57 Facts About Racism (in-depth)
Racism is one of the most enduring and destructive forces in human society. Although often framed as individual acts of hatred or ignorance, racism is much more deeply rooted. It is systemic, structural, and woven into the foundations of nations, economies, and daily life. From the earliest days of colonial conquest to the modern realities of economic inequality, policing disparities, and health crises, racism continues to define opportunities, shape institutions, and harm millions across the world.
Before we can address racism effectively, we must first understand the many ways it shapes lives, systems, and histories. The following 57 facts offer a clear and evidence-based view of racism’s enduring presence and impact. Each fact sheds light on a different aspect of the problem, helping to build a fuller and more honest understanding of the challenges we face.
1. Race Is a Social Construct, Not a Biological Reality
Modern science and anthropology have established that “race” is not a biological fact but a social and political construct. Human populations are not genetically distinct groups; the concept of distinct “races” was created in recent centuries largely to justify colonialism and oppression. In other words, racial categories as we know them have no inherent genetic or scientific basis, but they have real social consequences due to racism. Source: American Association of Physical Anthropologists, 2019 (AAPA Statement)
2. Humans Are 99.9% Genetically Identical Across Races
The Human Genome Project and other genetic research have confirmed that all humans share more than 99% of the same DNA. There is no gene or cluster of genes that delineates one “race” from another. In fact, scientists find greater genetic variation within any given racial group than between different groups, underscoring that biologically, humans belong to one race. Claims of significant genetic differences tied to race are not supported by genomic science. Source: National Institutes of Health, 2023
3. The Idea of “Race” Arose in Recent Centuries for Social Reasons
Historians and scientists note that the division of humans into fixed “races” is a relatively recent development. The modern concept of race took shape during the 15th–18th centuries, alongside European colonial expansion and the transatlantic slave trade. It was during this period that societies began codifying racial categories to justify slavery and inequality, as opposed to ancient times when people were classified by language, religion, or status. In short, race as we know it was invented to serve political purposes, not discovered as a biological truth. Source: American Anthropological Association, 1998
4. Ancient Civilizations Did Not Classify People by Skin Color
In the ancient world, there was no equivalent to the modern racial hierarchy based on skin color. For example, Greek and Roman societies recognized differences in culture and status (such as “Greek vs. barbarian” or free vs. enslaved) but did not divide people into racial categories of “white” or “black” as later societies did. A study of ancient Greece concludes that color prejudice – the notion of “Black” and “White” races – was essentially absent; those classifications are a modern invention. This shows that dividing humans by race is a historical development, not a timeless human norm. Source: Leeds University (African Studies Bulletin), 2022
5. Early “Scientific” Racism Tried to Justify Racial Hierarchies
In the 19th century, some scientists attempted to prove that races were inherently unequal. For instance, American physician Samuel George Morton collected hundreds of human skulls in the 1830s–1840s and measured cranial capacity, claiming that Europeans had larger skulls (and thus higher intellect) than Africans. Morton’s data, however, were interpreted with profound racist bias – his conclusions reflected prejudice rather than any true difference. Modern analyses have debunked these studies, showing that they were marred by false assumptions. Such early race science was used to reinforce social hierarchies, even though it has since been discredited. Source: University of Pennsylvania, 2018
6. The “One-Drop Rule” Enforced a Black/White Divide in America
For much of U.S. history, race was governed by the “one-drop rule” – the idea that any person with even one Black ancestor (“one drop of black blood”) should be classified as Black. This rule of hypodescent ensured that mixed-race individuals were assigned to the lower-status racial group. It originated in the slavery and Jim Crow eras (dating back to an 1662 Virginia law) and was upheld well into the 20th century – as late as 1985, a Louisiana court used the one-drop rule to bar a woman from legally identifying as white. The one-drop rule illustrates how race was a legal and social tool to maintain white supremacy. Source: Harvard Gazette, 2010
7. Interracial Marriage Was Illegal in Parts of the U.S. Until 2000
Laws banning interracial marriage (anti-miscegenation laws) persisted in the United States for most of its history. Such laws, first enacted in colonial times, were struck down nationally by the Supreme Court in Loving v. Virginia (1967). Amazingly, some state bans stayed on the books for decades after: Alabama became the last state to officially remove its anti-miscegenation law in the year 2000. In South Carolina, voters did not overturn a similar law until 1998 – and at that time, 38% of voters still opposed allowing interracial marriage. This demonstrates how recently racist marriage barriers endured. Source: The Washington Post, 2015
8. Racial Terror Lynchings Claimed Thousands of Black Lives
After the Civil War, white supremacists used lynching – mob murder, often by hanging – to terrorize Black Americans, especially in the U.S. South. Between 1882 and 1968, over 4,700 people were lynched in the United States, the vast majority of them Black men, women, and even children who were brutally killed without trial. These killings were often public spectacles and went unpunished by authorities. Lynching was a tool of racial intimidation and maintained Jim Crow-era racial subjugation. Source: Equal Justice Initiative, 2017
(Explanation: The Equal Justice Initiative documented 4,743 lynchings in that period.)
