Maple Double Crumb Coffee Cake
I made you some cake! Do you notice that I tend toward breakfast foods when we chat about racism? Okay, and falafel. Same thing, really. Anyway, grab a cup of coffee and a slice of Maple Double Crumb Coffee Cake and get ready to get deep.
Often the only racism people recognize is explicit, individual racism, like someone using the n-word or joining the KKK. But racism can also be implicit, where we are biased without realizing it (click here for an implicit bias test developed by Harvard). And racism is also systemic. Systemic racism seems the least understood but arguably the most critical form of discrimination. So I wrote my best effort at Systemic Racism 101 for my fellow white people.
Systemic racism means that our country’s systems (think housing and infrastructure, education, healthcare, economic, justice, law enforcement, etc.) are designed in a way that produces inequitable outcomes for white people versus people of color. Many of these systems are constructed with language that is “colorblind,” or doesn’t mention race at all. This gives the participants of these systems plausible deniability when accused of racism, while the systems continue to have vastly different effects on different races. Most white people can ignore these dysfunctional systems entirely, since they work just fine for them.
This matters because Black people have been given an unacceptable, unfair, intolerable situation, chastised for some of the effects of that situation, criticized for attempts to dismantle that situation, and then told that situation doesn’t actually exist at all. If that sounds pretty abusive . . . well, yeah!
Here’s The Big List of Systemic Racism for White People, collected from lots of varying sources and divided by the systems racism is embedded in.
Housing and Infrastructure:
- EXPLICIT GOVERNMENT POLICIES BUILT OUR NATION’S SEGREGATED GHETTOES: “[The creation of segregated ghettoes] was an explicit, racially purposeful policy that was pursued at all levels of government, and that’s the reason we have these ghettos today and we are reaping the fruits of those policies” and see city-specific policy information here.
- SOME PUBLIC HOUSING IS NOT FIT FOR HABITATION: “But some developments have spiraled into serious physical, financial, and social distress, owing to failures of both policy and program administration. These severely distressed developments are not just old, outmoded, or run down. Rather, many have become virtually uninhabitable for all but the most vulnerable and desperate families.” This housing “[creates] hazardous conditions that place residents at risk for injury or disease.”
- LOWER INCOME AREAS HAVE TOXIC INFRASTRUCTURE: “There’s a lead crisis for children in Baltimore, Maryland, Herculaneum, Missouri, Sebring, Ohio, and even the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, and that’s just to begin a list. […] Over the past century, an untold number have had their IQs reduced, their school performances limited, their behaviors altered, and their neurological development undermined. From coast to coast, from the Sun Belt to the Rust Belt, children have been and continue to be imperiled by a century of industrial production, commercial gluttony, and abandonment by the local, state, and federal governments that should have protected them.”
- PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS OFTEN HURT LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES: “In the first 20 years of the federal interstate system alone, Foxx said, highway construction displaced 475,000 families and over a million Americans. Most of them were low-income people of color in urban cores. It was Foxx’s second speech in as many days about how federal infrastructure projects contribute to inequality and poverty, and how the agency wants to make up for it now.”
- LOW-INCOME AREAS EXPERIENCE MORE CRIME: “These developments have become dangerous and destructive communities in which to live, undermining the welfare of families and children. […] Most of the residents are deeply poor, unemployed, and dependent on public assistance or the underground economy (Popkin, Gwiasda, et al. 2000). Moreover, the profound poverty, distress, and disorder of distressed public housing undermines the health of surrounding neighborhoods, which though generally less poor than the public housing, typically have very high rates of poverty, unemployment, high school dropouts, crime, and other social ills; few services or stores; and even fewer jobs. These ‘residents living in despair’ are primarily minority women and children.”
- AND THIS CRIME CORRELATES MORE WITH HOUSING THAN RACE: “McNulty and Holloway (2000) studied the intersection of public housing geography, race, and crime in order to determine if racial differences existed in crime rates when controlled for the proximity of public housing units. The study found that “the race-crime relationship is geographically contingent, varying as a function of the distribution of public housing” (McNulty and Holloway 2000). This suggests that a focus on institutional causes of crime in relation to race is more appropriate than a focus on cultural differences between races being the cause of differing crime rates.”
- HOUSING GAPS LEAD TO WIDER WEALTH GAPS: “According to the authors of the report, ‘redlining [a form of discrimination in banking or insurance practices], discriminatory mortgage-lending practices, lack of access to credit, and lower incomes have blocked the homeownership path for African-Americans while creating and reinforcing communities segregated by race.'”
