6.4b White Supremacy
Nations using settler colonization often use a racialized social system called White supremacy (Bonilla-Silva, 2014). White supremacy is a social system which views White people as naturally superior to other racial groups. Individuals perpetuate racism, but racism is also “a broader system and structure of power” (Fleming, 2018, p. 12). This means that racism continues regardless of individual actions because it is systemic. Systemic racism consists of practices, policies, and procedures that are rooted within social institutions and that disadvantage people because of their perceived race. For example, schools are racially segregated because of racial discrimination in the housing market (see Chapter 9). Many students attend schools based on where they live. Therefore, because their neighborhoods are racially segregated, so too, are their schools. Today, 43% of students in K-12 public schools attend a school “where 75% or more students were of a single race or ethnicity” (U.S. Government and Accountability Office, 2022).
Photo 6.7
Nearly Half of U.S. Students Attend a School Where 75% of Students are of a Single Race or Ethnicity
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Many U.S. organizations – both private and public, have instituted diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs to expand the inclusion of underrepresented groups and correct for past discrimination by the organization. DEI efforts expanded as affirmative action programs became less popular and determined to be unconstitutional. In education settings, DEI programs have supported the inclusion of underrepresented racial and ethnic groups along with veterans, rural students, students with disabilities, and first-generation college students. Further, such programs also have helped historically advantaged groups, like men, in programs where they are underrepresented (like nursing).
In 2025, President Trump signed several executive orders related to ending DEI programs in public and private organizations. These orders have affected K-12 and colleges. Executive orders are directives from a president (or a governor) and are often treated as law, even though they are not law as only Congress has the authority to make law (ABA, 2021). However, many organizations and education institutions have ended their DEI programs because of these anti-DEI executive orders.
Moreover, since 2023, 29 states and the U.S. Congress have introduced 134 bills restricting DEI at colleges and universities (79 of which have not been approved) (Chronicle Staff, 2025). Anti-DEI legislation has sought to ban (some successfully) diversity statements, required courses related to racial or gender diversity, and offices and positions focused on DEI (Chronicle Staff, 2025).