9. The Transatlantic Slave Trade Enslaved Over 12 Million Africans
The transatlantic slave trade was one of history’s greatest crimes. From the 16th through 19th centuries, European traders forcibly transported about 12.5 million African men, women, and children across the Atlantic Ocean to enslave them in the Americas. About 10.7 million survived the horrific voyage known as the Middle Passage – meaning roughly 1.8 million died due to the appalling conditions on slave ships. This mass forced migration and enslavement had a profound and lasting impact on Africa and the Americas. Source: Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, 2014
10. European Colonization Decimated Indigenous Populations
The arrival of Europeans in the Americas triggered a catastrophic decline in Indigenous populations. Historians estimate that between 1492 and 1600, about 90% of the native peoples of the Americas died from a combination of diseases, war, enslavement, and famine brought by colonial contact. This is often termed the “Great Dying.” Roughly 55 million Indigenous people perished in that century – a scale of depopulation that caused entire civilizations to collapse. It represents one of the largest demographic catastrophes in human history, directly tied to racism and colonial expansion. Source: University College London (via Quaternary Science Reviews), 2019
11. The Holocaust Was Fueled by Racist Ideology
The Holocaust (1941–1945) is a stark example of racism taken to its extreme. Nazi Germany, driven by a racist ideology of Aryan supremacy, systematically murdered approximately 6 million Jewish people – about two-thirds of Europe’s Jewish population – along with millions of others deemed “racially inferior,” including Roma (Gypsies), Slavic peoples, and others. This genocide was state-sponsored and meticulously organized. The Nazis’ racial theories cast Jews and other groups as biologically subhuman, which was used to justify mass extermination. Source: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
12. Apartheid in South Africa Enforced Systemic Racism by Law
From 1948 to 1994, South Africa’s government enacted apartheid, a legal system of strict racial segregation and discrimination. Under apartheid, the white minority (roughly 15% of the population) held nearly all political power and economic privilege, while the Black majority was denied basic rights. Black South Africans were forced to live in separate areas, attend separate schools, use separate facilities, and could not vote or move freely under a pass system. The international community condemned apartheid as a crime against humanity for embedding racism into law. It was ultimately dismantled in the early 1990s after decades of resistance. Source: Britannica, 2020
(Explanation: Britannica describes how apartheid systematically oppressed the nonwhite population of South Africa.)
