The Racial Contract (Charles W. Mills)

The Racial Contract, by Charles W. Mills, argues that historically, societies have been founded on an unspoken agreement that privileges white people and marginalizes non-white groups. This "contract" isn't an explicit document but a set of societal norms and practices that uphold racial inequalities, justifying racism as natural or deserved. It shapes laws, institutions, and social interactions, creating systemic disadvantages for non-white populations. Mills’s work challenges the idea that society is neutral or purely based on individual merit, highlighting how racial bias is embedded in the global social order.