Racism is bad news. Any day. Anytime. Anywhere. Many people agree, and you might agree too, that simply saying “I’m not racist” isn’t enough anymore. People need to go the extra mile to be anti-racist, standing for and enforcing the opposite of racism wherever they can.

The reason racism needs to be actively fought against lies in a sad truth many individuals have failed to “figure out” in today’s current society: Racism is often subtle, unseen, and unnamed. It can shape entire institutions and go unidentified until someone exposes it. The truth is that most people haven’t grasped this sad reality.

Here are two more insights about racism to add to what you already know:

You Can Be Racist to Your Own Race

Yes, you can.

There is a common belief that minorities cannot be racist because they do not have the power to discriminate on a systemic level. However, it’s crucial to differentiate between different types of racism. For example, Black individuals like myself cannot systematically oppress our own kind, but we can hold racist ideologies that are harmful, even to our own race.

This is known as internalized racism. It’s a situation where you believe, for instance, that your race is inferior. Psychologists describe it as a form of internalized oppression, where a person from a minority group adopts the mindset of their oppressors.

What’s interesting is that internalized racism does not shield the minority person from experiencing racism. Instead, they might disconnect from their racial identity and community as a coping mechanism. It’s important to note that internalized racism within individuals is usually caused by larger systemic and external racist structures that shape minorities’ perceptions.

Facts are not Racist, but People can Interpret Them as Racist

Consider the following statement:

"Black or African Americans make up about 14% of the total American population. They also account for more than 50% of arrests for crimes such as murder, manslaughter, and robbery."

This statement describes factual data available on government databases. When you look at it, especially as a person of color, your first instinct might be to go on the defensive. When that happens, you might be interpreting facts as racist information.

Facts are just that—facts. These statistics are often corroborated by various departments in the U.S. judicial system. The key is in how we interpret these facts. For instance, instead of saying, “Black individuals are worse at following laws,” a more productive approach is to ask, “What systems are in place that contribute to these statistics? What systemic and structural practices affect African Americans, leading to such outcomes?”

This approach avoids the subtle racist interpretation and instead focuses on understanding and addressing the root causes.

Where have you seen or experienced subtle racism or racist interpretations of data, and how have you actively fought against it? Let me know in the comments below.

I hope this helps!