13. Racism Has Staggering Economic Costs
Racial discrimination doesn’t only hurt individuals – it also carries a huge economic cost for society. A recent analysis estimated that racism costs the U.S. economy about $2 trillion per year. These losses stem from factors like discriminatory hiring and pay, lower educational opportunities, poorer health outcomes, and unequal access to capital for people of color, which together reduce overall productivity and growth. Put simply, bias and exclusion are enormously expensive, and eliminating systemic racism would benefit the economy as a whole. Source: W.K. Kellogg Foundation, 2018
14. The Racial Wealth Gap in America Is Enormous
In the United States, white households possess far greater wealth on average than Black or Latino households – a disparity built up over generations. As of recent data, the median wealth of white families is roughly 10 times higher than that of Black families. For example, one analysis found median net worth around $142,000 for a white household compared to about $11,000 for a Black household. This wealth gap is a result of historical and ongoing factors like inherited assets, home ownership advantages, and discrimination in lending and employment. Source: Pew Research Center, 2014
15. Black Families Earn Significantly Less Income Than White Families
Beyond wealth, there is also a large racial income gap. In the U.S., Black households have a median annual income much lower than white households. For instance, the median Black household income is around $30,000–$40,000, which is roughly half the median income of white households (around $67,000). This gap persists even when controlling for education levels and other factors. Lower earnings limit the ability of Black families to save and build wealth, perpetuating economic disparities. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2019
16. People of Color Are More Likely to Live in Poverty
Racism contributes to higher poverty rates among minority groups. In the United States, poverty disproportionately affects non-white communities. As one example, about 23% of Native Americans live below the poverty line – the highest poverty rate of any racial group – compared to roughly 8–10% of white Americans. Similarly, Black and Hispanic Americans have significantly higher poverty rates (often around 20% or more) than whites. These statistics reflect unequal access to opportunities, jobs, and generational wealth. Source: U.S. Census Bureau (via NCRC), 2018
17. Black and Hispanic Children Face Much Higher Poverty Rates
The racial poverty gap is especially stark for children. Children of color are far more likely to grow up in poverty than white children. For example, 32–38% of Black children and about one-third of Hispanic children in the U.S. live in poverty, compared to only 12% of white children. Growing up in poverty often means less access to quality education, healthcare, and safe neighborhoods, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage. Reducing racism and inequality would markedly improve outcomes for millions of children. Source: National Geographic, 2020
18. Historic Housing Policies (“Redlining”) Locked Minorities Out of Home Ownership
In the 20th century, racist housing policies systematically denied nonwhite Americans the chance to own homes and build wealth. From the 1930s to 1960s, federal agencies and banks engaged in “redlining” – refusing to insure or approve mortgages in neighborhoods with Black or other minority residents. During that period, over 98% of federally backed home loans went to white homebuyers, effectively excluding Black families from suburban home ownership opportunities. This policy created lasting residential segregation and is a major reason for today’s racial wealth gap (since home equity is a key source of wealth). Source: The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein, 2017
19. White Homeownership Far Exceeds Black Homeownership
Due in part to historical discrimination like redlining, there is a large gap in homeownership today. Around 72% of white American households own their home, compared to only about 42% of Black households (and roughly 46% of Hispanic households). Homeownership is a primary way families build wealth and financial stability. This racial disparity in owning property means Black and Latino families have had fewer opportunities to accumulate equity and pass on intergenerational wealth. Source: Urban Institute analysis of U.S. Census data, 2017
20. U.S. Schools Remain Strongly Segregated by Race
More than six decades after Brown v. Board of Education (the 1954 Supreme Court case that outlawed school segregation), American schools are still de facto segregated. Over one-third of students attend schools where the vast majority of their peers are of the same race. In the 2020–2021 school year, 18+ million students went to a predominantly single-race/ethnicity school, and about 14% of all students were in schools that were almost 100% one race. Minority students, especially Black and Latino, are often concentrated in high-poverty schools with fewer resources. This ongoing segregation reflects persistent residential segregation and inequitable school districting. Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office, 2022
21. Job Applicants with “White-Sounding” Names Get More Callbacks
