Bell , Derrick. "Defining Race Racism and Racial Discrimination." Speaking Truth to
Power.
N.p.,
31
Dec
2010.
Web.
13
Jan
2012.
<http://academic.udayton.edu/race/01race/race08.htm>.
Regardless of race, humans are the same. The differences between humans come about
for “geographical, historical, political, economic, social and control factors.” These factors do
not qualify as a ranking system for which race is better than the other. If they are used to do so, it
conforms to the idea of racism.
According to Derrick Bell, any action or attitude that subordinates and group of people
based upon race, may it be premeditated or not, is racism. There are two types of racism,
individual and institutional. Institutional racism is committed when a race is limited to power and
opportunities. Those limitations are found in schools, real estate, companies, religious officials,
and in the media. When orders of operations are established, these limitations are put in place.
As a result, institutional racism could be overlooked without close examination.
Then there is racial discrimination. Racial discrimination, the more commonly known
discrimination between the two, is when a person is treated unfairly based upon what race or
national origin he or she identifies with. How much power a person has will determine how far
they go with racism. That person may have control over social benefits, facilities, services, and
opportunities.
Institutional racism and racial discrimination have formed racism. In the end, humans are
in the same category of species and have common origins. Therefore, all humans should have the
right to be treated fairly and have equal opportunity.
Doane, Ashley. "What is Racism?." . University of Hartford, 2006. Web. 13 Jan 2012.
The author of What is Racism examines the definition of racism. The author believes that
if racism is when a person is prejudice or discriminatory, then that could make anyone a racist.
When it comes to institutional discrimination, the author feels different. She believes that if
racism correlates to institutional power then whites, the dominant group in America, would be
the only racist because they are the majority. The article goes on to explain that racism is evident
amongst all racial groups. Her writing states that racism occurs between the oppressor and the
oppressed. In America, it would be had to define racism with different conceptions on who is
racist.