Racial disparities are real, and America's history with race is genuinely painful. But the leap from 'disparities exist' to 'the system is racist' skips over every other possible explanation and isn't supported by the evidence.

If systemic racism means a system rigged to benefit white people, how do we explain these facts? Asian Americans have the highest median household income in America at $108,700, well above white Americans at $81,060, according to the Census Bureau. Nigerian Americans have college degree rates above 60% — higher than any other ethnic group including white Americans. Indian Americans have a median household income exceeding $130,000.

Within the Black community, disparities in outcomes correlate far more strongly with family structure than with race. Census data shows that married Black households have a median income of $96,000 — comparable to married white households. Children raised in two-parent homes, regardless of race, have dramatically better outcomes in education, income, and avoiding criminal justice involvement.

Economist Thomas Sowell has spent decades documenting how cultural factors — attitudes toward education, family structure, entrepreneurship — explain group differences far better than discrimination does. He notes that disparities exist within every racial group and between groups in every society worldwide, including racially homogeneous ones.

The share of Black Americans in the middle class and above has grown enormously since 1960. Racist laws and policies have been dismantled. Corporate America and universities actively practice affirmative action. If the system were truly designed to keep Black Americans down, these trends would be impossible.

None of this denies that racism exists at the individual level — it does, and it's wrong. But attributing all disparities to systemic racism ignores agency, culture, and the enormous progress that has been made. It also provides no actionable solutions beyond blame.