Racial bias in employment has been demonstrated by landmark studies. In a widely cited experiment, researchers sent out identical résumés to employers, differing only in the name of the applicant. Résumés with traditionally white-sounding names (like “Emily” or “Greg”) were about 50% more likely to receive a callback for an interview than identical résumés with Black-sounding names (like “Lakisha” or “Jamal”). This reveals that racial discrimination in hiring persists, with employers (perhaps unconsciously) favoring applicants they perceive as white. Source: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2003
22. Black Workers Face Higher Unemployment Rates
In the labor market, African Americans consistently experience higher unemployment than whites. Black workers in the U.S. have an unemployment rate approximately twice that of white workers, on average, in both good economic times and bad. For example, even at points of low overall unemployment, if the white unemployment rate is 3%, the Black unemployment rate tends to be around 6% (give or take). This gap reflects ongoing disparities in hiring, layoffs, access to transportation and education, and other structural challenges. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2021
23. Black and Hispanic Workers Are Concentrated in Low-Wage Jobs
People of color are overrepresented in the lowest-paying jobs. While a majority of America’s low-wage workers are white (since whites are a majority of the population), Black and Hispanic workers are far more likely than whites to earn under $15 per hour. A study found that 53% of Black workers and 60% of Hispanic workers earn under $15/hour, compared to about 36% of white workers. This imbalance means minorities more often struggle with poverty wages despite working full-time, highlighting the need for both racial and economic justice initiatives. Source: Oxfam America, 2018
24. Women of Color Suffer the Largest Gender Pay Gaps
Racism and sexism can intersect to compound wage disparities. In the U.S., Black and Latina women earn substantially less than white men (the dominant group in earnings). On average, Black women earn only about 64 cents and Hispanic women about 54 cents for every dollar earned by white men. These figures represent the median wage gap and account for full-time year-round workers. The pay gap means women of color often must work more hours or years to achieve the same income, and it contributes to higher rates of economic insecurity in those communities. Source: Oxfam America, 2018
25. Education Does Not Erase Racial Earnings Gaps
Higher education improves earnings for all, but racial pay gaps persist even among college graduates. For example, Black and Hispanic workers with a college degree typically earn less on average than white workers with the same level of education. Government data show that median hourly wages for Black and Latino college graduates are lower than those of white college graduates. In part, this is due to differences in fields of study, discrimination in hiring and promotions, and unequal access to professional networks. The bottom line: education alone has not been enough to achieve parity in income. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, 2018
26. There Are Hundreds of Active Hate Groups in the United States
Organized hate is unfortunately alive and well. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks extremist organizations, reports that over 900 hate groups operate in the U.S. today. These include white supremacist, neo-Nazi, Ku Klux Klan, neo-Confederate, Black separatist, and anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ groups. The number of hate groups has roughly doubled since the year 2000, reflecting how extremist ideologies have gained followers in recent decades. Such groups propagate racist beliefs and often encourage violence or harassment against minority communities. Source: Southern Poverty Law Center, 2017
27. The Majority of Hate Crimes Target Racial or Ethnic Minorities
FBI crime statistics show that bias-motivated crimes in the U.S. most commonly target people because of their race or ethnicity. In a typical recent year, about 58–60% of reported hate crime incidents were motivated by racial or ethnic bias. The most frequent targets are Black Americans, who consistently suffer the highest number of race-based hate crimes, followed by crimes targeting Asian, Latino, Jewish, and Muslim individuals (ethnic/religious bias). Thousands of hate crimes occur each year in total. These data underscore that racial hatred remains a major driver of extremist violence. Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2019
28. Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Surged During the COVID-19 Pandemic
In recent years, racism against Asian Americans has spiked, fueled in part by xenophobic reactions to the coronavirus pandemic. Major U.S. cities saw a 149% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes in 2020 compared to the previous year. Asian Americans reported being slurred, spat upon, or physically attacked by perpetrators blaming them for COVID-19. For example, 158 anti-Asian incidents were recorded in 16 big cities in 2020, up from 64 in 2019. This wave of hate highlights how minority groups can become scapegoats during societal crises. Source: Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism, 2021
29. Black Drivers Are More Likely to Be Stopped by Police
