Racial discrimination

Quick Facts: Who was Racial discrimination?

Subject:

Racial discrimination

Known for:

Systemic prejudice against individuals based on race, ethnicity, or national origin.

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Racial discrimination is any discrimination against any individual on the basis of their race, ancestry, ethnic or national origin, and/or skin color and hair type. Individuals discriminate by refusing to do business with, socialize with, or share resources with people of a certain group. Governments discriminate through statutory law or policy – for example through policies of racial segregation – disparate enforcement of laws, or disproportionate allocation of resources. Some jurisdictions have anti-discrimination laws which prohibit the government or individuals from being discriminated against based on race or other protected categories. Some institutions and laws use affirmative action to attempt to overcome or compensate for the effects of racial discrimination.

Career & Major Achievements

In some cases, this is simply enhanced recruitment of members of underrepresented groups; in other cases, there are firm racial quotas. Opponents of strong remedies like quotas characterize them as reverse discrimination, where members of a dominant or majority group are discriminated against. Racial boundaries can involve many factors (such as ancestry, physical appearance, national origin, language, religion, and culture), and can be set in law by governments, or may depend on local cultural norms. Discrimination based on skin color (measured for example on the Fitzpatrick scale) or hair texture (measured for example on a scale from 1a to 4c) is closely related to racial discrimination, as skin color and hair texture are often used as a proxy for race in everyday interactions, and is one factor used by legal systems that apply detailed criteria. For example, the Population Registration Act, 1950 was used to enforce the apartheid system in South Africa, and Brazil has set up boards to assign a racial category to people for the purpose of enforcing racial quotas.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Because of genetic variation, skin color, and other features of physical appearance can vary considerably even among siblings. Some children with the same parents either self-identify or are identified by others as being of different races. In some cases, the same person is identified as a different race on a birth certificate versus a death certificate. Different rules (such as hypodescent vs. hyperdescent) classify the same people differently, and for various reasons some people "pass" as a member of a different race than they would otherwise be classified in, possibly avoiding legal or interpersonal discrimination. A given race is sometimes defined as a set of ethnicities from populations in neighboring geographic areas (such as a continent like Australia or a subcontinental region like South Asia) that are typically similar in appearance.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1950: 1950 Milestone — For example, the Population Registration Act, 1950 was used to enforce the apartheid system in South Africa, and Brazil has set up boards to assign a racial category to people for the purpose of enforcing racial quotas.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Racial discrimination

True or False: “The Population Registration Act of 1950 was solely used to enforce apartheid in South Africa without any other societal applications.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While famously used for apartheid enforcement, the text notes that such acts often involve detailed criteria related to physical appearance and legal classification.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abdullah Gül — Historical peer (Born in 1950) (1950): Turkish politician who served as President (2007-2014) and Prime Minister.
• Agnes Smedley — Historical peer (Died in 1950) (1950): American journalist and activist supporting Indian Independence and Chinese Communism.
• Racial inequality in the United States — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Systemic disparities in power, wealth, and opportunity based on race in the U.S.
• Racial segregation — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: The separation of people into distinct racial or ethnic groups in daily life.
• Racial segregation in the United States — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Systemic separation of races in US life, law, and public services.
• Racial unrest in Cairo, Illinois — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Period of intense racial unrest and decline in Cairo, Illinois, spanning from 1967 to 1973.

Frequently Asked Questions about Racial discrimination