"Racist" and "racism" are provocative
words in American society. To some, these words have reached
the level of curse words in their offensiveness. Yet,
"racist" and "racism" are descriptive
words of a reality that cannot be denied. African Americans,
Hispanic Americans, Native Americans and Asian Americans
(people-of-color) live daily with the effects of both
institutional and individual racism.
Race issues are so fundamental in American society that
they seem almost an integral component. Some Americans
believe that race is the primary determinant of human
abilities and capacities. Some Americans behave as if racial
differences produce inherent superiority in European
Americans (whites). In fact, such individuals respond to
people-of-color and whites differently merely because
of race (or ethnicity). As a consequence, people of color
are injured by judgments or actions that are directly or
indirectly racist.
Much of the attention of the last 40 years has focused on
individual racist behavior. However, just as individuals can
act in racist ways, so can institutions.
Institutions can behave in ways that are overtly racist
(i.e., specifically excluding people-of-color from services)
or inherently racist (i.e., adopting policies that while not
specifically directed at excluding people-of-color,
nevertheless result in their exclusion).
Therefore, institutions can respond to people-of-color
and whites differently. Institutional behavior can injure
people-of-color; and, when it does, it is nonetheless racist
in outcome if not in intent. |
