What is structural racism?

Structural racism is a form of structural or systematic violence which occurs when the structures of a society contribute to or encourage the oppression of a particular group of people. Most often when we talk about structural racism in the United States, we are referring to the elements of society like healthcare, education, and governmental powers which put people of color (PoC) at a disadvantage. 

Structural racism in the United States, and elsewhere, manifests in...

Structural racism is a form of structural or systematic violence which occurs when the structures of a society contribute to or encourage the oppression of a particular group of people. Most often when we talk about structural racism in the United States, we are referring to the elements of society like healthcare, education, and governmental powers which put people of color (PoC) at a disadvantage. 

Structural racism in the United States, and elsewhere, manifests in a number of ways. Some of the most evident forms are the high rate of arrests and convictions of people of color (especially young, black men) in situations that would likely not result in arrest or conviction for a white person. Education is an area where students suffer from the history of systemic racism and are trapped in reproducing it. For example, if a young student of color comes from a low-socioeconomic status, their parents may have to work several jobs to earn enough money to care for their family. Stress in the household contributes to stress for the child and makes it more difficult for them to learn. Additionally, they may not receive support in their education at home or be discouraged from extracurricular activities. It is a sad truth that the education of young people of color is still valued as less than and even discouraged when compared to the education of young white people. It is systems of oppression (whether explicit or implicit) like devaluation of the education of people of color that contributes to structural racism.

An emerging topic of study in the field of public health focuses on the was in which people embody their socioeconomic class, which is often tied to racial or ethnic identity. The embodiment of race, class, and ethnicity refers to the way the circumstances of our lives shape our physical bodies and health. Many people of low-socioeconomic status suffer from poor nutrition due to lack of access to food and/or lack of education regarding health. A lifetime of poor nutrition increases risk of heart disease, diabetes, and chronic illness. It also makes an individual less likely to perform well in school or at work, perpetuating the cycle of poverty and poor health.