Abstract
Maine’s bicentennial year is an appropriate moment to reflect on the historical legacy of public policy in Maine. In particular, the impact of historic policy decisions on people of color in the state is widely overlooked, perhaps because of Maine’s historical whiteness. This piece will show that, like the rest of the United States, Maine has a history of state-sanctioned discrimination, the consequences of which resonate today. Policymakers need to understand the harmful legacy of racist public policy in Maine if they are to avoid perpetuating those inequalities. Further, this piece will argue that it is not enough for lawmakers to avoid explicit or intentional racism in public policy, but that the state needs to be actively antiracist, with policies that intentionally work to improve the lives of people of color and correct historic wrongs.
First page
23
Last page
33
Rights and Access Note
This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. In addition, no permission is required from the rights-holder(s) for non-commercial uses. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
DOI
https://doi.org/10.53558/NJYP4779
Recommended Citation
Myall, James. "Race and Public Policy in Maine: Past, Present, and Future." Maine Policy Review 29.2 (2020) : 23 -33, https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/mpr/vol29/iss2/4.
Rights Statement
