Lecture and Silent Discussion: Definitions of Racism

African American History

Ms. Bauer

Journal…

On your notes, write a definition of racism.

Share your definition with a partner. Did you have similar definitions?

Definitions of Racism Theories of racism highlight three types

of racism that all operate in American society.

Think of them as the “THREE I’s”: Individual Racism Institutionalized Racism Internalized Racism

Jones, Camara P. "Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener's Tale." American Journal of Public Health 90.8 (2000): 1212-215. Print.

Type 1: Individual Racism

Definition

Individual Racism Individual prejudice

and/or discrimination based on race (Jones 1213)

Occurs between two or more individual people

Also called bigotry, prejudice, bias, discrimination

Examples

Racial slurs and name calling

An employer firing an employee for his race

Jones, Camara P. "Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener's Tale." American Journal of Public Health 90.8 (2000): 1212-215. Print.

Type 2: Institutional Racism

Definition: Institutional Racism Racial inequality that is built into the systems of

society, such as laws, education, employment, healthcare, the criminal justice system, and others.

Different access to power and privilege by race. This happens behind the scenes and is less obvious

and mostly invisible. White people are NOT victims of this type of racism. Also called structural racism.

Jones, Camara P. "Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener's Tale." American Journal of Public Health 90.8 (2000): 1212-215. Print.

Examples of Institutional Racism

Examples of Institutional Racism

Type 3: Internalized Racism

Definition

Internalized Racism “Acceptance by members

of the stigmatized races of negative messages” related to ability and worth (Jones 1213)

Self-hatred based on race

Believing negative stereotypes as true

Examples

“A Girl Like Me” Youtube Clip https://youtu.be/

YWyI77Yh1Gg

Jones, Camara P. "Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener's Tale." American Journal of Public Health 90.8 (2000): 1212-215. Print.

Now you try…

Match each scenario to the definition(s) of racism it most closely exemplifies.

A black student calls his black friend an “Oreo” because she does well in school.

Scenario 1

An Asian American mother encourages her children to date only other Asian Americans.

Scenario 2

Standardized test scores reveal that Shaker Heights High School has a documented achievement gap by race.

Scenario 3

An African American college student who is the first in his family to attend college is unaware of several available scholarships.

Scenario 4

A white comedian uses the n-word on stage to refer to a black audience member.

Scenario 5

A black comedian uses the n-word on stage to refer to a black audience member.

Scenario 6

This is MESSY!

All of the definitions of racism we’ve discussed are “correct” and all of them are

important.

So when we talk about “racism” in AAH, what

exactly do we mean?!

AAH Definition of Racism

The American system of white privilege and power that has played out in various forms over time

The “Invisible Knapsack”

“I have come to see white privilege as an invisible package of unearned assets that I can count on

cashing in each day, but about which I was ‘meant’ to remain oblivious. White privilege is like an

invisible weightless knapsack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools

and blank checks.”

–Peggy McIntosh

What does this mean? Do you agree?

Is white privilege invisible to everyone, or only whites?

Why is racism invisible? How can we expose it?

Silent Discussion Directions

You will write a response to a given writing prompt on your note-taking outline.

Leave your notes on your desk. Move your body to another student’s desk and read his/her response.

Respond to that student’s response in writing.

Move desks again so that you are reading two new responses. Add your own response in writing as the third voice in the silent discussion.

Repeat the process with a new writing prompt.

Prompt 1

Which type of racism do you think is most dangerous? Why?

Prompt 2

Is racism still a problem in our society overall? Is it a problem in Shaker? Which type(s) of racism do you see here?

Prompt 3

Can a white person who is not actively fighting the system, but who is also not actively discriminating against minorities, be considered a “racist”? Can a person of color be considered a “racist”? Why or why not?

Prompt 4

Given the complex and evolving nature of racism, how should we address it? What can we do to lesson or eliminate racism?