Systemic Racism

Systemic racism occurs when an institution or set of institutions working together creates or maintains racial inequity. It can act as a systemic barrier which impacts how people are treated based on how they are racially perceived in society. 

An organization that upholds systemic racism and barriers can be doing so unintentionally, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that people within the organization are racist. It is often caused by hidden institutional biases in policies, practices and processes that privilege or disadvantage people based on race or other identity markers. 

Individuals and institutions can all play a role in maintaining and reinforcing systemic barriers.

Individual Racism Example: According to a study conducted looking at the Chinese population in Kenya, estimated at around 40,000, many arrive with hierarchical views of culture and race that tend to place Africans at the bottom (source). This leads to discrimination in employment where The Standard, a Kenyan newspaper, described an atmosphere of “neocolonialism” for Kenyan railway workers under Chinese management. Some have been subjected to demeaning punishment while Kenyan engineers have been prevented from driving the train, except when journalists are present (source).

Institutional Racism Example: Hiring policies are charged by what knowledge an institution and/or society considers valuable. While hiring requirements serve critical purposes in many circumstances, these policies can often discriminate against groups of people by determining that only one way of getting the desired experience is valuable. 

If, for instance, the requirement is that a candidate has experience in creating new research that has been reviewed by experts in the field, why does a candidate receive higher rating for a Western journal, than a candidate who has a publication in a public-education journal that has undergone a community-review process?

Systemic Racism Example: Black students were three times more likely to be suspended than white students, according to data released to the Star by the Toronto District School Board (Source). In Edmonton, Alberta, Una Momolu was racially targeted by their Catholic School when brought in to address the racist targeting of her eleven-year-old son, Emmell Summerville, who was accused of gang ties by his teachers when he wore a durag to school (Source). This puts black parents in Canada in a position where they must disproportionately advocate for their children in race-related incidents. This requires a time/labour commitment from the applicant which may impact their ability to work and the amount of time that they take off work. Imagine the ways in which this compounds uniquely for black Canadian parents into different barriers and privileges when trying to access a job, and when going through the interview process.

Solution to Systemic Racism?: Anti-Racism

Creating Shared Language

Anti-racism is often confused with diversity and multiculturalism as they all share the goal of creating more open and respectful societies. These varied approaches prioritize the idea that as human beings with diverse lived experiences, we need to build communities where all of these identities are supported in blossoming and leading fulfilling lives. These terms, however, are different and should not be used interchangeably.

An anti-racism approach acknowledges that systemic racism exists, undertakes racial disparity analyses and actively confronts – based on evidence – the unequal power dynamics between groups and the structures that sustain it, and aims for equitable outcomes. 

• It centers racism: Anti-racism confronts, acknowledges, names and addresses racism with the goal of addressing racism head-on.

• It is intersectional: Anti-racism includes how race and other identity markers influence someone’s social location and treatment. 

• It addresses power: Anti-racism highlights and seeks to transform unequal power relations between racialized peoples and the dominant group, and level the playing-field. 

• It is proactive: Anti-racism is about taking active, conscious steps to make change and promote racial equity, rather than simply avoiding being racist.