Essay On Institutional Racism

Explain how institutional racism could result in internalized oppression for members of marginalized populations. Provide examples relevant to a specific minority group, based on the chapters you selected.

American History X is clearly a film dealing with racism. The interesting thing about this film is the way in which the subject is treated. First of all, it is obvious that, though racism is always a difficult subject to deal with, American History X presents it without any reservations or dumming down. Second, the film's figurehead for racism, Derek Vinyard (Edward Norton), is not an unintelligent redneck racist as films often portray them, but is in fact well-spoken, charismatic and intelligent, although he clearly holds ideals that are terribly wrong. Finally, the film shows that it is not just the white, neo-nazi racists who are fools to be involved in this, but all racism is foolish. Through these methods, the film shows the viewer,

Institutional is more far reaching than individual racism that only shows exists within contact between people. Institutional racism would be the discriminatory practices that the housing market has against people of color, like red-lining (Aguirre & Turner, 2009). Or institutional racism could be the military or government not allowing people of color or specifically Blacks from joining or punish them because of their natural hair, or they were wearing braids or other cultural styles. The major theme or characteristic here with institutional racism is that it can affect other spheres of society and does not just pertain to a few individuals. For instance, because of the racism within the housing market, now people of color will likely either live in a undesirable neighborhood,

Structural racism also exists because of flaws in the Criminal and Justice System. Although the U.S government has been intensified its efforts of eradicating racism in the U.S. there is still a lot to be done. Cases such as Brown vs. Board education cases have had little impact on the racism in the U.S. Fulbright-Anderson, et al. (2005) provides a statistical overview of the relationship between structural racism and the CJS. This overview makes it clear that while CJS has developed immensely over the recent years, the burden of its expansion has been felt more by the communities of color. As a result, people of color have been more on the receiving end of injustices than the white counterparts. For example, “In many cities, about half of young African American men are under the control of the criminal justice system.

Structural racism is where there is dissimilar treatment of people who have the attributes that are connected to a specific race. These “structures shape the outcomes” of those whom they affect (Phelps, Oct. 31). This type of racism can lead to immense racial disparities, through discrete or non-discrete discrimination, and the “intersection of class and race” is where discrimination and differential treatment become evident through the criminal justice system with the separation of “privilege” and disadvantage (Phelps, Oct. 31). One of the roots of structural racism through our criminal justice system is the unequal distribution of resources. (Phelps,

While the Civil Rights Movement is considered a success, there is still racism in the United States today, in which blacks are still viewed as overly aggressive and overtly dangerous compared to whites. The racism we are familiar with today is called “institutional racism” and is not only shown in workplaces, but in schools and courtrooms. Institutional racism is defined as a pattern of social institutions who give negative treatment to a group of people based on race. To elaborate on institutional racism, starting with pre-school, black children make up only 18 percent of the pre-school population, but make up almost half of out of school suspensions. In K-12 black children are three times as likely to be suspended than white children. Now moving to the court system, black children make up nearly 60 percent of children in prison and are more likely to be sentenced as adults than white children. These statistics show that black’s, even black children, are more likely to be viewed as dangerous and subject to worse sentences.

This paper will explore the causes and consequences of this racial disparity and political institutions that perpetuate the racial injustice. Analyses of this kind are significantly important considering the implications in the modern day society, where issues of race and justice are becoming more pervasive and exigent.

Institutional racism on the other hand is far broader in context and more complex. It refers to the ways in which racism has infiltrated into social institutions which govern, discriminate and oppress various groups within that society based on their race (McConnochie et al, 1988). These institutions within our societies, such as schools and healthcare services, use racism in a systematic manner which favours one group over all the others. Although racism as a notion is the same for both individual and institutional purposes, the consequences of the two are vastly different. Sociologists have argued that in the recent years racism has shifted from excluding groups on a biological basis, to more of a cultural basis of difference (Giddens, 2001; Van Krieken et al, 2010).

