What is 'institutional racism'?

'Institutional racism' refers to the systematic discrimination that is built into the policies and practices of societal institutions, such as schools, the criminal justice system, healthcare, and the workplace. This type of racism is not solely based on individual beliefs or actions but is reflected in the way institutions operate and the disparities created as a result.

For example, if a school district's funding policies disproportionately affect schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods, this would illustrate how institutional racism can manifest. It highlights the ways in which societal structures can perpetuate inequality, even when individuals within those institutions may not harbor personal biases.

In contrast, the other options focus on personal bias, temporary trends, or individual actions, which do not capture the systemic nature of how racism can be ingrained in institutions and broader societal systems. Institutional racism represents a collective pattern of discrimination that has far-reaching implications on different racial groups, making it a more complex and impactful issue than individual acts of prejudice.