Racism Facts & Worksheets

Prejudice, discrimination, or hostility toward a person or group based on their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is marginalized or a minority, is known as racism.

See the fact file below for more information on Racism, or you can download our 27-page Racism worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHAT IS RACISM?

• Racism is the practice of giving people of different races unequal chances and results based on systems, policies, behaviors, and attitudes.
• It is a type of prejudice that holds that some racial categories’ members have distinguishing traits, and as a result, some racial categories are inferior to others.
• Racism typically consists of unfavorable emotional responses to fellow group members, acceptance of unfavorable stereotypes, and racial discrimination against specific people; in some instances, it results in violence.
• Racism can take many different forms, including unintentionally hurtful jokes or remarks, verbal abuse or name-calling, harassment or intimidation, or media or online criticism that incites animosity toward particular groups. 
• Racism can obstruct access to services and participation in jobs, education, sports, and social activities either directly or indirectly. Moreover, institutional or systemic practices, situations, or policies that disadvantage particular groups might lead to it.

CAUSES OF RACISM

• According to several analysts, racist ideologies were created to justify avarice and self-interest. 
• Through the Transatlantic Slave Trade, European investors enslaved Africans for nearly 400 years in order to finance the vast cotton, sugar, and tobacco businesses in the Americas.
• Racist ideas are strengthened by racially discriminatory policies.
• It conveys to society the idea that some people don’t deserve the same opportunities or treatment as others merely because of their race. 
• Many people will never examine the grounds that governments provide, such as public health or natural security. If their justifications are even remotely grounded in fact, it rarely matters.
• The way that different races are portrayed in music, movies, television, and novels has a significant impact on how society views race.
• By reflecting cultural viewpoints, the media also affects culture and instills racist beliefs in children and immigrants. 
• Individuals have a tendency to make snap judgments about people based on their looks, attire, speech, and other physical characteristics. Biases arise and one could be treated in favor of or against someone because of external characteristics.
• When left unchecked, this kind of bias develops into racist behaviors such as prejudice and entitlement to being a superior race to the other.

EFFECTS OF RACISM

• From childhood and the beginning of adolescence, racism’s effects on ethnic and racial minorities are visible. According to studies, it shows that adverse mental health outcomes are the most common consequence of racism among children and adolescents.
• There have been reports of links between racism and worse self-esteem, higher anxiety, stress, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, violence, ADHD, and behavioral issues.
• Racism can have a severe negative impact on a person’s overall mental health. Racism can be degrading and humiliating, and it can also contribute to these feelings. 
• Racism also violates people’s sense of dignity and compels them to alter their regular patterns of behavior.
• Furthermore, racism has monetary effects. It has been established that those who encounter racism are more likely to run into difficulties finding work, earn lower earnings, or face prejudice while attempting to get housing or financial assistance.
• They might also encounter racism in the housing market, hostility from landlords, and problems with mobility. Due to racist occurrences, some people try to avoid using public transportation or take longer ways to get where they need to go, which can raise their travel expenses.

RESPONDING TO RACISM

• When someone says anything racist, it can be difficult to know how to react, especially if they are close to or have authority over you. You have a variety of options for responding to racist remarks. Your choice of response while speaking with friends or family may differ from your choice when speaking with classmates.
• It might be challenging to know how to respond to someone who makes a racist remark or joke, and doing so can require guts. This is especially difficult in school settings.
• Individuals might be able to get over any uneasiness they experience while addressing racism by resolving to be someone who speaks up for others. 
• However, it is also important to encourage victims of racism to also speak up and tell their experiences to the proper authorities so that the problem can be addressed.
• Racism at school can also be addressed by encouraging democracy, respect for human rights, and citizenship. Schools can prioritize multi perspectivity in history, language, and cultural competence, ensuring that all students’ needs are met equally.
• Anti-racist policies can also be developed and disseminated to staff, parents, and students in a particular district or school.

SOME THEORIES ABOUT RACISM

• Conflict theory – According to conflict theory, dominant groups in society employ the law and the means of its enforcement to reduce the risks to their interests posed by individuals they deem harmful, notably minorities and the underprivileged. 
• In recent years, the subject of racial profiling has gained importance. Conflict theory generally ascribes stratification and poverty to a lack of opportunity brought on by prejudice and discrimination against the underprivileged, women, and people of color. 
• In this way, it echoes one of the original criticisms of the functionalist view that was discussed in the previous section.
• Functionalism – Functionalism holds that for racial and ethnic disparities to have persisted for as long as they have, they must have served a significant purpose. According to functionalist sociologists, racism and discrimination do have a positive impact, but only on the dominant group.
• Intersection theory – The intersection theory, which was created by feminist sociologist Patricia Hill Collins in 1990, contends that we cannot separate the influences of race, class, gender, sexual orientation, and other characteristics. 
• It’s crucial to recognize that our experiences with race are influenced by factors like our gender and class when we consider how race might bring us both benefits and drawbacks.
• Interactionism – Race and ethnicity serve as powerful symbols for symbolic interactionists as sources of identity. In fact, some interactionists contend that racism is caused by racial symbols rather than actual racial differences.
• Herbert Blumer, a renowned interactionist, proposed in 1958 that interactions among members of the dominant group lead to the development of racial prejudice: Without these interactions, members of the dominant group would not have racist beliefs. 
• Through these exchanges, the dominant group is able to defend its perception of the subordinate group and preserve the status quo by developing an abstract picture of the subordinate group.
• Culture of prejudice – The idea that prejudice is ingrained in our culture is known as the “culture of prejudice.” Stereotypical representations and casual displays of racism and prejudice are all around us as we grow up. Think about the casually racist imagery you see on grocery store shelves or the stereotypes people see in TV shows and movies.

Racism Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about Racism across 27 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about Racism. Prejudice, discrimination, or hostility toward a person or group based on their membership in a particular racial or ethnic group, typically marginalized or a minority is known as racism.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

1. Racism Facts
2. Race Check!
3. Common Stereotypes
4. Detecting Racism
5. Appreciation v. Appropriation
6. Subtle Statements
7. Realities of Racism
8. An Advocate
9. Day of Anti-Racism
10. Racing for Laws
11. Proud of My Race!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is racism?

Racism is a belief or ideology that one race is inherently superior or inferior to another race. It often involves discrimination, prejudice, and negative attitudes or stereotypes towards individuals or groups based on their race or ethnicity.

How does racism manifest in society?

Racism can manifest in various ways in society, such as through discriminatory laws, policies, and practices, biased media coverage, hate crimes, and individual acts of prejudice and discrimination. It can also be institutionalized, meaning that certain institutions and systems may perpetuate inequality and discrimination based on race.

How can we combat racism?

There are several ways to combat racism, such as educating ourselves about different cultures and histories, challenging our own biases and prejudices, speaking out against racism and discrimination, supporting anti-racism movements, and actively working towards creating more inclusive and equitable societies.

Can racism affect people of any race?

Racism can affect people of any race, but it is most commonly experienced by people who are members of minority or marginalized racial and ethnic groups. Racism can also intersect with other forms of discrimination, such as sexism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia.

How can we have conversations about racism without causing offense?

Having conversations about racism can be difficult and uncomfortable, but it’s important to approach them with empathy, respect, and a willingness to listen and learn from different perspectives. It’s important to avoid making assumptions, using offensive language or slurs, and being defensive. Instead, focus on asking open-ended questions, sharing personal experiences, and acknowledging the experiences and feelings of others.

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