ABSTRACT
This chapter considers racism and its source4 in the slave trade and the whole notion of chattel slavery, and how this developed into institutional racism. The chapter argues that the nature of institutional racism is a hidden form of racism. It is different from overt racism which is highly visible and covert racism which tends to be less overt. Institutional racism operates in institutional settings rather than as a racial harm perpetrated by individuals or groups. The chapter also argues that that institutional racism is even deeper than covert racism as it is the 'bread and butter' of institutional norms meaning that it sits at the very soul of public and private institutions. It concludes that institutional racism is inherent within institutions and that is why it is difficult to detect, but by identifying it in public and private spaces people can make law and policy designed to eradicate it.
