Institutionalized racial segregation

Date and country of first publication

2009
South africa

Definition

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Institutionalized racial segregation refers to the system in which laws, policies, and practices are put in place by the government or other institutions to enforce a separation between different racial or ethnic groups within a society.

In history, institutionalized racial segregation has taken various forms, such as Jim Crow laws in the United States, apartheid in South Africa, and the Indian caste system. These systems were designed to maintain racial or ethnic hierarchies, with one group being given superior rights and privileges while others were discriminated against and marginalized.

In such societies, segregation was not just a result of individual prejudices or biases but was legally enforced and supported by the state. This meant that racial or ethnic groups were forced to live separately, attend separate schools, use separate public facilities, and have limited access to resources and opportunities. It created a deeply unequal society and perpetuated systemic racism.

Institutionalized racial segregation has had long-lasting impacts, as it prevented social and economic progress for marginalized groups and perpetuated stereotypes and discrimination. It took many years and significant social and political movements to challenge and dismantle these systems of segregation.

Although many countries have officially abolished racial segregation, its legacy continues to affect societies today, as systemic racism can still be observed in various forms.

Further reading

Battersby-Lennard J. (2009) "Apartheid/Post Apartheid", International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, 167-173. Elsevier Inc.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00920-2 10.1016/B978-008044910-4.00920-2]

Jonker F. (2016) "Negotiating difference, imagining intimacy: The role of ‘intermediate’ racial masculinity in Egoli: Place of Gold", Communicatio, 42(4), pp. 11-26. Routledge. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2016.1240700 10.1080/02500167.2016.1240700]

Battersby J. (2019) "Apartheid/Postapartheid", International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, Second Edition, 169-175. Elsevier. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102295-5.10159-3 10.1016/B978-0-08-102295-5.10159-3]

Swart K.; Maralack D. (2021) "Black Lives Matter: perspectives from South African cricket", Sport in Society, 24(5), pp. 715-730. Routledge. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1080/17430437.2020.1819693 10.1080/17430437.2020.1819693]

Mwaura J.; Akpojivi U. (2022) "Imagine dying from an overseas disease, when you do not even own a passport: A critical analysis of Twitter conversations in the wake of COVID 19 in Kenya and South Africa", Journal of African Media Studies, 14(1), pp. 29-44. Intellect Ltd.. DOI: [htttp://doi.org/10.1386/jams_00063_1 10.1386/jams_00063_1]