Research on traffic stops consistently finds racial disparities. Black motorists are about 30% more likely to be pulled over by police than white motorists, relative to their share of the driving population. Studies also show Black drivers are more often stopped for vague reasons like “vehicle equipment issues” or minor infractions. Despite accounting for these differences, the gap remains. Being stopped at higher rates increases exposure to fines, searches, or arrests for Black drivers. This is one aspect of racial profiling in law enforcement. Source: U.S. Department of Justice (BJS report), 2013
30. Black and Latino Drivers Are Searched More, Even Though Whites Are More Often Carrying Contraband
After traffic stops, police are more likely to conduct vehicle searches on Black and Hispanic drivers than on white drivers. Federal data show that about 5–7% of stopped Black or Latino drivers get searched, compared to only 2% of stopped white drivers. This happens despite the fact that illegal items (like drugs or weapons) are found more frequently on white drivers on average. In other words, minority drivers face higher scrutiny and inconvenience without a corresponding increase in wrongdoing – a clear indicator of bias in policing practices. Source: U.S. Department of Justice, 2013
31. Police Officers Have Been Shown to Treat Black and White Civilians Differently
Subtle bias in law enforcement interactions can be measured. In a study that analyzed body camera footage, researchers found that even when stopping people for the exact same offenses, officers spoke to Black drivers with less respect and a harsher tone than they did to white drivers. This held true regardless of the race of the officer. The study – which controlled for factors like the offense severity and outcome – revealed racial disparities in courtesy and respect. Such differences, while less overt than physical harm, erode trust and exemplify everyday racism in policing. Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2017
32. Black Americans Are Far More Likely to Be Arrested for Drug Offenses
Multiple studies have shown racial disparity in drug-related arrests. White and Black Americans use illicit drugs at similar rates, yet Black people are much more frequently arrested for drug possession. For example, Black individuals are 3.6 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than whites nationally, despite comparable usage rates. This pattern holds for other drugs as well. The war on drugs has disproportionately impacted communities of color, contributing to higher incarceration rates even though drug use is a cross-racial issue. Source: American Civil Liberties Union, 2020
33. Black Men Face a High Risk of Being Killed by Police
Police violence exhibits a strong racial disparity. A comprehensive study estimates that about 1 in 1,000 Black men in America will be killed by police over the course of their life, a risk roughly 2.5 times higher than that of white men. Black women are also about 1.4 times more likely than white women to be killed by police, and Latino men about 1.3 times more likely than white men. These statistics, derived from official death records, make police use of force a leading cause of death for young Black men. It highlights a grave inequality in safety and justice. Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2019
34. A Disproportionate Share of Taser Deaths Are Black
Police use of Tasers (electroshock weapons) can sometimes be fatal, and Black Americans make up an outsized portion of those deaths. Over 1,000 people in the U.S. have died after being shocked with police Tasers, and at least 32% of them were Black. This is highly disproportionate, given that Black people are about 13% of the U.S. population. Many Taser-related deaths occur during confrontations where non-lethal de-escalation could have been used. The statistic underscores broader patterns of excessive force used on minority suspects. Source: Equal Justice Initiative, 2020
35. Black Americans Are Overrepresented in the Prison Population
Black people make up only about 13% of the U.S. population, yet they account for a much larger share of those behind bars. Approximately 34% of the U.S. prison population is Black, compared to about 30% that is white – nearly the reverse of each group’s share of the general population. This overrepresentation results from cumulative racial biases at each stage of the justice system (from policing to sentencing), as well as differences in economic opportunity and legal resources. The NAACP notes that African Americans are incarcerated at more than five times the rate of whites nationwide. Source: NAACP Criminal Justice Fact Sheet, 2020
36. African Americans Are Incarcerated at Over 5 Times the Rate of Whites
Looking at the rate of imprisonment per capita starkly shows racial inequity. Nationally, Black Americans are incarcerated at 5.1 times the rate of white Americans. In some states the disparity is even greater – for example, Iowa and Minnesota imprison Black residents at a rate more than 10 times that of whites. These gaps reflect factors like harsher sentencing for crimes more frequently charged to Black defendants, socioeconomic disparities, and systemic bias. Reformers argue that such extreme differences in incarceration rates point to structural racism in the justice system. Source: NAACP, 2020
37. Black Women Are Imprisoned at Twice the Rate of White Women
