Today we’re diving into a topic that resonates with many across America: the legal blueprint of racial and gender exclusion, aptly titled "Built for White Men." This phrase captures a complicated history and ongoing reality—one that has favored white men while pushing women and people of color to the margins.
Imagine a legal system that, while it talks about equality, leaves plenty of room for discrimination. This is evident when we look at the initial U.S. constitutional amendments, such as the 13th, 14th, and 15th. Sure, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, but it also allowed for involuntary servitude as a punishment for crime. Think about that—convict leasing emerged as a way to continue exploiting people of color under the guise of legality.
Fast forward to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This landmark legislation aimed to stamp out discrimination based on race, sex, and more. However, its enforcement has often faltered, and we’ve seen legal challenges pop up that threaten these crucial gains. For instance, today there’s a growing trend of opponents of workplace diversity programs using Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to fight against these initiatives. 


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