social differentiation by race

The concept of "race" emerged in North America and other parts of the world as a way to socially divide people based on perceived natural differences. This "racial worldview" includes beliefs that humanity can be divided into distinct biological races, that visible physical traits signify race, and that each race possesses unique qualities of temperament and intellect. Furthermore, it posits that races are inherently unequal, with a fixed hierarchy of superiority and inferiority, and that these attributes are inherited and unalterable. This ideology led to the institutionalization of inferior social status for people of African and Native American ancestry through laws and social practices.12

While the idea of biological race is now recognized as a cultural invention without scientific basis, racism categorizes people by physical traits to unfairly distribute societal goods and resources. This perpetuates discrimination through political, economic, and legal systems, reinforcing inequalities in wealth, education, healthcare, and civil rights. Institutional racism, often unconscious, is ingrained in systems and practices that result in the oppression of people of color. Examples include hiring and loan discrimination, voter suppression, and disparities in public services and sentencing.3