By Leonica Riley Erwin, LMSW The Social Work Concierge, LLC
Discussions about race often become clouded by confusion over key concepts. Two commonly misunderstood terms are internalized racism with reverse racism. While both terms involve race-based behavior or attitudes, they operate from entirely different positions of power, historical contexts, and social consequences. They stem from very different sources, affect groups differently, and have vastly different impact on affected communities. To move toward equity and healing, we must understand how systemic racism functions—and how both of these two terms maintain it.
🏛️ What Is Systemic Racism?
Racism is not merely individual bias or prejudice. It is the systemic, institutionalized advantage given to the dominate racial group over other groups of people. Systemic racism refers to institutional policies, cultural messages, and historical structures that advantage white people and disadvantage people of color. Systemic racism is not about individual intentions, personal bias or ignorance. It’s about outcomes and access. Systemic racism is embedded in society through our housing, education, healthcare, employment, criminal justice and political systems. This form of racism is enduring, normalized, and often invisible to those who benefit from it. In the U.S. and most Western nations, white people benefit — intentionally or not — from systems that were built on colonization, slavery, exploitation, and exclusion of non-white people. Internalized racism results from being marginalized by those same systems. Reverse racism, as it’s commonly used, mislabels a reaction to inequity as the inequity itself.
“Racism is a system of structuring opportunity and assigning value based on the social interpretation of how one looks.” — Dr. Camara Phyllis Jones (2000)
🧠 What Is Internalized Racism?
Internalized racism happens when people of color unconsciously absorb and believe the stereotypes, prejudice, and values that a racist society has against his or her own race or ethnicity. It is a psychological effect of living in a culture that devalues and dehumanizes marginalized identities. The dominant group’s values, beauty standards, and norms are elevated — and everything else is diminished.
Internalized racism is caused by generations of colonization, slavery, segregation, and other racial traumas. Media images that centers whiteness and villainizes people of color contribute to it. It is also attributed to socioeconomic policies that privilege white communities while simultaneously creating economic and social deserts in marginalized communities. Another leading cause of internalized racism are educational systems that devalue and omit Black, Latino, Indigenous, and Asian histories.
“Internalized racism is the result of being conditioned to believe in one’s inferiority and in the superiority of the dominant group.” — Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum
Believing lighter skin is more beautiful or more professional.
Avoiding cultural clothing, language, or hairstyles to fit into white-dominant environments.
Looking down on other people of color for “not acting right.”
Minimizing the role of racism in success or failure (“If I made it, anyone can”).
🔹 Examples of Internalized Racism:
A Black person believing lighter skin is more beautiful.
An Asian American being ashamed of their native language or accent.
A Latino parent discouraging their children from speaking Spanish in public.
A Native person distancing themselves from their culture to fit into white-dominant spaces.
💥 The Impact of Internalized Racism:
Internalized racism leads to self-doubt, low self-esteem, cultural shame, internalized oppression, and division within communities of color. It sustains white supremacy by reinforcing the idea that whiteness is superior. It results in people of color to policing themselves and others to conform to the norms that oppress them. Internalized racism also contributes to cultural alienation, colorism, and intergroup conflict within and between marginalized communities.
❌ What Is Reverse Racism?
Reverse racism is the belief that white people are the victims of systemic racism by people of color. It is often cited when white individuals feel uncomfortable, critiqued, or disadvantaged in discussions or policies addressing racial inequality—like affirmative action, diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and especially, calls for reparations.
🔹 Examples Often Labeled as “Reverse Racism”:
Being told to acknowledge one’s privilege or check one’s bias
A person of color getting a job in a company that values diversity as opposed to a white candidate
Feeling excluded from cultural events and affinity spaces designed for communities of color
🚫 Reality Check:
There is no systemic apparatus that disenfranchises white people as a group. These experiences may be uncomfortable or feel unfair on a personal level, but they are not examples of systemic racism. While individual prejudice against white people does exist, racism requires power and influence in addition to prejudice. People of color may express frustration, anger, or criticism of white systems. This is not racism—it is a response to it. People of color do not have the power to oppress white people as a group.
Racism is a social determinate of health that adversely impacts the quality of life of those who experience it. Understanding the harm that both internalized racism and allegations of reverse racism brings to communities of color is critical. Mislabeling social justice efforts as “reverse racism”, “reverse discrimination” or “woke” only invalidates efforts to dismantle white supremacy. More importantly, it results in long-lasting psychological damage through the mass re-traumatization of communities of color. Society must recognize that discomfort surrounding issues of diversity, equity and inclusion does not equate to the oppression of white people. Affirming that internalized racism is a debilitating condition and dispelling the myth of reverse racism would be a step towards the repairing the harm caused by systemic racism in the following ways:
Centering real harm: Internalized racism is a direct byproduct of the intentional systemic violence that has harmed communities of color throughout American history. In contrast, alleged incidents of reverse discrimination merely causes discomfort. The stress of not getting a job or admitted to a college of ones choice should never be conflated with the terror derived from your life being physically threatened by a lynch mob.