Men are not the only ones affected by racial disparities in criminal justice. Black women have an imprisonment rate about 2.0 times that of white women. While women overall are incarcerated at lower rates than men, the racial gap is still pronounced. Factors such as sentencing disparities for drug offenses and unequal access to legal support contribute to this difference. The growing imprisonment of Black women impacts families and communities, as women are often primary caregivers. Source: NAACP, 2020
38. One in Ten Black Men in His Thirties Is in Jail or Prison on a Given Day
Mass incarceration has hit Black communities exceptionally hard. At any given time, roughly 1 in 10 Black men in their 30s is behind bars (in prison or jail) in the United States. To put it another way, 10% of Black males aged 30–39 are incarcerated – a stunning figure that speaks to the cumulative impact of disparities in arrests, convictions, and sentencing. By contrast, the fraction for white men of the same age is much lower. This fact encapsulates how routine incarceration has become in many Black communities, with wide-ranging social consequences. Source: The Sentencing Project, 2018
39. Millions of Black Americans Are Disenfranchised Due to Felony Convictions
The effects of racial disparities continue even after prison. Felony disenfranchisement laws (which restrict voting rights for those with felony convictions) have disenfranchised a significant portion of Black voters. About 1 in 13 African Americans of voting age is barred from voting because of a current or past felony conviction – a rate more than four times higher than that of non-Black Americans. In states like Florida and Kentucky, over 20% of Black adults have been unable to vote at times due to such laws. These policies, rooted in the post-Civil War era, dilute Black political power and are often criticized as “modern-day poll taxes.” Source: The Sentencing Project, 2020
40. Black Defendants Often Receive Longer Sentences Than White Defendants for the Same Crimes
Racial bias in the courtroom has been documented. A comprehensive review by the U.S. Sentencing Commission found that, on average, Black men receive federal prison sentences that are about 19% longer than those of white men who committed similar offenses (after controlling for the severity of the crime and past records). Implicit biases and discretionary decisions at sentencing contribute to this gap. Similarly, studies at the state level frequently show harsher punishments for minority defendants. Such disparities exacerbate the impacts of mass incarceration on communities of color. Source: U.S. Sentencing Commission, 2017
41. Major Health Organizations Recognize Racism as a Public Health Threat
It is increasingly acknowledged that racism has direct harmful effects on health. In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) declared racism a serious public health threat, citing the impact of systemic racism on the well-being of millions of Americans. Racism contributes to stress-related illnesses, unequal access to medical care, and poorer outcomes for communities of color. For example, long-term exposure to discrimination is linked to higher rates of hypertension and other chronic conditions in Black populations. By naming racism as a public health issue, the CDC and other health authorities (like the American Medical Association) affirm that combating racism is essential to improving health equity. Source: CDC, 2021
42. Black Infants Die at Twice the Rate of White Infants
One of the most glaring racial disparities in health is in infant mortality. In the United States, African American infants die at more than double the rate of white infants in their first year of life. For perspective, the infant mortality rate for Black babies is around 10.8 per 1,000 live births, compared to about 4.6 per 1,000 for non-Hispanic white babies (according to 2019 data). This gap has persisted for decades. Contributing factors include differences in access to prenatal care, maternal health, racism in medical treatment, and the effects of stress and poverty on Black mothers. Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, 2022
43. Black Mothers Are Far More Likely to Die from Pregnancy-Related Causes
Maternal mortality showcases the intersection of racism and gender. Black women in America are roughly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. According to the CDC, this gap (Black maternal mortality around 55–70 deaths per 100,000 births vs. about 19 per 100,000 for white mothers) has even widened in recent years. The reasons include disparities in healthcare quality, frequency of underlying chronic conditions, implicit bias among medical professionals (leading to Black women’s symptoms being dismissed), and unequal access to health services. This inequity has led to calls for major reforms in maternal healthcare. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021
44. Black Americans Have a Shorter Life Expectancy Than White Americans
Due to a combination of factors – economic inequality, healthcare access, stress, violence, etc. – there is a noticeable racial gap in life expectancy. Black Americans’ life expectancy is about 3 to 4 years lower than that of white Americans. For instance, before the COVID-19 pandemic, life expectancy at birth was approximately 75.3 years for Black individuals and 78.8 years for white individuals. (The gap temporarily widened even further in 2020 due to the pandemic’s disparate impact.) This statistic reflects how systemic disadvantages faced by Black people translate into earlier deaths on average – a stark measure of the toll of racism. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019
