Title: A Definition and Overview of Systemic Racism
Headings: Definition of Systemic Racism in Sociology
Definition of Systemic Racism in Sociology
Beyond Prejudice and Micro-Aggressions
Definition of Systemic Racism
The Impoverishment of People of Color and Enrichment of White People
Vested Group Interests Among White People
Alienating Racist Relations Between White People and POC
The Costs and Burdens of Racism Are Borne by POC
The Racial Power of White Elites
The Power of Racist Ideas, Assumptions, and World Views
Resistance to Racism
Systemic Racism Is All Around Us and Within Us

Content: This leads to a serious and well-documented problem of routine discrimination in all areas of life, and the frequent dehumanization and marginalization of POC, including hate crimes, which serves to alienate them from society and hurt their overall life chances. Examples include discrimination against POC and preferential treatment of White students among university professors, more frequent and severe punishment of Black students in K-12 schools, and racist police practices, among many others. Ultimately, alienating racist relations makes it difficult for people of different races to recognize their commonalities, and to achieve solidarity in fighting broader patterns of inequality that affect the vast majority of people in society, regardless of their race. The Costs and Burdens of Racism Are Borne by POC
In his book, Feagin points out with historical documentation that the costs and burdens of racism are disproportionately borne by people of color and by Black people especially. Having to bear these unjust costs and burdens is a core aspect of systemic racism. These include shorter life spans, limited income and wealth potential, impacted family structure as a result of mass incarceration of Black and Latino people, limited access to educational resources and political participation, state-sanctioned killing by police, and the psychological, emotional, and community tolls of living with less, and being seen as “less than." POC are also expected by White people to bear the burden of explaining, proving, and fixing racism, though it is, in fact, White people who are primarily responsible for perpetrating and perpetuating it. The Racial Power of White Elites
While all White people and even many POC play a part in perpetuating systemic racism, it is important to recognize the powerful role played by White elites in maintaining this system. White elites, often unconsciously, work to perpetuate systemic racism via politics, law, educational institutions, the economy, and racist representations and the underrepresentation of people of color in mass media. This is also known as white supremacy.