ABSTRACT
Racism is a belief that real or alleged traits of one race establish its superiority over another or others. In modern times racism is often quite subtle, toned down. A distinction exists between individual and institutional racism. Individual racism is a person’s or group’s action that produces racial abuse. Institutional racism, unlike individual racism, is not an immediate racist action but a collective response. Institutional racism refers to the discriminatory racial practices built into organizations and groups within the political, economic, and educational systems. Racism affects social stratification. Clearly the scope and impact of racism have been extensive in American society. Historically African Americans and Native Americans were the two most prominent victims of racism. European, Asian, and Hispanic immigrants, however, also suffered discriminatory treatment. Open, defiant racism is less common today, and yet many modern policies incorporate racist oppression, with urban-renewal projects in numerous cities serving as cases in point.
