Racism has a great deal to do with the election of Donald Trump, but as Enaid Savage argues, not perhaps in the way that Americans may think. Savage contends that racism is a social construct that serves a function within society, and US society encourages racism for that reason. Because of this function, American society has not been able to rid itself of its racism.

Racism is more than just animus against another group, although it is true that racial animosity can produce tragic outcomes. Attitudes about race operate within the institutions of society, causing different outcomes for people based on their race. Educational, political, judicial, and financial institutions can create policies in which racism thrives. On this institutional level American lives are dramatically affected.

American realities differ. One of the ways to understand one’s own reality is to learn other perspectives. Merely residing within the limited world of one’s own identity leads to limited understanding of headlines and stories from a unique point of view different from one’s own. While people do not need to concur, having an understanding is essential to individual growth and the enhancement of their communities and the larger world in which they live.

During her presentation, audience members have an opportunity to assess privately the accuracy of their information through a questionnaire, for personal use only.

Enaid Savage, a resident of Guanajuato for 10 years, was born and raised in Chicago IL. and has lived in southern California, Austin TX, and Costa Rica. Prior to her retirement she had a consulting firm, Savage West, that assisted Fortune 100 corporations with human resources issues, including issues of diversity in the workplace.