The Interconnectedness of Oppressive Systems: Truth-Telling, Accountability, and Systemic Correction

"Teachers are to Black children, as doctors are to Black women, as police are to Black men." — Dr. Hasshan Batts

This quote strikes at the heart of a painful reality for the Black community. The systems that are supposed to educate, protect, and heal us have instead become sources of harm. The evidence is clear: Black maternal mortality rates are disproportionately high, Black children face alarming rates of school suspensions and dropouts, and police violence is one of the leading causes of death for Black men. These systems are not isolated in their failures; they are interconnected, and they stem from the same root cause—systemic racism.

The Crisis in Black Maternal Health For Black women, childbirth can be a matter of life and death. The statistics are staggering: Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than their white counterparts. The healthcare system consistently disregards their pain, their concerns, and their dignity. This is not just a failure of individual doctors or hospitals; it's a reflection of a healthcare system steeped in historical and systemic oppression.

Educational Disparities for Black Children In schools, Black children face their own set of systemic barriers. Black students are suspended at disproportionately high rates, starting as early as preschool. These children are labeled as "problematic" or "disruptive," often before they even have a chance to engage in learning. The pushout rates for Black students are alarming, perpetuating cycles of poverty and disadvantage. The educational system, which should be a gateway to opportunity, too often serves as another form of social control and an extension of the prison industrial complex.

Policing and the Wealth of Black Men For Black men, the police are too often not protectors but perpetrators of harm. Police violence is a leading cause of death for young Black men, and the constant threat of racial profiling and violence devastates families and communities. Beyond the physical violence, there is the economic toll. Incarceration and policing rob Black men of wealth-building opportunities, disrupting careers, family stability, and community cohesion.

A System-Wide Issue These systems—healthcare, education, and criminal justice—are not separate. They are part of a larger structure that has historically oppressed Black people. Systemic racism is real, and it operates across these institutions in ways that reinforce each other. When Black children are pushed out of schools, they are more likely to encounter the criminal justice system. When Black women are ignored by doctors, their pain is dismissed, and their voices are silenced, mirroring the lack of agency Black men often face in the presence of law enforcement.

Correction, Not Just Change We cannot simply move the pieces around and expect a different outcome. As one of my mentors Dr. William R. Jones use to teach us, changing a system is like moving a flat tire from the front to the back—it's a change, but it doesn't solve the problem. What we need is a correction. We need to get to the root cause of the disparities and failures in these systems and dismantle the structures that perpetuate harm.

This begins with truth-telling. We must listen to the stories of those who have suffered within these systems. We need to look for the patterns—because the patterns are there. Black women aren’t dying in hospitals by accident. Black children aren’t being pushed out of school by choice. Black men aren’t being killed by the police because of “isolated incidents.” These are outcomes rooted in systemic oppression, and until we hold those in power accountable, the cycle will continue.

We need to hold ourselves, and those who are paid to educate, protect, and heal us, accountable for the pain they continue to inflict on the Black community. We cannot allow the status quo to persist. Only through systemic correction and intentional accountability can we begin to dismantle the interconnected systems of oppression and build a future where Black lives truly matter.

This work requires courage, compassion, and commitment. It begins by listening—truly listening—to the stories of those impacted, recognizing the patterns, and implementing solutions that address the root causes of the harm. We owe it to ourselves, to our communities, and to future generations to demand better, to fight for systemic correction, and to hold onto the hope that justice is not just possible—it is necessary.

This is our collective responsibility, and the time to act is now, the place to act is in your workplace and community and as one of our elders Phyllis Alexander teaches us when we don't know what to do, "you have to do something".