Black Lives Matter protests following the death of George Floyd this year brought heightened awareness to systemic racism and social justice across the country, including in Iowa. But Black leaders in Iowa have been working to combat the issue here for decades. One of those leaders is Betty Andrews. She’s president of the Iowa-Nebraska NAACP.
Throughout last summer’s racial justice protests, demonstrators frequently called for an end to “systemic racism.” Broadly defined, it’s policies and practices entrenched in a society that harm certain racial groups and help others, whether intentionally or not. IPR News is looking at what systemic racism looks like in Iowa -- including housing, criminal justice, education, health care, business ownership, and farming -- and how it affects Black Iowans today.
Understanding The History Of Systemic Racism In Iowa
Charlie Neibergall/AP
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AP