Education:
- BLACK STUDENTS ARE PUNISHED WHILE WHITE STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED: “If you’re a black student or you’re poor, you’re far more likely to be punished than offered behavioral treatment when you misbehave.”
- BLACK STUDENTS GET LESS INSTRUCTIONAL TIME: The punishments Black students receive more often include suspensions, which remove students from academic instruction. Students of color are three-and-a-half times more likely to be suspended than white students nationally.
- BLACK STUDENTS DON’T MISBEHAVE MORE: This difference in suspension rates is not explained by a difference in classroom behaviors, but is linked to implicit bias in white teachers. The systemic facet here is hiring practices: teachers are predominantly white.
- ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICIES FEED THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE: Another systemic facet of inequitable discipline are zero-tolerance policies, which do not increase safety of schools but do “[result] in more suspensions and expulsions, creating a pipeline to prison” particularly for students of color.
- HEALTHCARE ACCESS AND OUTCOMES DIFFER SIGNIFICANTLY ALONG RACIAL LINES: “Across the nation, black males in 2010 had a life expectancy almost five years lower than white males; black women could expect to live three years fewer than white females. […] According to a 2013 report, blacks and Hispanics have substantially higher uninsured rates than whites.”
- THE GENDER PAY GAP IS SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER FOR BLACK WOMEN
- REDLINING: “Bankers no longer talk openly about denying loans to black people. Instead, officials said, some banks have quietly institutionalized bias in their operations, deliberately placing branches, brokers and mortgage services outside minority communities, even as other banks find and serve borrowers in those neighborhoods.”
- MASS INCARCERATION LIMITS EMPLOYMENT: “Those who are convicted frequently lose intimate relationships with partners or access to their children, and they are less likely to find employment. Significantly, these consequences accrue even among inmates who do not spend long sentences in ‘the big house.'” Don’t miss how mass incarceration is another example of systemic racism, below.
- THE WEALTH GAP IS NOT NARROWING: “During the past twenty-five years there has been virtually no permanent improvement in the relative economic position of blacks in America. Median black incomes have been fluctuating at a level between 47 percent and 63 percent of median white incomes, the ratio rising during economic expansions and falling to previous low levels during recessions.”
- MASS INCARCERATION AS THE NEW JIM CROW: Laws that were not clearly indicated by actual community needs are enacted that disproportionately affect people of color, disenfranchising them and making it difficult for them to find jobs and housing. Police departments are incentivized by the government to prioritize these laws, and given loopholes to circumvent the Fourth Amendment prohibition against searches and seizures. As a result, incarceration rates have skyrocketed in recent decades even as rates of violent crime have remained steady or decreased. Please take the time to read Michelle Alexander’s book, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.
- THERE IS RACIAL BIAS IN POLICE SHOOTINGS THAT IS NOT EXPLAINABLE AS A RESPONSE TO CRIME RATES: “The results provide evidence of a significant bias in the killing of unarmed black Americans relative to unarmed white Americans, in that the probability of being {black, unarmed, and shot by police} is about 3.49 times the probability of being {white, unarmed, and shot by police} on average. […] There is no relationship between county-level racial bias in police shootings and crime rates (even race-specific crime rates), meaning that the racial bias observed in police shootings in this data set is not explainable as a response to local-level crime rates.”
Healthcare:
Economy:
Justice and Law Enforcement:
This is the tip of the iceberg — for each category, I could have added so much more, gone into such greater detail. But I wanted a manageable list to share with friends and family to make the point that racism is not just an individual discriminating against another individual; racism is literally built into the laws, systems, facilities, and structures of our nation. The work to dismantle it does not end with your own personal resolve to avoid explicit racism. We must each proactivelt dismantle our implicit racism and racist systems.
Make my list more complete: Add your own cited examples of systemic racism in the comments below.
One year ago: Pumpkin Pie Shortbread Bars with Maple Cinnamon Whipped Cream
Two years ago: No-Bake Coconut Icebox Cake
Three years ago: Pumpkin Cheesecake Pillow Popovers
Four years ago: Vanilla Custard Soaked Pumpkin Poke Cake
Five years ago: Easy Sopapilla Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars
Six years ago: Assorted Donut Muffins
Seven years ago: Miniature Pies: Pumpkin, Sour Cream Apple, and Peach Crisp
- 1 1/2 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon maple extract
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon maple extract
- 3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
- maple syrup and toasted pecans for serving
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9-inch square baking pan with a foil sling sprayed with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and extracts. Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until fully combined. Pour into the prepared baking pan.
