The Reckoning Summary

What has happened to America that the scars of past traumas still so vividly shape its present and threaten its future?

1. Racism Reshaped Society After the Civil War

The end of the Civil War in 1865 marked a new chapter for America, as the nation faced the daunting task of integrating over four million formerly enslaved people into society. Although this period saw constitutional amendments giving citizenship and voting rights to Black people, the reality was riddled with systematic oppression. Southern states circumvented these new protections, introducing measures like poll taxes, literacy tests, and vague laws such as “loitering,” which disproportionately targeted Black populations.

Reconstruction, which began with a wave of hope, was quickly replaced by disenfranchisement. By 1896, the Supreme Court’s Plessy v. Ferguson decision institutionalized segregation under the “separate but equal” doctrine. The few attempts to address inequality during this time were systematically undermined.

Even more horrifying, violence like lynchings became a common tool of oppression to enforce white supremacy. From 1865 to 1950, thousands of Black Americans were terrorized and murdered, leaving an indelible mark on communities across the nation.

Examples

• Southern legislatures passed Black Codes to criminalize minor behaviors and justify forced labor.
• The “separate but equal” doctrine legalized segregation for decades.
• Over 6,000 documented lynchings took place between the Civil War and mid-20th century.

2. Lack of Accountability for Leaders Perpetuates Injustice

In American history, leaders who have committed atrocities or acts of betrayal have often gone unpunished. Figures like Confederate general Robert E. Lee are still celebrated, despite their role in defending slavery and causing the deaths of countless Americans during the Civil War.

This trend of overlooking wrongdoing wasn’t just confined to historical leaders. Modern presidents like Nixon and even administrations like Bush’s have avoided full accountability for their actions. Nixon’s resignation in the face of the Watergate scandal was followed by his pardon, giving rise to a dangerous belief that the presidency operates above the law.

The consequences ripple through time. By protecting the powerful and never fully reckoning with their wrongdoings, American society fails to learn from its mistakes, leaving the door open for history to repeat itself.

Examples

• Robert E. Lee’s citizenship was restored in 1975, decades after his betrayal.
• Nixon escaped trial for orchestrating the Watergate break-in.
• The Bush administration faced no legal consequences for its torture program.

3. The Trump Presidency Exposed Deep National Divisions

From day one, Donald Trump’s presidency sowed discord and division. Relying on persistent lies, Trump painted pictures of reality that suited his agenda, such as claiming his inauguration drew historic crowds. These seemingly small untruths foreshadowed the chaos that would define his years in office.

Trump's policies consistently targeted minorities, such as banning travel from Muslim-majority countries and implementing family separation for immigrants. Trump also politicized the federal government through unqualified appointments, leaving key departments ineffective. When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, Trump’s inaction and denial allowed the virus to spread, resulting in massive preventable deaths.

His presidency underscored an America increasingly divided along racial, political, and socioeconomic lines, exposing deep rifts for the world to see.

Examples

• The Muslim travel ban was one of Trump's first discriminatory actions.
• His mishandling of COVID-19 led to hundreds of thousands of deaths.
• Trump appointees, like unqualified Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, weakened federal systems.

4. The Legacy of Slavery Lives On

Centuries of systemic exploitation and discrimination against Black Americans have created ripples that profoundly affect communities today. Policies originally designed to suppress Black success, such as limiting access to the GI Bill or segregated housing, have left scars that have been passed down through generations.

Black communities that succeeded, like Tulsa’s “Negro Wall Street,” were often destroyed through indoctrinated racism and state complicity. The loss of wealth, coupled with systemic disenfranchisement, has created an economic and social gap that persists across generations.

Sociologist Joy DeGruy’s concept of “post-traumatic slave syndrome” explains how this historical trauma continues to shape Black communities, both psychologically and materially, to this day.

Examples

• The 1921 destruction of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s prosperous "Negro Wall Street."
• The GI Bill’s exclusion of Black veterans from educational and housing benefits.
• Persistent racial wealth gaps, with white family wealth being 700 times that of Black families.

5. Ignoring Historical Trauma Hurts Progress

America continually ignores the darker portions of its history, choosing revisionism over reconciliation. Leaders like Thomas Jefferson are lionized without meaningful discussions of the systemic racial systems they upheld, such as slavery.

The same dismissal occurs for collective national traumas related to ongoing racial inequalities or presidential misconduct. Without reckoning with these realities, natural political and social divisions fester and deepen, eventually erupting into larger-scale unrest and instability.

Failing to confront injustice consistently sets a troubling precedent: leaders and systems aligned with power will continue to perpetuate harm without fear of accountability, while marginalized groups carry the heaviest burdens.

Examples

• Jefferson’s status as a founding father overshadows his participation in slavery.
• Confederate symbols remain widespread, perpetuating a whitewashed history.
• Nixon’s pardon in the 1970s emboldened future leaders to skirt responsibility.

6. America Has Reached Yet Another Crossroads

Throughout its history, the United States has faced moments where significant change was possible – but often chosen not to act. The Reconstruction era could have been a time to dismantle systemic racial systems fully. Similarly, the post-WWII period could have been an opportunity for true equality.

In the post-Trump era, America again stands at a critical juncture. President Biden has the potential to right many wrongs from Trump’s chaotic time in office, but doing so requires decisive action. From prosecuting leaders responsible for the Capitol riots to strengthening rights for disenfranchised voters, the actions of today will dictate what path the country takes.

Examples

• Reconstruction reforms failed when unpunished Confederate loyalists regained power.
• After World War II, the GI Bill was implemented unevenly, deepening disparities.
• Biden made calls for unity but faces a divided Congress and nation.

7. Reparations Spark Controversy but Address Real Harms

The concept of reparations has only minimal public support. Yet advocates argue that reparations aren’t about revisiting the past but addressing its lasting effects. The racial wealth gap between Black and white Americans serves as a stark marker of systemic inequality.

In addition to wealth disparities, injustices like racially targeted legal systems and urban planning reveal how racism shapes the present. Even today, Black communities disproportionately face over-policing, displacement by infrastructure development, and poor living conditions caused by proximity to pollution-heavy infrastructure.

Programs like reparations aim to correct these deeply embedded inequalities and begin the healing process for a country still grappling with racial divisions.

Examples

• Black families face wealth inequities due to exclusion from housing and education programs.
• The War on Drugs targeted Black communities disproportionately for decades.
• Highways often cut through or destroy historically Black neighborhoods.

Takeaways

1. Confront biased narratives and fight historical revisionism by learning, teaching, and writing about America’s full history.
2. Advocate for policies and legal actions that prioritize real accountability for leaders and institutions that cause harm.
3. Support initiatives, like reparations, that aim to directly address lasting impacts of racial inequality and systemic discrimination.