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RACISM VOCABULARY TERMS

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PREJUDICE

Pre-judging or making a decision about a person or group of people without sufficient knowledge. Prejudicial thinking is frequently based on stereotypes.

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2005 ADL

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STEREOTYPE

An oversimplified generalization about a person or group of people without regard for individual differences. Even seemingly positive stereotypes that link person or group to a specific positive trait can have negative consequences.

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2005 ADL

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RACISM

  • Racial prejudice, [conscious or unconscious, intentional, or unintentional, individual/group/ institutional] and systematic power to dominate, exclude, discriminate against or abuse targeted groups of people based on a designation of race, which is perceived to have lower racial status.

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INSTITUTIONAL RACISM

The way institutions systematically afford white people an array of social, political, and economic advantages, while marginalizing people of color. These institutions generate and maintain racial discrimination, segregation, and inequalities of opportunity that keep people of color apart from the mainstream of American economic and political life.

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NSDC: ((National Staff Development Council) Cameron and Nickerson: Expanding Racial Consciousness

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DISCRIMINATION

The denial of justice and fair treatment by individuals and institutions in many area as, including employment, education, housing, banking and political rights. Discrimination is an action that can follow prejudicial thinking.

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2005 ADL

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PRIVILEGE

  • Definition:
      • An advantage, right, or benefit that is not available to everyone

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      • The rights and advantages enjoyed by a relatively small group of people, usually as a result of wealth or social status

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      • A special treat or honor; to grant special rights or benefits to somebody or something

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WHITE PRIVILEGE

Set of advantages and/or immunities that White people benefit from on a daily basis beyond those common to all others; it refers to advantages White people receive by virtue of the way they look—their appearance.

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McIntosh says it is an “invisible package” of unearned assets that one can cash in every day.

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SCAPEGOATING

Blaming an individual or group for something based on that person’s or group’s identity when, in reality, the person or group is not responsible. Prejudicial thinking and discriminatory acts can lead to scape-goating.

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2005 ADL

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COLORBLIND

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Makes race irrelevant and invisible by erasing racial categories and ignoring differences to achieve an illusory (misleading) state of equality. A belief in the sameness of humans can deny the existence of differences.

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NSDC: (National Staff Development Council) Cameron and Nickerson: Expanding Racial Consciousness

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