INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

Institutional Racism

Institutional Racism

Introduction

Institutional racism is distinguished from the racial bigotry, by the existence of institutional systemic policies and practices meant to place non-white racial and ethnic groups at a disadvantage in relation to the institution's white members. Restrictive housing contracts (see restrictive covenants) and bank lending policies (see redlining) are effective forms of institutional racism. Other examples are racial profiling by security guards and police, use of stereotyped racial caricatures (e.g. "Indian" sport mascots), the under- and mis-representation of certain racial groups in the mass media, and race-based barriers to gainful employment and professional advancement. Additionally, the differential access to goods, services, and opportunities of society are defined within the term institutional racism, such as unpaved streets and roads, inherited socio-economic disadvantage, “standardized” tests (each ethnic group prepared for it differently; many are poorly prepared), et cetera.

The term institutional racism came into common usage with the publication of the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry (Macpherson Report) (1999) and its accepted definition derives from that report. The report acknowledged the term will be the subject of much debate because of its implied criticism of the institution, whether that be the police (as in the original report), or schools or British society at large. The report also stated that their definition was not set in stone or a final answer to the question.

Some sociologic investigators distinguish between institutional racism and structural racism. The former focus upon the norms and practices within an institution, the latter focus upon the interactions among institutions, interactions that produce racialized outcomes against non-white people. An important feature of structural racism (structured racialization) is that it cannot be reduced to individual prejudice or to the single function of an institution. Like-wise, it is important to note that once a structure is emplaced, its consequences likely will affect the entire population — not just the racially discriminated people. Structural racialization also underscores many of the institutional arrangements that are often identified as “American exceptionalism” — such as the non-existence of a labor party, weak labor unions, and a fragmented government system. Structural racialization borrows from system theory, which examines the interactions among institutions and entities and rejects reductionist thought; thus, there is a mutual, cumulative causation instead of a single cause. Using the system's approach for structural racialization calls into question whether or not race or social class is more important in the US. Instead, it suggests an interaction, between race and social class, and their consequences upon institutional design and institutional meaning.

Following Macpherson report was the turmoil in Police Department, basically associated with the accusations and blames of being involved in institutional racism. However, Macpherson (and later the police) stated that not only the police, but many other institutions like British Civil Service, British National Health Service, and other establishments are involved in racial discrimination and racism on a daily basis.

Analysis

Racism can be broadly defined as the unequal distribution of power among ethnoracial groups resulting from attitudes, beliefs, behaviours, norms and practices within ...