The Problem Of Institutional Racism

Diversity issues are critical element taken place within an individual. Diversity is defined as the state of being diverse which is expressed in beliefs and behaviors of individuals, families, communities and in societies. Issues related to age, gender, ethnicity, race, religion, culture, sexual orientation and disability can strongly affect a social worker’s assessment of a client as well as intervention chosen.

December the 6th, 1865 marks the end of slavery and white supremacy. A glance at the 21st century America manifests otherwise. Racism is an ongoing issue that contributes largely to class boundaries within significant aspects such as economy, education and society of the United States, making people of color inferior to white people. The key components that construct a country into greatness are economy, education and society. The inequality and injustice present in these interlinked components, bound by social class hierarchy, can lead to desisting the full potential to be a globally respectable nation.

African Americans have systematically been deprived of equal opportunities and fundamental rights in America since the establishment of slavery. Although the Civil Rights Act banned the implementation of segregation and racial inequality over 40 years ago, the overall concept of racial and cultural hierarchy still lingers at the forefront of today’s society. White America’s history of racially oppressing, isolating, and segregating African Americans have led to present-day issues surrounding the political and economic forces that intentionally limits Blacks access to and opportunity from social, economic, educational, and political advancement through the institution of structural racism.

One example of institutionalized racism that was demonstrated in 13th is the mass incarcerations of minorities. I think it is a problem not only because there is a disproportionate amount of minorities but also because people do not realize this is happening. It is institutionalized racism because after being in prison these minorities cannot vote or get a job and therefore puts them at a disadvantage. I think getting people to realize this problem is the first step to address it but I am not sure what should happen next.

Race is “A social category defined on the basis of physical characteristics” (Yetman, p.3). Race is a abstract concept that society has constructed to group people based on their physical appearance. Institutional racism is an covert form of discrimination, but historically institutional racism was overt. My focus is on the Muslim and black community in America, because I relate to these two groups since I am muslim and black. I will discuss the institutional racism the Muslim and black community face in American society.

Internalized racism is the action of someone participating in the contribution of racist actions towards members of their own ethnic group. Internalized racism goes beyond the internalization of stereotypes imposed by the white majority about People of Color. It is the internalization of the beliefs, values, and worldviews inherent in white supremacy that can potentially result in negative self or racial group perceptions (Kohli, Johnson, & Perez, 2006). Internalized racism is not just another form of racism, but a systematic oppression that has its own structure and impact within society. Internalized racism is considered a systematic oppression because it affects groups, rather than solely individuals. This systematic oppression will be a

Dr. Dashonne Stokes, a civil rights activist said “What matters most is not 'what ' you are, but 'who ' you are.” Dr. Dashine Stokes is saying that skin color does not matter it’s who you are as a person that matters. In to kill a mockingbird by Harper Lee there are two types of racism: Individual and Institutional, Individual racism is based on personal beliefs of one person. Institutional racism is government or large groups with racist beliefs. Institutional racism is more harmful than Individual racism. While some people may say individual racism is more harmful because it has a more negative effect on children, Institutional racism is more harmful because groups are much more dangerous than one person.

According to the article, the difference between individual, institutional, and structural racism is: individual racism is examined as a social psychological phenomenon that based on the bias that might be created by different individual’s ideas and beliefs. While institutional racism is “based on a system in which the White majority ‘raises its social position by exploiting, controlling, and keeping down others who are categorized in racial or ethnic terms’” (Silva 1997: 466) The author considered racism as an institutional matter by using the example that the majority of the society might think minorities as colonists who are not belong to this society originally. At last, structural racism is a system regarding to politics, institutional practices, and cultural representation to strengthen the inequalities between different racial groups.

For individual discrimination, it is mainly that through our personal experiences and lessons learned and received in the past, to prejudiced another person. At the same time, institutional discrimination usually produce prejudice to the most of large institutions and organizations for part of the race and ethnic. In current society, individual discrimination is often released in the color issue today; we often are isolated by our own color. Sometimes, people who the white drive in the cars are easier to get forgiveness and understanding of police officers, but for other color race, these people usually tend to be suspects by other people. On the other hand, institutional discrimination is mainly manifested in several areas: economy, education,

A social problem is some aspect of society that large numbers of people are concerned about and would like changed which means that racism is a social problem. Racism is a huge thing that people want changed about our society especially African Americans. A lot of people think it isn’t fair and some people don’t like them just because the color of their skin. Racism has lead up to a ton of recent social problems like police brutality, or just freedom for African - Americans in general (Wilson)

Williams and Sternthal discuss “residential racial segregation as a fundamental cause of institutional racism and racial disparities in health” to underscore that separating people into neighborhoods based on racial makeup have influences on health. African Americans, American Indians, and Latinos mostly live in isolated residential environments different than those of white communities. Low socioeconomic status of segregated communities strengthens the correlation to poor-quality housing, exposure to environmental toxins, and decreased mobility. Studies show that SES is highly linked with education. Since low-income individuals only have access to subordinate education due to school zoning, this restriction will prevent young ones from obtaining high-paying jobs since employers recruit people who have a college degree, which many blacks, Latinos, and American Indians historically have not been affordable nor obtainable. As a result of financial struggles, people consume more fast and junk food and avoid more expensive healthy-eating options. The neighborhood limits access to nutritious food and exercise and avoidance of harmful substances, predisposing people to health disparities and shorter life expectancy that start at a young

“ We have more work to do when more young black men languish in prison than attend colleges and universities across America.” President Barack Obama. This quote is a great example of systemic racism. Systemic racism is a form of racism-, that was created by historical and the societal structures that had been created globally. Congress passing unfair laws, biased police officers, and unfair, unequal education system, making it difficult for non-white people to succeed. Jamal experiences systemic racism throughout his entire life and Jamal learns that the world will not treat him fairly for the reason of his skin color; he finds out the one only way he will ever be successful is for him to use his intellect.

The study of racism has a profound potential to become an ambiguous sociological endeavor. Incidentally, accounting for the multitude of factors which encompass this subject appear to make it the very heart of the matter and consequently the most time consuming. Although, it is my belief that all three of the main sociological theories (Functionalism, Conflict Theory and Symbolic Interactionism) should be integrated in order to achieve a legitimate and quantifiable outcome, for obvious reasons the “Conflict Theory” logically renders the best possible method to obtain a valid micro analysis of specific agents in this case. The oxford dictionary defines racism as being:

If you can take a moment to think to yourself, how many times have you been treated differently just because of your race? Maybe not at all, or maybe a lot. Understanding systematic racism may help you understand why. Systematic racism affects people’s lives greatly or just a little. If you want to learn about what Jim Crow started systematic racism and what it is, then read this essay.

Source: Boundless. “The Functionalist Perspective.” Boundless Sociology. Boundless, 26 May. 2016. Retrieved 13 Jun. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/sociology/textbooks/boundless-sociology-textbook/race-and-ethnicity-10/sociological-perspectives-on-race-and-ethnicity-83/the-functionalist-perspective-484-6546/