I am a Hispanic woman who if I am honest have a lot of self hate for myself and my culture. “Internal racism has been the term used to describe the process by which persons of color absorb the racist messages that are omnipresent in our society and internalized them” (Sue, 2016). I grew up in a small border town where stereotypes are made. I never experienced much racism because we were the majority. However, looking at it now I have a lot of self hate, and I always identified as white growing up, because I am light skinned I still believe I can pass for white at least until I moved to Georgia. Living here has taught me that I miss my culture I miss the cooking, the camaraderie, the unity that Hispanics have. The other day I was asked at

"The legacy of past racism directed at blacks in the United States is more like a bacillus that we have failed to destroy, a live germ that not only continues to make some of us ill but retains the capacity to generate new strains of a disease for which we have no certain cure." - Stanford Historian George Frederickson.

Taking into consideration my early childhood, youth and adolescence, I could say that I was surrounded by people, who were friendly and shared common cultural values. However, with the hindsight at my whole life, I could say why the sense of institutional racism touches me so deeply. I was raised by my mother and my grandmother, both of whom could not read and write. Thus, for the illiterate people there were no chances to have higher status in the society. The only way to survive for them was hard physical work. Institutional racism, as a form of oppression, is more consequential and involves policies and acts that affect a large number of people. Life of my family is only one example of its impact. Even though, a lot of time has passed since then, the most recent incidents with Rodney King, Trayvon Martin and George Zimmer, illustrate how a black man continues to be viewed as a menace to society in America (Blumenfeld, 2010).

Racial inequality is quite a hot topic in our society. Not everyone sees eye to eye, but racism is embedded into our very way of life. “Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics” (ADL, 2017). Race wasn’t developed for the way people use to in modern society. Scientists used race to classify the differences between each type of group of individuals. Science played a crucial role in the development of racism. Whether people want to believe it or not, every person has either witnessed a form of racism or has been a victim. Most people don’t intentionally commit these actions, but the society that we live in indirectly degrades certain types of people, while the opposite race benefit. While there are many aspects that racial inequality affect, I believe that education is one of the biggest problems. Along with that, I believe there are major problems in the employment and income area that needs to be addressed. Health and residential segregation are also factors that play a role in racial inequality. On the bright side, we as a community of diverse and very unique people have made some strides in the name of equality for all. However, we have a long road ahead if we want to call the United States of America a land that is truly free.

Throughout history in America there has always been the idea of racism. When Americans think of racism, they usually think of slavery and that racism is no longer a problem in America. However, this is not the case. Racism is still very apparent in America. It is true that since the end of slavery, the U.S. has made great strides towards becoming a less racist country. In reality, racism will never be extinct. In today’s society, all American citizens of all races have the same rights as one another, yet there is still racism. Racism can be linked directly to stereotypical mindsets of certain groups of people. It is human nature to make conclusions about other people, this is what leads to racism. Today’s racism is not limited to whites

Furthermore, racism is one of the biggest inequalities to ever impact America. Racism is huge due to all of it’s possible forms, with the most common being between white, and black persons. In the U.S.A. roughly 2,500 people have been charged of a crime before 18 years of age without parole according to Human Rights Watch. One out of 8 African-American youngsters who are charged for murder will not get the privilege of parole. Unlike white youngsters, which is one out of every 13. Blacks get unfair rules and treatment because of their skins appeal while whites are offered more privileges and given leeway. Not only in the justice system is this a problem. Black girls face more unjust acts, rules, and consequences in school, in correlation to

Humans have come a long way in terms of racism. We want to live in an era where discrimination and racism was a very common thing. The big question I will however pose is, is it not still a big and common thing? Racism a great amount of violence. Romberg the holocaust? The group that wiped out nearly 6 million people? All of this chaos created by one single racist mind. Racism is not always about violence. Racism is discriminating against someone because of either their religion, skin color, or their features. But out of all this hatred, came some inspiration, from Martin Luther King jr., Barack Obama to Collin Kaepernick.