Full Description
When systems fail people from birth to death, democracy itself is at risk.
In RAGEism, Maya Rockeymoore Cummings reveals the hidden architecture of systemic injustice that has shaped American policy for generations. Using the term "Rageism" to describe how racism and ageism intersect, she exposes the deliberate policy choices that disadvantage African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and marginalized Asian communities throughout their entire lives, while also discussing how these same decisions also entrap millions of low-income white Americans in cycles of economic health insecurity.
From the Flint water crisis to COVID-19's disproportionate impact, and from predatory mortgage practices to Social Security privatization schemes—Dr. Cummings connects the dots between seemingly separate crises to reveal a pattern of structural discrimination that undermines both individual lives and democratic institutions.
Drawing on her experience as a Congressional staffer, policy strategist, and advocate, she weaves compelling case studies with personal insights to show why these aren't just "other people's problems"—they threaten the foundations of American democracy itself. But RAGEism goes beyond exposing the problem. Dr. Cummings offers a bold vision for Liberation Democracy—a transformative framework for dismantling discriminatory systems and building a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Her roadmap includes a concrete policy framework that could create the conditions for genuine prosperity and security across all communities.
This isn't just analysis—it's a call to action. Whether you're a policymaker, educator, advocate, or concerned citizen, RAGEism will challenge your assumptions about how America works and equip you with the knowledge to help build the democracy we need.
Contents
Foreword: Not Optimized to Thrive
Introduction
Rageism: Democracy, Power, and Health
1. The Political Determinants of Health Inequity
2. The Long Con and the Politics of Race
3. COVID-19 and the Politics of Harm
4. HIV and the Cost of Racial Exclusion
5. When Democracy Failed Flint
6. Baltimore City and The Map Trap
7. Housing and the Architecture of Inequality
8. Social Security Reform Con
9. Building Policy that Liberates People
10. The Quest for Liberation Democracy
