CLEVELAND — The belief that when one racial group moves ahead, another loses ground.
The belief that there’s an “us” and a “them” and what’s good for them is bad for us.
Author Heather McGhee calls it “zero sum thinking” in her bestselling book, “The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can All Prosper Together,” and says it’s led to policies that historically have kept people of color from pursuing the American dream, lingering even today.
The January edition of Front Row: A Turning Point, which aired on Thursday night on 3News, explored the points raised in McGhee’s book, and the "solidarity dividend" she presents as an attainable solution that benefits people of all races.
We spoke to the author directly, and took a deep dive into events she covers in her book that happened in our own backyard, including how officials in Warren, Ohio, chose to turn a public pool into a members-only club rather than integrate it.
You can watch the entire edition of A Turning Point: 'The Sum of Us' in the player below:
See our stories from A Turning Point below:
- A Turning Point: So-called 'voting reforms' have instead disenfranchised citizens
- A Turning Point: A conversation with 'The Sum of Us' author Heather McGhee
- A Turning Point: The history of racism at swimming pools
- A Turning Point: How redlining still impacts communities today
- A Turning Point: 'Good' vs. 'bad' schools and a new approach to integration
- A Turning Point: Panel discussion on the environment and race
Additionally, WKYC Studios is partnering with Cuyahoga County Public Library to broaden the conversation about “The Sum of Us,” frequently called one of the best books to be published in 2021.
We will partner with the library to host a virtual community conversation with author Heather McGhee in the spring, emceed by 3News Anchor Sara Shookman.
Stay tuned for updates on that event. And if you’d like to read the book, Cuyahoga County Public Library has made that easy for you. Call or visit your local Cuyahoga County Public Library branch to check out a copy of the book or visit www.cuyahogalibrary.org/wkyc to access the ebook or audio version.