Racism occurs in many ways and can happen in many places. It includes prejudice, discrimination, or hatred toward another person because of his or her race, ethnic group, or nationality.
People often associate racism with acts of violence or harassment. However, it does not have to involve violence or intimidation. Take the names of races and jokes. Or consider situations in which people may be dismissed from their groups or activities because of their background.
Racism can be expressed through the actions and attitudes of people. It can also be seen in programs and institutions. But sometimes it may not be revealed at all. Not all prejudice is obvious. For example, someone might look at a list of job applicants and decide not to talk to people with certain surnames.
Racism is more than just words, beliefs, and actions. It includes all the barriers that prevent people from enjoying dignity and equality because of their race.
Adjective Words to Describe Racism
Following are adjectives for describing various forms of racism:
| Word | Meaning |
| anti | not in favor of |
| anti-black | discriminatory especially on the basis of race or religion |
| aversive | tending to repel or dissuade |
| black | marked by anger or resentment or hostility |
| blatant | without any attempt at concealment |
| colonial | of or relating to or characteristic of |
| cultural | denoting or deriving from or distinctive of the ways of living built up by a group of people |
| environmental | relating to the external conditions or surroundings |
| gendered | gendered readership |
| individual | separate and distinct from others of the same kind |
| institutional | relating to or constituting or involving an institution |
| internalized | incorporate within oneself; make subjective or personal |
| modern | belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages |
| overt | open and observable |
| pervasive | spreading throughout |
| scientific | conforming with the principles |
| southern | situated in or oriented toward the south |
| symbolic | using symbolism |
| systemic | affecting an entire system |
| unconscious | without conscious volition |
| violent | characterized by violence or bloodshed |
| virulent | harsh or corrosive in tone |