Racism takes different forms.

Internalized racism exists at the level of personal racial biases that can be consciously or unconsciously held, which can influence not only what we say and do, but also what we don’t say or do.

Interpersonal racism exists at the level of overt racial bias expressed in the things individuals say and do to others — from racial slurs to violence.

Institutional racism exists at the level of institutional policies and practices that discriminate against marginalized racial groups — from discriminatory hiring and promotion in the workplace to unequal funding or educational opportunities in school systems. A local example was the historical exclusion of people of color from owning homes in Bellingham.

Systemic racism or structural racism exists when the cumulative and compounding effects of all the forms of racism identified above systematically privilege dominant racial groups while undermining the well-being and opportunities of others. A local example is the disproportionately low level of business ownership in Bellingham by people of color.

Many people think about racism primarily at the internalized and  interpersonal levels. Institutional and systemic expressions of racism can be harder to recognize. To recognize these in Bellingham and Whatcom county, we need to begin asking questions such as:

How do employment rates among people of color and white people compare in this area?

What are the suspension and graduation rates among students of color in our local schools?

How often do people of color get pulled over by police or receive extra scrutiny in stores, compared to white people?

What are the demographic characteristics of the most desirable neighborhoods in this area?

Who has access to affordable housing and health care in this area?

And why is this area so white anyways?