Understanding about what institutional racism

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Create a cohesive understanding of what institutional racism is (i.e., structural or systemic racism).

As you think/write your summary, ask yourself: How and why was race created and structured into society, specifically in the United States? How does racism affect people’s lives today? How do the various institutions of society maintain a racialized class system, nationally and even globally?

Material Artifact: After you have formulated an understanding about what institutional racism is, make sure to end your post with a material artifact that expresses concrete ways that racial and ethnic inequalities are being addressed in the United States (nationally), locally, or even globally.

Sample Solution

Understanding Institutional Racism: A Legacy of Power and Inequality

Institutional racism, also known as systemic racism, is a complex and deeply woven web of policies, practices, and norms that advantage white people and disadvantage people of color. It’s not simply individual prejudice, but a system that has been built and maintained over centuries.

The Origins of Racial Hierarchy:

The concept of race itself is a social construct, not a biological one. In the United States, the idea of race emerged alongside the rise of colonialism and slavery. White Europeans needed to justify the enslavement of Africans, so they created a racial hierarchy that positioned whiteness at the top and Blackness at the bottom. This hierarchy was used to deny basic rights and opportunities to people of color, while privileging white people.

How Racism Persists:

This system of racialized power has been embedded in the very foundations of American society. Here are some ways it manifests:

  • Housing: Discriminatory lending practices, redlining (denying mortgages in certain neighborhoods), and racial segregation in housing patterns.
  • Education: Unequal funding for schools in minority neighborhoods, implicit bias among educators, and a curriculum that often overlooks or minimizes the contributions of people of color.
  • Criminal Justice System: Racial profiling by police, harsher sentencing for people of color, and mass incarceration that disproportionately impacts Black and Latino communities.
  • Healthcare: Disparities in access to quality healthcare, implicit bias in medical professionals, and higher rates of medical complications for people of color.
  • Wealth Gap: Historical discrimination has hampered wealth accumulation for people of color, leading to a significant racial wealth gap that continues to grow.

These are just a few examples, and the effects of institutional racism are felt throughout a person’s life, limiting opportunities, hindering economic mobility, and impacting overall well-being.

The Global Context:

While the specific manifestations might differ, this dynamic of racialized power structures isn’t unique to the United States. Colonial legacies and historical power imbalances often contribute to similar patterns of racial and ethnic inequalities across the globe.

Material Artifact: Addressing Racial Inequalities

The 1619 Project:

Published by The New York Times in 2019, The 1619 Project is a collection of essays and artistic pieces that reframes American history by placing the arrival of enslaved Africans in 1619 as our nation’s “founding.” This project is a powerful example of how institutions can use their platform to confront the legacy of racism and spark conversations about racial justice.

By acknowledging the deep roots of racial inequality and its ongoing impact, initiatives like The 1619 Project pave the way for dismantling these structures and building a more equitable society

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