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Institutional Racism

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Institutional Racism

Abstract
Many people associate racism with bigoted individuals and radical groups on the borders of society. Shirley Better argues that racism is much larger than negative attitudes and that it touches the very core of our lives as Americans. In this paper we will discuss the model of institutional racism and different aspects of it.
Introduction
Institutional racism is a special form of racism. It received its name because it occurs in institutions, such as governmental and public organizations, commercial companies, educational establishments, etc. As opposed to individual racism, or some other forms of racism, institutional racism is unique in terms of being more open to the public. While other forms of racism occur between individuals or groups of individuals outside workplace or another institution, people involved in institutional racism express their discriminatory attitudes literally in front of the eyes of the public or members of the institution, although they might try doing it secretly.
“Racism persists because dominant groups are unwilling to acknowledge, let alone give up, the benefits of whiteness. Through numerous examples, Institutional Racism demonstrates how inequality and racial exclusion are embedded within the fabric of American society. Better explores how racism has restricted equal access to educational opportunities, employment, and housing, and she considers the influence of racism in the criminal justice system. Beyond detailing the sometimes subtle institutional causes and pernicious effects of racism, Better offers numerous strategies for individuals and groups as they seek to combat this pervasive social problem”.(Better 2008)

Analysis
The institutional racism model that Shirley Better introduces has three key components. First is an economic privilege, second is social privilege and

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