University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Racism is defined as prejudice and discrimination directed at an individual based on their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group. It is a prevalent issue in the United States, affecting a wide range of communities, including Native Americans, Arab Americans, Jewish Americans, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Latinos.

Racism

Which of the following statements best describes racism?

Which of the following is an example of subtle racism?

Which of the following can be considered a consequence of racism?

Which of the following scenarios illustrates how racism can be subtle and hard to detect?

A prominent example of racial discrimination is the segregation of public facilities, such as the water fountain depicted in Photograph B. During the Jim Crow era in the United States, facilities were often explicitly separated for 'White' and 'Colored' people. This practice was a form of institutionalized racism designed to enforce a racial hierarchy.

Example of Racial Discrimination: Segregated Water Fountains in the Jim Crow South

A social experiment illustrates racism by observing public reactions to a staged bike theft. In the experiment, a White male teenager, a Black male teenager, and a White female individually attempt to steal a bike in a public park. The differing responses from bystanders towards each person based on their race and gender demonstrate how prejudice and stereotypes can lead to discriminatory actions, specifically racism.

Example of Racism: Social Experiment with Bike Theft

An example of racism in practice is the phenomenon known as 'Driving While Black' (DWB). This term describes the racial profiling of Black drivers, who are statistically more likely to be subjected to vehicle searches during traffic stops than White drivers, especially when in predominantly White areas.

Example of Racism: 'Driving While Black' (DWB)

An illustration of racism targeting Latino groups, such as Mexican Americans, is the increased likelihood of these shoppers being required to present formal identification when paying by personal check, a demand less frequently made of White shoppers.

Example of Racism: Discriminatory ID Checks for Latino Shoppers

A specific instance of racism against Latinos occurred in East Haven, Connecticut, where several police officers faced federal charges for the alleged persistent harassment and brutalization of Latino residents. When questioned about his actions for the Latino community in light of the accusations, the town's mayor dismissed the gravity of the situation with a stereotypical remark about eating tacos. This response was criticized for trivializing the serious problems of racial profiling and police misconduct by reducing Latino culture to a food stereotype.

Example of Racism: Police Harassment and Trivialization of Latino Issues in East Haven

White supremacy is defined as the formal juridico-political, and economic systems along with more informal cultural systems where white individuals overwhelmingly control power, resources, and knowledge creation in ways that cement white superiority and lead to a subordination of non-white individuals.

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