When politicians and pundits discuss matters surrounding one's race, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs and so forth, these concepts are readily dismissed as "identity politics." This phrase has firmly pushed a false narrative that massive systemic problems such as the racial wealth gap, gender-based discrimination, criminal justice system and educational inequality have no correlation to the way historically marginalized groups have been treated in America.

When the impact that identity has on one’s economic or social background is discussed, some say it is a mere tactic to separate and pit people against each other. However, as a country going through a racial reckoning and mass civil unrest, we should be leaning into the fact that issues surrounding civil rights affect us all. Why? Because they are, at their very core, American issues – ones that must be solved one way or another.

The debate between preserving the existing political, social and economic systems that have served straight, white, cisgender men rather than creating a more fair system for people of all backgrounds and identities is nothing new. Laws that were put in place to discriminate based on identity, such as the Jim Crow Laws, which legalized racial segregation, were only formally taken off the books a little less than five decades ago. Even then, civil rights activists faced massive opposition from those who wanted to hold on to the status quo. The effects of these laws and practices still have a scorching presence in today's societal beliefs.

More recently, President Donald Trump’s administration has trafficked the birther conspiracy theory, claimed that Mexico is sending rapists and murderers to our country, established a ban on Muslim-populated countries and has recently sown fear that "thugs" will soon be infiltrating suburban neighborhoods. It is impossible to ignore the fact that these racist dog whistles and xenophobic tropes affect how marginalized groups are treated and viewed in today's society. 

When we consider the most pressing issues surrounding our economy – such as excessively high healthcare costs, stagnant wages and the lack of economic opportunities – they all can stem from various racial, socioeconomic and gender-related disparities between U.S. citizens. 

In 2017, according to a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black workers have experienced an unemployment rate approximately twice that of their white counterparts. Across all racial and ethnic groups, women in the U.S. are paid 82 cents to every dollar a man makes. Hence, when we discuss major economic issues like the increasing wealth gap, we must also acknowledge the consequences of systemic racism and gender inequality that our country has yet to solve.

The next time issues affecting underrepresented groups of people are brushed aside, be aware that those very problems are the basis of injustice and inequality in America. Identity politics influences every significant economic, social and political concern. 

When people share their experiences of discrimination or unfair treatment, it is not an attempt to lie in victimhood, but instead, shed light on an issue that many people face daily. Rather than running away from identity politics, we should sprint towards it. 

Talking about systematic oppression can be difficult, but if we begin to understand people's varied experiences and identities, we will coalesce and establish a more just society and government.