Contemporary Models of Racism: Theoretical Perspectives, Institutional Assessment, and Organizational Implications for an Equal Opportunity Climate

In recent years, the social psychology literature exploring racism and racial prejudice has focused primarily on “contemporary” models of racism-more subtle forms of racial prejudice. In contrast to “traditional” or “old-fashioned” racism, in which belief about the innate inferiority of specifi c races (blacks in particular) is displayed through open bigotry, subtle racism appears to be nonracial on the surface.1 Yet, beneath the surface are negative attitudes and stereotyped beliefs that ultimately affect personal interactions. It is these more subtle forms of racism that are thought to be most prevalent in today’s society, and perhaps the most pernicious (Dovidio & Gaertner, 1991; Kinder & Sanders, 1996; Wolfe & Spencer, 1996).