The Myth of Institutional Racism

Progressives often blame difference of outcome on “institutional racism.” However, it’s always up to the individual.

Examining the driving factors behind wealth disparities between racial groups in America reveals a truth much more complex than the left would suggest.

First off, it is important to clearly define what people mean when they say “institutional racism” or “systemic racism.” Institutional racism is best defined as racism perpetrated by government entities. However, since most people, including people on the left, acknowledge that there is no law or government entity explicitly discriminating minorities in modern America, the definition of “institutional” or “systemic” racism has shifted over time. When the left cries out about “institutional racism”, they are referring to people of power and influence who have an unconscious bias against minority groups, elongating the pathway to success for all minorities. This argument essentially shifts the focus away from personal choice and responsibility by spreading the idea that non-whites have a limited control over their lives and that the “system” is cheating them. It also accuses people of being racist without evidence, by calling people out on unconscious bias, which is an unprovable and unidentifiable concept.

It is undoubtedly true that the United States has a history of institutional oppression against minority groups and that this history has an effect on how some individuals are situated today. Some people are born in low-income households, while others may be born in wealthy families. This does not change the fact that everyone plays by the same rules in America today; any abled individual can rise up in society with hard work and responsible decision-making. One must understand that inequality in today’s society does not mean injustice; it may be easy to simply attribute such disparities to systemic racism in the modern world, but the evidence unveils a far more complicated reality.