The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together (One World Essentials)

by Heather McGhee

For too long, we’ve allowed a narrow, cramped view of the promise of this nation to fester. You know, we’ve—we’ve bought the view that America is a zero-sum game in many cases: “If you succeed, I fail.” “If you get ahead, I fall behind.” “If you get the job, I lose mine.” Maybe worst of all, “If I hold you down, I lift myself up.” …I believe this nation and this government need to change their whole approach to the issue of racial equal—equity. Yes, we need criminal justice reform, but that isn’t nearly enough. We need to open the promise of America to every American. And that means we need to make the issue of racial equity not just an issue for any one department of government; it has to be the business of the whole of government. …[Systemic racism] is corrosive, it’s destructive, and it’s costly. It costs every American, not just who have felt the sting of racial injustice…. [W]e are not just…morally deprived because of systemic racism; we’re also less prosperous, we’re less successful, we’re less secure.

President Biden speaking about and referencing zero net gain sum