May 1, 2024
Updated June 21, 2025
24 minute read
Understanding Racism: A Comprehensive Overview
Racism is a complex and deeply rooted issue that manifests on both individual and systemic levels. At its core, racism involves prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against a person or people on the basis of their membership of a particular racial or ethnic group, typically one that is a minority or marginalized. It extends beyond individual attitudes to encompass societal structures, policies, and practices that create and maintain racial hierarchies, resulting in disparities in power, resources, and opportunities. Understanding racism is crucial for anyone seeking to comprehend contemporary social dynamics, historical legacies, and the ongoing pursuit of equity and justice.
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Find a path to becoming a Racism. Learn more at:
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Reading list
We've selected 15 books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Racism.
Engages the personal experiences of racial segregation in the 1950s and 1960s, and is one of the most frequently read books on racism in the US.
Won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and provided empirical evidence for the existence of mass incarceration in the US, which major driver of racial inequality.
Provides activities to students in order to help them organize discussions to talk about race and racial inequality, especially with white people.
Won the 2016 National Book Award for Non-Fiction and provides a historical accounting of racist ideas in the US, from its founding to its present-day.
National Book Award Winner and provides a very personal account of racism in the US, using vivid imagery and metaphor to delve into the history of racial oppression.
Provides an examination of the history of racism in the US, with a particular focus on the criminalization of Black Americans.
Is based on years of research and won the 2018 National Book Award for Non-Fiction; it provides a historical account of racial segregation and the role of government in promoting it.
This book, which won the 1997 Bancroft Prize, provides a detailed historical examination of the housing and mortgage lending practices in Detroit, and how these were used to create and maintain racial segregation.
Provides a historical account of the concept of whiteness in the US, and how it has been used to oppress Black Americans.
Is based on the author's experiences as a lawyer focusing on representing the poor, and provides information on the flaws of the criminal justice system and its role in racial inequality.
Won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction and tells the story of the Great Migration of Black Americans from the rural South to the urban North.
Provides a concise overview of the history of racism, from its origins to its present-day manifestations.
Provides a comprehensive overview of racial justice in the US, covering a wide range of topics, including history, law, and policy.
Provides a personal account of racism in the US, and explores its impact on individuals and society.
Provides a philosophical examination of racism, arguing that it form of social contract that benefits whites at the expense of non-whites.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/topic/jao0k9/racis
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