- To make the crumb topping, whisk together the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Add the chopped pecans, maple extract and melted butter and stir until you have wet clumps. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the cake batter. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Allow the cake to cool for 10 minutes before lifting it out of its pan, slicing it, and serving it warm with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Sarah
October 4, 2016 at 6:15 am (8 years ago)I wish these issues of systemic racism were as obvious to everyone. It’s so difficult to have open and honest conversations with people who can’t see that how different your life can be based on your race or income level. *Sigh* At any rate I love this post and I definitely love that coffee cake!
Heather
October 4, 2016 at 11:04 am (8 years ago)I agree with Sarah, until we are on all on the same page, nothing can be accomplished. as a nation we have come far, but we have SO far to go.
Maria
October 4, 2016 at 11:21 pm (8 years ago)The CRUMB on top of this cake is divine!
Toni
October 5, 2016 at 3:16 am (8 years ago)Love your website, but please stick to your amazing food and photography, and leave politics out of it. I want to enjoy my escape from everyday life in which political garbage is being spewed from every angle.
Julie Ruble
October 5, 2016 at 3:58 am (8 years ago)Toni, this is a strange request. You are asking me to abandon a passionate pursuit of human rights on my website because you’d prefer not to think about it. Please try and see that from my perspective or, even more significant, from the perspective of someone affected by the issues discussed above.
I understand if this is not the blog for you, but I certainly will write my heart and only my heart. Always.
Toni
October 5, 2016 at 1:43 pm (8 years ago)I totally respect and promote your right to do whatever you want with your blog. We all these rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.
Peace.
Heather
October 5, 2016 at 10:39 am (8 years ago)Thank you so much for the recipe and article! Excellent post and I will be sharing! ❤️
Anton
October 5, 2016 at 12:57 pm (8 years ago)Sometime in the last year, I read an article about the perceptions of medical professionals that black people felt less pain, and how they consequently received less pain relief after surgeries and procedures. I wish I had that article to link to, it was one of the most shocking things. (Like really? WHY? You went to med school? Why would you think this?)
The weather is finally cooling some, it’s time to bake a cake.
Julie Ruble
October 5, 2016 at 1:28 pm (8 years ago)Thanks, Anton! I remember reading that too and you jogged my memory. It’s here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2016/04/04/do-blacks-feel-less-pain-than-whites-their-doctors-may-think-so/
Mia
October 5, 2016 at 8:22 pm (8 years ago)Loved reading this. Please continue to share your heart felt thoughts AND love filled recipes!
Youlanda Davidson
October 5, 2016 at 9:21 pm (8 years ago)Thank you for speaking up and speaking out! If more people, with eyes open, will speak out, perhaps one day those who walk around with closed eyes and minds will wake up and begin to listen and dare I say “care”. Thank you for not being silent! Can’t wait to try this recipe!
Ashley @ Wishes & Dishes
October 6, 2016 at 12:12 am (8 years ago)Thank you for this post and being so willing to share how you feel without being afraid.
OMG that crumb topping!! It looks to die for!
Rachel
October 23, 2016 at 12:29 pm (8 years ago)Once again, Julie, thanks for providing the world with a great sounding recipe and more importantly some much needed empathy and understanding. I love your blog and the thoughtful, respectful way you have been discussing race relations. Please keep up the good work.
Caroline
October 29, 2016 at 4:46 pm (8 years ago)love this list – plan to share. Thank you!
PS recipe looks amazing too.
Krystle
October 30, 2016 at 3:36 pm (8 years ago)Maple is such a neglected Fall flavor. These looks divine!
Gloria Richards
November 16, 2016 at 1:23 am (8 years ago)Personally, I don’t think the races are all that different. I’ll suggest the same thing to you as i have suggested before. This next summer when it comes time for your vacation,, instead of going to that nice spot to rest and relax in, take a trip to the hills of West Virginia , Pennsylvania, Kentucky or Tennessee. You will find that poor is poor, It doesn’t know color, an empty belly doesn’t know color and a crying baby doesn’t know color. The highways and byways are falling apart all of this country. I think it’s about time that we should stop worrying about color and griping and start building our country back up again.
No matter who we are, dignity is lessened by poverty and poverty is colorblind. 🙁
Julie Ruble
January 16, 2017 at 3:37 pm (8 years ago)Hi Gloria,
You share about poverty. I would urge you to understand that different levels of privilege and pain can exist at the same time. For instance, class struggles and race struggles can exist at the same time — and can overlap such that people who experience both identities (Black AND poor) have compounded struggles. Poverty is certainly not colorblind — “Blacks and Hispanics, for example, have poverty rates that greatly exceed the overall average” and things like housing inequity disproportionately affect Black people.
