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Individual Racism

Individual Racism: Individual or internalized racism lies within individuals. These are private manifestations of racism that reside inside the individual. Examples include prejudice, xenophobia, internalized oppression and privilege, and beliefs about race influenced by the dominant culture.

From Structural Racism, by Keith Lawrence, Aspen Institute on Community Change and Terry Keleher, Applied Research Center at UC Berkeley, for the Race and Public Policy Conference 2004

Definitions by Sharon Martinas, Fourth Revision Spring 1995


Institutional Racism

Institutional racism occurs within and between institutions. Institutional racism is discriminatory treatment, unfair policies and inequitable opportunities and impacts, based on race, produced and perpetuated by institutions (schools, mass media, etc.). Individuals within institutions take on the power of the institution when they act in ways that advantage and disadvantage people, based on race.

Example: A police officer treats someone with racial bias, engages in institutional racism, representing a law enforcement institution.

From Structural Racism, by Keith Lawrence, Aspen Institute on Community Change and Terry Keleher, Applied Research Center at UC Berkeley, for the Race and Public Policy Conference 2004

Definitions by Sharon Martinas, Fourth Revision Spring 1995


Internalized Racism

(1) The poison of racism seeping into the psyches of people of color, until people of color believe about themselves what whites believe about them -- that they are inferior to whites; (2) The behavior of one person of color toward another that stems from this psychic poisoning. Often called “inter-racial hostility;” and (3) The acceptance by persons of color of Eurocentric values. (See Harris and Ordoira, op. cit. pp. 304—3 16.)

From Structural Racism, by Keith Lawrence, Aspen Institute on Community Change and Terry Keleher, Applied Research Center at UC Berkeley, for the Race and Public Policy Conference 2004

Definitions by Sharon Martinas, Fourth Revision Spring 1995


Interpersonal Racism

Interpersonal racism occurs between individuals. Once private beliefs come into interaction with others, the racism is now in the interpersonal realm. Examples include public expressions of racial prejudice, hate, bias and bigotry between individuals.

From Structural Racism, by Keith Lawrence, Aspen Institute on Community Change and Terry Keleher, Applied Research Center at UC Berkeley, for the Race and Public Policy Conference 2004

Definitions by Sharon Martinas, Fourth Revision Spring 1995



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