America has defined itself as a country based on a race-based hierarchy that, through almost every structure, law, ordinance, and standard set by elite white men, is reinforced by class, education, land ownership, gender, and even beauty. Desperate to maintain the supremacy of whiteness, (specifically male-dominated whiteness), America provided handouts to white men, restricted access to everyone else, and told the lie that the success the white men experienced was solely based on meritocracy.

In this article, Caroline J. Sumlin explains in a digestible way for the skeptic reader why we use the term ‘white supremacy.’ After reading this article, you will walk away with an understand about the foundational role white supremacy plays on our Western society and begin comprehending how that foundational role of white supremacy shows up in our daily lives.