At the turn of the 20th century, sociologist and civil rights leader W. E. B. Du Bois was the first to synthesize natural and social scientific research to conclude that the concept of race was not a scientific category. Contrary to …show more content…
In turn, these perceptions may negatively influence a child’s physical and mental wellbeing by affecting biological functioning and promoting psychological distress that can be associated with risk-taking and unhealthy behaviors.
Racism is the belief in the superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice towards people based on their race or ethnicity. Say the word “racism” and many people imagine someone in a white hood, but racism comes in several forms, including individual or internalized racism, institutional racism, and structural racism. Individual or internalized racism is racism that exists within individuals. It is when one holds negative ideas about his/her own culture, even if unknowingly. Fear and distrust of a foreign ideology or one’s internalized sense of oppression/privilege are two examples of individual or internalized racism. Interpersonal racism is the racism that occurs between individuals. It is the holding of negative attitudes towards a different race or culture. The Jim Crow laws, which mandated segregation in all public facilities in the United States, are a perfect example of interpersonal