S. nears what some have called the “browning of America.” The attention is now on critical race theory, with many pushing back at the prospect of it being taught in schools. In what has been deemed as a race-obsessed country, the concept of race has seen many iterations. Lisa Betty is a historian and educator who uses her social media platform to engage her audience in culturally critical dialogue. In this interview, Betty sat down to discuss how race has historically been used as a tool of exploitation, and how whiteness has evolved over time.