It is September 2023, just over 60 years since the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

One might assume that unequivocal cries for justice and equal rights would have, by now, uprooted age-old systems of racism and discrimination. And yet, we still find ourselves unable to break free from a vicious cycle of prejudice, resulting in suffering and social divisions. This ongoing battle raises the question: what are the real roots of racism, and how do they connect with our collective history?

To understand this, we can turn to the concept of “the great chain of being” – a philosophical and religious hierarchy that has influenced Western thought for centuries. This idea, rooted in classical and medieval ideas of order, places God at the top, followed by angels, humans, animals, plants, and minerals at the bottom. It is a concept that has seeped into every aspect of life, from politics and religion to art and science. There is little doubt that the great chain has, in many ways, helped shape how we perceive ourselves and others around us – but it has also created deep divisions in society.

This ancient idea has continues to influence our understanding of race. The idea that there exists a natural order in society in which some races take precedence over others is strikingly similar to the great chain of being. This is where the connection between white supremacy, anti-Semitism, and anti-blackness lies – with each group positioning themselves in relation to others on this perceived chain.

For example, white supremacists have long been targeting Jewish people as a means to further their concept of “racial purity.” What the supremacists resent is the perception of an undeserving Jewish race holding a position above them in the Great Chain – a situation that, in their eyes, goes against the natural order. This animosity has given rise to anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, often portraying Jewish people as sinister puppet-masters controlling world events to their advantage.

In contrast, anti-blackness thrives on the fear that social progress may result in black people levelling up on the chain. White supremacists deploy various tactics to keep black people in their “place” – through the implementation of unjust legislation, social exclusion, or the perpetuation of stereotypes. This behavior can be found throughout history, such as Apartheid in South Africa, or the segregation policies in the United States.

Interestingly, the behaviors associated with the Great Chain, manifest themselves in our close evolutionary relative, the chimpanzee, which is also known to exhibit dominance hierarchies. Dominance hierarchies help maintain social order among chimpanzees by defining who has access to resources and mates.

As members of the Great Apes, most closely related to chimpanzees, we carry within us a primordial legacy that predisposes us toward hierarchical behavior. This “deep bias” is not merely the result of sociopolitical constructs, but an intrinsic characteristic etched into our very genes. The divine right claimed by one group to hold sway over another is an echo of our evolutionary past.

To truly reckon with racism and social dominance, we must come to terms with our biological heritage and take account of these primitive urges. It is vital to recognize that simply dismantling existing social hierarchies will not be enough; we must also actively put structures in place that counteract this default behavior. The very same effort, if not more, poured into creating and sustaining anti-black systems need to be directed toward building durable systems that prevent the re-emergence of similar oppressive beliefs.

These new structures will require constant vigilance and support to endure the challenges they face. The gravitational pull of our genetic heritage always threatens to drag us back into a world ruled by notions like the great chain of being if left unchecked. By acknowledging and addressing these deep-rooted biases as an eternal struggle rather than steady progress, we take a crucial step towards making a more resilient, successful, less self-destructive society.