![]() ![]() Graves, supplemented with the concept of " memes " from Richard Dawkins. This paper introduces the Theory of Levels of Existence of the late Clare W. Such attempts do not get to the root of the problem, the deep-level value and belief systems that undergird racism. Part of the problem is that attempts to eliminate racism have focused on surface differences of race, color, and biological supremacy. On the eve of the third millennium racism is still one of the most pervasive social evils in the world. Factors in the Persistence of Racism The persistence of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual phenomenon of racism can best be understood by unpacking these four aspects of racism-its bio-psycho-social-spiritual ![]() How can we best understand this bio-psycho-social-spiritual phenomenon and its continued persistence like a pernicious weed that eludes all forms eradication? Any efforts to create inclusive, sustainable futures in the years ahead will have to seriously address this social cancer as a prerequisite for creating caring communities. Now five hundred years later, on the eve of the third millennium, racism-like a deadly virus-not only lingers but mutates and replicates itself crippling the social body of human society. Beginning in the 16th century, as a product of European expansionism throughout the globe, racism-the exploitation of human beings on the basis of biocultural differences-is perhaps the most persistent, socially impacting, and psychologically dehumanizing legacy of the Columbian Exchange. Though human exploitation as a result of cultural, political, economic, and religious differences has been with us since the dawn of time, racial/biological differences as a justification for human oppression is of more recent history. One group, threatened by a perceived loss of power, exercises social, economic, political, religious, and physical muscle against the Other to retain privilege by restructuring for social advantage. Whether we are talking about ethnic cleansings, tribal conflicts, warring factions, group hatred, subtle discrimination, or retraction of equity laws under the guise of fairness, the underlying result is the same. As the dawn of the 21st century nears, racism, one of the most important and persistent social evils throughout the world today, is on the rise in manifold ways. The paper closes with an explanation of MeshWORKS as a solutions process and ways of reducing racism for both individuals and institutions. ![]() Thus, racism will fluctuate between worsened conditions to ones where it will be non-existent, depending at which level of existence people are operating. The research shows that there is no single future of racism, but multiple futures depending on the memetic level of its expression. Together these two perspectives comprise the bio-psycho-social-spiritual framework of Spiral Dynamics ® that provides the best approach for unlearning and eliminating racism. ![]()
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