ABSTRACT
Racism in the American educational system has been longstanding in our history and in other countries where racial differences exist. Oppressive educational practices are not only devastating to minority students but also to students of the majority race. This chapter will begin with a definition of racism and various manifestations of racism; three of the latter, according to Dube (1985, p. 96), though different, are still parts of the same definition. A discussion will follow on early historical documentation of the effects of racism on the education of White and Black children as well as a look at the implications of racism on the current American educational system. Finally, the authors will examine strategies currently employed to address and combat the problem of racism in various educational settings and among students in those settings. The various responsibilities of educators, administrators, and school systems to address and reduce the impact of racism will be examined and outlined.