This is why I try to be intersectional in my activism: recognizing that the INTERSECTION of different identities matters. Gender, race, ability, country of origin, religion, language, class, sexuality, and which of these things are visible . . . these things all affect how we walk through the world.
Marilyn
January 13, 2017 at 10:44 am (8 years ago)Julie I have loved your site for a very long time & now with the addition of this article I love it even more! My immediate family is racially mixed with several different races & I sincerely thank you for putting this article or list in your site! I will always worry about my children & grandchildren in today’s world but you have given me hope for a better tomorrow! I pray your effort helps change the climate, thank you so much! We white people can use all the help we can get especially where equality & race is concerned! Bless you!
C3
January 16, 2017 at 11:03 am (8 years ago)After reading the above almost in its entirety, you must be thrilled that the president-elect is reaching out and addressing these problems head on. The democrats have done nothing to change these problems, albeit and have held the purse strings, and all agendas in these forgotten areas (and issues). It’s truly sad that our first black president did nothing to address or change the problem, and was the most racially divisive president in our history.
You must also be heartened that this issue will be in the very capable hands of Ben Carson, who lived and knows better than anyone about all the problems and issues therein. It will be wonderful to see someone finally turn around this failing blemish on our country. Americans can all agree we want this change and help for everyone, afterall, we are the most charitable and color-blind country in the world:)
But, ultimately, I agree with Toni.
Julie Ruble
January 16, 2017 at 3:31 pm (8 years ago)Hi there. Can you explain in what way you see the President-Elect addressing these issues?
Regarding colorblindness, I can see that you are falsely conflating “ignoring race” with being somehow more evolved. This is a common mistake white people make, which can be very offensive to Black people for reasons you will find obvious if you read this article.
C3
January 16, 2017 at 10:21 pm (8 years ago)The problems that exist in poor, black communities has not been caused by racism..or what you say is white privilege. These days a young person is better off if they are a minority for all the affirmative action that exists. The problems you are citing are caused by liberalism, and liberalism only.
The accusation of racism has been an effective technique used by liberals and Democrats to frame their argument because it puts the accused on the defensive and changes the nature of the discussion– a very Alinsky-endorsed method. Rather than have a substantive fact-based debate on the issues, on in which SJW’s would not fare well, they simply levy the charge of racism and the conversation morphs into a pointless defense that is very difficult to win.
Actually it is Liberals / Democrats who are racists because they see everyone through the prism of race. That is a legitimate definition of racism. They are intolerant and put everyone into groups, and politicize everything. We have a problem in inner cities, all right, but democrats, who have held uninterrupted power for decades in those areas, own those problems, and have done nothing to resolve them. This is by design.
But constantly levying the accusation of racism, changing the nature of the argument, distorting the facts, they have been very effective in keeping large numbers of minorities convinced that Republicans / conservatives are evil and cold-hearted racists. By keeping blacks (and now hispanics) as a permanently dependent underclass, they have managed to monopolize the voting booth and keep themselves in power.
The so-called War on Poverty has contributed to a situation in inner-cities where there are more unwed mothers, families w/out fathers…and ever increased numbers of families in poverty. By keeping the drumbeat of calling Republicans racists constantly sounding, some generationally have a very difficult time even considering a vote for a non-Democrat.
As long as they keep blacks convinced that they are victims and on various forms of assistance they hold onto that power. If their policies actually worked, some areas which have been under Democratic control for as long as fifty years would have rebounded. Trump has plans to change the schools and rebuild in these areas, convincing businesses to invest and create jobs in those areas, and Ben Carson, as the head of HUD, is one of the people who will help.
By the way, you’re making an assumption I am white. Universities have done a very good job indoctrinating / brainwashing our young generations into this mind-numbing liberal group think, not teaching critical thinking, and individual thought. Stop grouping everyone according to race, sex, economics , etc., and try seeing people as people, individuals.
Again, ultimately I agree with Toni…and had no intention of going here, but stop calling America racists. We elected a black president twice…what did he do to help the problems in those inner cities? Nothing. Not one thing. The majority of people across America, who just spoke out in this last election, are good, nice, hard-working people …who were very well behaved the last 8 years, while they did not agree with the ideation being forced down their throats. Look how badly the other side behaves when it doesn’t go in their direction. People, all people, regardless of their color, need to learn how to behave and have respect for others.
Casey
February 24, 2017 at 1:06 am (8 years ago)You are so misinformed. Either that, or just willfully ignorant. Not sure which is worse. Keep turning a blind eye to the very real and proven racial disparities that exist in this country, all so you can remain comfortable in your little bubble. The current president you just spoke so highly of? Elected an AG who is on record being incredibly racist and bigoted. Wake up.