When most people think of racism they think of a person who commits unfavorable actions or has negative feelings towards someone of a different race however institutions also tend to have racism embedded into them. The United States has a long history of racism being used by powerful institutions.
Institutional racism can be defined as racism that is perpetuated by either social or political institutions. These institutions can include anything from schools to the military. Systemic racism is the “numerous ways that Black Americans experience life in the United States differently from their white counterparts… and how it’s ingrained in nearly every way people move through society in the policies and practices at institutions like banks, schools, companies, government agencies, and law enforcement.”
Long story short, it is a term that explains racism in every institution in our nation and how it is conveyed onto a specific minority group. Let us explain.
Going back in time, slavery itself was a form of systemic racism. It was a government-enforced system that had been created to keep the Black community enslaved while they build our nation. Once freed, formerly enslaved people would have to face challenges in finding jobs, education, and even finding housing.
By the end of the Civil War, Black Union veterans were exploited for their work and were denied disability pension by the Union Army. Fast forward to the present time, and systemic racism shows up in many other ways.
The employment-population ratio has been lower for Black people for years.
The unemployment rate has also spiked in the U.S. during the pandemic and is especially high for Black Americans.
Educational opportunities remain starkly segregated by race.
These examples are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to systemic racism in the United States. There are many more examples, but the main takeaway from these few statistics is that Black American’s face a much different hardship that their White neighbors. It’s hard to ignore, but some truly believe that systemic racism is not real.
“Identity politics and a culture of victimhood have caused these pathological behaviors. Everyone is encouraged to feel aggrieved (everyone except white males). If no feeling exists, fantasize and make one up.” Sad David Carke in an OpEd for The Hill. His argument in itself contributes to the racist culture of our nation. Black, Indigenous, and other Peoples of Color (BIPOC) are often characterized as adopting a culture of “victimhood” however, that’s not the case at all. The system had been created and built to make the lives of BIPOC just that much harder, to the point where advancements cannot even match. That’s why it's called systemic racism. By no means are we trying to discredit issues that riddle other communities? But we are trying to focus on the main point that BIPOC are more likely to face challenges outside of social statues. These communities will see more hurdles in education, healthcare, employment, housing, and social injustices.
Many laws and regulations have been put in place to ensure the success of white people and in turn, have ensured the oppression of BIPOC. Laws such as Voter ID requirements, Stop and Frisk, etc. were passed to disenfranchise Black Americans. “Individuals may not see themselves as racist, but they can still benefit from systems that privilege white faces and voices.” Mary Frances O’Dowd explains in a The Conversation article.
It’s important to remember that the Civil Rights Movement was not that long ago. They protested and fought for the end of segregation, the right to vote, and the right to be treated equally. Yet these issues are still alive today.
System racism goes back to the roots of our nation. Despite the U.S. being the “home of the free,” BIPOC are still struggling with the systemic racism that is a product of the same systemic racism of our nation's past. It’s very much real.
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