Overt racism is slowly decreasing. Discuss.
A multi-faceted phenomenon which isn’t going away
Racism today is a complex and multi-faceted phenomenon. The face of racism has evolved over the last decades and has taken many different forms, including through ethnic and religious discrimination.
“Directly” racist discourse appears to be slowly disappearing (due to the impact of legislation and the evolution of prevailing attitudes) and this discourse tends to be restricted to the language of extremist groups. However new subtle and insidious forms of discrimination are widespread throughout society.
From being a prejudice based on the belief that race is the primary factor defining human traits and abilities, racism has evolved to include less overt prejudicial behaviour, which can be more difficult to recognise, yet is often more severe due to its pervasive and persistent nature.
The ENAR understanding of Racism
Racism is the belief that the genetic factors which constitute race are a primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
Racism’s effects are called “racial discrimination.” In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or receive preferential treatment.