INSTITUTIONAL RACISM AND LAND DISPOSSESSION: A CRITICAL STUDY OF BAKER’S ROOTED
Keywords:
Basic Rights, Colorism, Dehumanization, Deprivation, Identity Struggle, MigrationAbstract
This paper explores the American legacy of land theft and the modern movement for Black land ownership. It raises the global issues of minorities, their migration, and the deprivation of basic rights. Just because of race, Blacks were unable to stand for their rights. Racism has been found in America’s institutions. Racism targeted their courts, housing, education, politics, and health centers. Racism prevailed by giving them advantages to one group, while disadvantaging others. Blacks could not protest against White people. Racism was coming up from their roots. Black minorities could not demand their rights; they just had the option to migrate. Blacks were asking for equal schooling, but they were stopped from getting an education. After segregation, they were completely banned from sitting next to Whites. Racism had ruined their mandatory rights. Land had been stolen from Black communities, and they were made slaves, and this systemic racism affected the economy and stirred the roots of the economy. Historical situation reflects in the present time in America; still, Blacks are considered animals who don’t have any life or any rights. This article also researches the Brea Baker’s novel Rooted (2024). She argues about identity, inequality, and basic rights. This paper builds on that idea by examining how these forces operate in institutional racism and land dispossession. Focusing on Carmichael & Hamilton’s theory of institutional racism, it relates the Baker’s concept of “identity struggle” and “land dispossession” that how whites occupied their land.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Umme Ammara (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
