The four levels of racism
Racism takes many forms, all of which harm marginalized communities and society as a whole. As Maya Angelou said, “The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free.”
Understanding and addressing all forms of racism is essential to creating a more equitable world.
Individual racism
Individual racism refers to the beliefs, attitudes, and actions of individuals that reinforce or perpetuate racism, whether intentional or not.
Examples include:
- Using racial stereotypes or telling racist jokes.
- Avoiding people of colour while not avoiding white individuals in similar situations.
- Making assumptions about skills or competence based on someone’s name.
- Declining to hire someone because “something doesn’t feel right.”
- Believing in the inherent superiority of one racial group over others.
Interpersonal racism
Interpersonal racism occurs when private beliefs are expressed in interactions between individuals.
Examples include:
- Rallies or protests targeting a specific racialized group.
- Public expressions of racial prejudice, bias, or bigotry.
Institutional racism
Institutional racism refers to policies and practices within organizations that create unequal outcomes for different racial groups. These policies may not mention race explicitly, but they often advantage white people while disadvantaging people of colour.
Examples include:
- City sanitation policies that concentrate environmental hazards in communities of colour.
- Historic “redlining” policies that restricted home loans in predominantly Black neighborhoods.
- Child welfare practices that disproportionately place Indigenous children in foster care.
Systemic racism
Systemic racism refers to the interconnected ways individual, interpersonal, institutional, and structural racism work together as a system. These levels include:
- Individual/Interpersonal: Racism within personal beliefs and interactions.
- Institutional: Racism within organizations and systems of power.
- Structural: Racism across institutions and society as a whole.
The terms “systemic racism” and “structural racism” are often used interchangeably, though structural analyses tend to emphasize historical, cultural, and social factors that shape current systems.
Individual learning identities
Self-reflection is an important part of anti-racism work. Each of us carries multiple identities, such as race, gender, culture, sexual orientation, abilities, and more, that shape how we experience the world.
These identities can connect us to communities and influence how we see ourselves, how others see us, and the opportunities available to us.
Reflecting on your identities
Take a few minutes to reflect on the prompts below. Consider how your identity shapes your experiences and influences how you engage with your community.
Personal identity
- People can call me: _____
- I am most affirmed when people use: _____ and _____ pronouns.
- The places I call home are: _____
- I live in a: _____
- I like to spend my time: _____
- I have learned to: _____
- I am naturally talented at: _____
- I celebrate my birth by: _____
- My loved ones are: _____
- I am always worried about: _____
- Conflict causes me to: _____
- When people look into my eyes, they will see: _____
- I love spending time with: _____
- What brings me hope is: _____
Social identity
- The country that I currently live in: _____
- My racialized identity is: _____
- My ethnicity is: _____
- My worldview or political affiliation is: ______
- My sex assigned at birth is: _____
- My gender is: _____
- My sexuality is: _____
- My physical ability is: _____
- My mental health status is: _____
- My family’s socio-economic (or class) status is: _____
- My current economic stability is: _____
- My citizenship is: _____
- My home language is: _____
- My highest level of education is: _____
After reflecting on your personal and social identities, consider these questions:
- Which identities do you think about most often?
- Which bring you pride or confidence?
- Which do you hide from others?
- Which have you never considered might impact someone else’s experience?
- How can one of your identities help advance equity and inclusion?
These questions can reveal personal biases and how they shape daily interactions. Awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.
Checking your privilege
Our identities shape how we experience the world, sometimes granting privilege, other times creating barriers.
Privilege can show up in many ways:
- Some identities (e.g., race, gender) are highly visible, while others (e.g., socioeconomic background) are less apparent but still impactful.
- We can hold identities that both privilege us in some areas and disadvantage us in others.
Reflect on these questions:
- Do you have access to resources others may not?
- Can you avoid uncomfortable conversations or hide parts of your identity?
- Do any identities make you feel unsafe?
- Have you received unearned advantages others struggle to access?
- Are you able to remain uninformed about others’ pain or lived experiences?
Privilege is often beyond our control, but recognizing it helps us understand inequities and work toward change.
Intersectionality
According to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, intersectionality describes how multiple identities, such as race, gender, culture, socioeconomic status, and more, overlap to shape unique experiences within existing systems of power.
People can hold identities that both grant privilege and create barriers. These intersections influence how individuals experience racism, privilege, and opportunity. For example, a white, heterosexual woman may face gender and economic challenges while not considering the impacts of racial and sexual orientation privilege. Conversely, an Indigenous, queer, neurodiverse woman may experience multiple, compounding barriers.
When considering intersectionality in anti-racism and equity work, reflect on:
- What are your identities, privileges, and positions of power?
- Are you directly impacted by the issue, or should you focus on listening and amplifying others?
- How does your position influence your role in this work?
- Who holds power and privilege, and how has that changed over time?