Systemic racism, also known as institutional racism or structural racism, refers to policies and practices that exist throughout a whole society or organization that result in and support a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair or harmful treatment to others. It is less perceptible than individual racism because of its "less overt, far more subtle" nature. Systemic racism is not a single law or rule but instead is the racism that is embedded in society. It is a big part of social, economic, or political practice.
Systemic racism unfairly elevates white people over everyone else and influences how people of color are treated by the justice system, but it can also affect housing, education, healthcare, hiring processes, and many other things in their lives. Structural racism prevents or makes it more challenging for people of color to participate in society and in the economy. Todays continuing inequalities in education, housing, employment, wealth, and representation in leadership positions are rooted in our countrys shameful history of slavery and systemic racism.
Examples of systemic racism include:
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Housing: Systemic racism unfairly affects Black people in the housing industry. The history of the United States is replete with explicitly racist policies that have led to the current housing crisis.
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Criminal justice system: African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans are disproportionately affected through every stage of the criminal justice system, despite the evidence that different racial and ethnic groups commit crimes at roughly the same rates.
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Education: Continuing inequalities in education are rooted in our countrys shameful history of slavery and systemic racism.
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Healthcare: Systemic racism in healthcare has led to significant health disparities between people of color and white people.
As Christians, we are constantly called to examine our own hearts and consciences for how we might contribute to or break down racial divisions, intolerance, and discrimination. The failure to act to end systemic racism hurts those who are victimized and denies all of us the opportunity to benefit from the gifts of diversity.
