9.4d Institutional Racism

Institutional racism is the racism baked into the social structure — in laws, policies, and way of life. For example, school and workplace policies that restrict hairstyles more often worn by Black people, such as cornrows, Bantu knots, and locs, is institutional racism. These restrictions limit the full participation of Black men, women, and children in these spaces. Policies might not explicitly say that Black hairstyles are banned but may instead ban hairstyles more often worn by Black people. The outcome is that the policy discriminates. Moreover, even if policy does not ban these hairstyles, they are still perceived negatively. Experimental research concludes that employers evaluate Black women with natural hairstyles as less professional (Koval & Rosette, 2020). Hair-based discrimination is illegal in 27 states who have passed the CROWN Act (The CROWN Act, 2024).

Photo 9.14

A Black Women Wearing Her Hair Naturally in an Office