Racism: Definition, Types, and Concepts

Definition and Concepts

• Racism: a belief in the superiority of one race over others, often resulting in discrimination, prejudice, and inequality.
• Racism can be:
  • Institutional: embedded in laws, policies, and practices of institutions.
  • Interpersonal: individual acts of discrimination and prejudice.
  • Internalized: internalizing negative stereotypes and biases about one's own racial group.

Types of Racism

• Overt Racism: explicit, intentional acts of discrimination and prejudice.
• Covert Racism: subtle, hidden, and often unconscious biases and stereotypes.
• Cultural Racism: devaluation of a racial group's culture, language, and traditions.
• Colorism: discrimination based on skin tone, with lighter skin tones often being privileged.

Effects of Racism

• Racial Trauma: emotional and psychological distress resulting from experiences of racism.
• Health Disparities: racism contributes to unequal access to healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes for marginalized groups.
• Economic Inequality: racism perpetuates income and wealth gaps between racial groups.
• Social Isolation: racism can lead to feelings of exclusion, loneliness, and disconnection.

Combating Racism

• Education and Awareness: learning about racism, its history, and its effects.
• Empathy and Allyship: actively listening to and supporting marginalized groups.
• Policy Change: advocating for laws and policies that promote equality and challenge systemic racism.
• Intersectionality: recognizing and addressing the intersections of racism with other forms of oppression (e.g., sexism, homophobia).

Definition and Concepts of Racism

• Racism is a belief in the superiority of one race over others, resulting in discrimination, prejudice, and inequality.
• Racism can manifest in three forms:
  • Institutional racism: embedded in laws, policies, and practices of institutions.
  • Interpersonal racism: individual acts of discrimination and prejudice.
  • Internalized racism: internalizing negative stereotypes and biases about one's own racial group.

Types of Racism

• Overt racism: explicit, intentional acts of discrimination and prejudice.
• Covert racism: subtle, hidden, and often unconscious biases and stereotypes.
• Cultural racism: devaluation of a racial group's culture, language, and traditions.
• Colorism: discrimination based on skin tone, with lighter skin tones often being privileged.

Effects of Racism

• Racial trauma: emotional and psychological distress resulting from experiences of racism.
• Health disparities: racism contributes to unequal access to healthcare, leading to poorer health outcomes for marginalized groups.
• Economic inequality: racism perpetuates income and wealth gaps between racial groups.
• Social isolation: racism can lead to feelings of exclusion, loneliness, and disconnection.

Combating Racism

• Education and awareness: learning about racism, its history, and its effects.
• Empathy and allyship: actively listening to and supporting marginalized groups.
• Policy change: advocating for laws and policies that promote equality and challenge systemic racism.
• Intersectionality: recognizing and addressing the intersections of racism with other forms of oppression (e.g., sexism, homophobia).