Focusing solutions: Effective anti-racism work requires clarity on who holds actually systemic power. Efforts to dismantle racism and all forms of social injustice must place emphasis on the lived experiences of exploited communities. This requires both cultural humility and emotional intelligence (known as EQ). EQ fosters self-awareness, empathy, and social skills and emotional regulation.
Promoting healing: Marginalized communities can only heal from racism when they’re free to embrace their identity without shame or conformity. Healing is a multifaceted process that involves addressing both the individual and systemic impacts of racial discrimination. It’s important to recognize that racism causes significant psychological trauma, often referred to as racial trauma or race-based traumatic stress (RBTS). It is an unrecognized form of PTSD (and a topic for another article).
🧭 Final Thought
Systemic racism is not a two-way street. Internalized racism is the internal wound left by white supremacy. “Reverse racism” is a deflection of that wound—a way to silence the realities of oppression and maintain the status quo. To evolve as a society, we must name racism accurately, heal what it has broken, and create systems where all identities are honored and can heal without condition. Here’s a comprehensive approach to healing from racism:
1. Acknowledge and Validate Your Experience:
Recognize Racial Trauma: Understand that experiences with racism, from overt acts to subtle microaggressions, can lead to real mental and emotional injury. It’s not your fault, and what you’re feeling is real.
Validate Your Emotions: Allow yourself to feel the range of emotions that come with experiencing racism, such as sadness, anger, anxiety, and hopelessness. Don’t try to rush through or numb them.
2. Seek Support and Community:
Connect with Trusted Individuals: Talk about your experiences with friends, family, or mentors who are open to honest conversations about race and racism and can offer support and understanding. Being seen and heard is crucial for healing.
Find Culturally Affirming Spaces: Seek out communities or groups where you feel safe, accepted, and loved for who you are. This can be immensely validating and help counter feelings of isolation.
Consider Professional Help: If you’re struggling to cope, mental health professionals specializing in racial trauma can provide valuable support. Look for culturally competent therapists who understand the unique impacts of racism. Resources like The Social Work Concierge, LLC Therapy for Black Girls, Therapy for Black Men, Therapy for Latinx, and Inclusive Therapists can help you find appropriate providers.
3. Practice Self-Care and Self-Love:
Engage in Activities You Enjoy: Prioritize self-care by engaging in activities that bring you joy, relaxation, and restoration. This can include hobbies, mindfulness, spiritual practices, or simply resting.
Limit Exposure to Negative Media: While staying informed is important, reduce your exposure to overwhelming or traumatizing news and social media content that depicts racial violence or discrimination.
Affirm Your Identity: Engage in identity affirmation practices to recognize and push back against internalized negative beliefs about yourself due to racism. Focus on your values, strengths, and the beauty of your identity.
Prioritize Physical Health: Racism’s chronic stress can impact physical health. Ensure you’re eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity.
Learn and Educate: Understand the history and systemic nature of racism. This knowledge can provide context and help dismantle internalized racism.
Engage in Activism: For some, taking action against racism can be empowering and a way to reclaim a sense of control. This could involve joining activist groups, advocating for policy change, or simply speaking up against injustice.
Set Boundaries: It’s okay to choose which conversations you engage in and to set limits on educating others about racism, especially if it becomes emotionally exhausting.
5. Address Internalized Racism:
Internalized racism occurs when individuals from marginalized groups unknowingly adopt negative stereotypes or beliefs about their own race.
Self-Reflection and Journaling:Reflect on any internalized biases and challenge negative self-talk.
Seek Diverse Perspectives: Actively seek out and learn from diverse experiences and viewpoints to counter harmful stereotypes.
Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with people who uplift and empower you.
Celebrate Your Culture:Learn about and celebrate your cultural heritage to foster pride and meaning.
Healing is an ongoing process, and it’s important to be patient and compassionate with yourself and others who do not understand your pain. Remember that you are not alone, and there are resources and communities available to support you on your journey, including The Social Work Concierge, LLC.
Tatum, B. D. (2003). Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? Basic Books.
Jones, C. P. (2000). “Levels of Racism: A Theoretic Framework and a Gardener’s Tale.” American Journal of Public Health, 90(8), 1212–1215.
Pyke, K. D. (2010). “What is Internalized Racial Oppression and Why Don’t We Study It?” Sociological Perspectives, 53(4), 551–572.
DiAngelo, R. (2018). White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. Beacon Press.
Crenshaw, K. (1991). “Mapping the Margins: Intersectionality, Identity Politics, and Violence Against Women of Color.” Stanford Law Review, 43(6), 1241–1299.
Sue, D. W., et al. (2007). “Racial Microaggressions in Everyday Life.” American Psychologist, 62(4), 271–286.
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