When systems that people made discriminate against people because of their race, we call that structural racism. Structural racism is built into our systems — that means systems that are built racist, stay racist. While laws change, structural racism still exists in new and old ways. But when racism is hidden, it’s hard to prove it’s happening. That’s why it’s so important to talk about and actively work against structural racism. “What is Structural Racism?” explains how structural racism exists in the US today and the ongoing work to get rid of it.
This toolkit answers questions like:
- What is race?
- What is a social construct?
- What is “racism” versus “structural racism”?
- What are some ways we see structural racism in the U.S. today?
And more.
“What is Structural Racism?” is available in two versions:
- an Easy Read edition that uses pictures and large text
- a Plain Language version without accompanying graphics
There is also a video version of “What is Structural Racism?” available here.
To download the full Easy Read Version of “What is Structural Racism?” click here.
The Easy Read Edition is also split into parts. Click on the title of any of the parts below to download it:
These resources were made possible by generous support from the May & Stanley Smith Charitable Trust.