45. Racial Bias Affects Pain Treatment and Medical Decisions
Studies in the medical field have uncovered troubling biases in treatment. One study published by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that Black patients are less likely to receive pain medication than white patients with the same reported symptoms. Some doctors and medical trainees held false beliefs (for example, that Black people have higher pain tolerance or thicker skin) that led them to underestimate Black patients’ pain. This contributes to inadequate pain management for Black Americans. More broadly, implicit biases have been observed in how physicians diagnose and treat conditions, leading to unequal care. Source: PNAS, 2016
46. Most Americans Show Some Implicit Racial Bias
Psychological tests reveal that bias can exist even in those who explicitly reject racism. Project Implicit’s popular Implicit Association Test (IAT), taken by millions of volunteers, has consistently found that about 70–80% of test-takers show an implicit preference for white people over Black people. In other words, across all groups (including many Black participants), a majority subconsciously associate positive attributes more with whites and negative attributes more with Blacks. This does not mean most people are overtly prejudiced, but it suggests that societal stereotypes have quietly permeated many minds. These implicit biases can subtly influence decisions and actions (in hiring, policing, etc.) if not checked. Source: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2009
47. Most Black Americans Report Experiencing Racism in Their Daily Lives
Surveys show that racism is not a rare or abstract experience for people of color – it’s a frequent reality. In a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, about 76% of Black adults said they have experienced unfair treatment or discrimination because of their race. This includes things like being treated with suspicion in stores, being poorly served at restaurants, or being unfairly stopped by police. Moreover, 48% of Black respondents said they had experienced specific slurs or offensive comments in the past year. These lived experiences of discrimination contribute to stress and harm even beyond measurable economic or health outcomes. Source: Pew Research Center, 2019
48. News and Media Often Portray Racial Minorities in Negative Lights
Racism extends into media representation. Studies have found that Black and brown people are disproportionately depicted in negative contexts in news coverage (such as crime reports) and underrepresented in positive or leading roles in entertainment media. For example, a 2020 study reported that four in five Black Americans say they often see racist or negatively stereotyped portrayals of Black people in news media. This skew in representation can reinforce harmful stereotypes among the public at large. Improving diversity and accuracy in media is seen as a key step in combating societal racism. Source: Pew Research Center/PBS, 2020
49. Racism Is a Worldwide Problem, Not Just an American Issue
While this list often cites U.S. data, it’s important to note that racism affects virtually every country in the world. The United Nations and human rights groups like Amnesty International document racial and ethnic discrimination globally – from the treatment of Roma communities in Europe, to caste-based bias in South Asia, to xenophobia against migrants and refugees worldwide. Amnesty International states plainly that racism “systematically denies people their full human rights just because of who they are”, across countless societies. Combating racism is a universal human rights imperative recognized by international law (e.g. the UN Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, ratified by most nations). Source: Amnesty International, 2019
50. Indigenous People Are Overrepresented in Canada’s Prisons
In Canada – as in many countries with a history of colonization – Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) people suffer higher incarceration rates. Indigenous Canadians make up about 5% of Canada’s population but over 30% of the federal prison inmate population. This disparity has been worsening: the proportion of Indigenous prisoners has grown in recent years. Contributing factors include systemic disadvantages, intergenerational trauma from policies like residential schools, and biases in policing and courts. The Canadian government and courts have acknowledged this crisis and have taken some steps (like “Gladue” sentencing principles) to address it, but major gaps remain. Source: Government of Canada (Dept. of Justice), 2020
51. Indigenous Australians Have Shorter Life Expectancies
In Australia, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population faces stark inequalities stemming from historical and present-day racism. One key indicator: Indigenous Australians have a life expectancy roughly 8 years lower than non-Indigenous Australians. According to national health data, as of 2015–2017 the life expectancy at birth for Indigenous males was about 71.6 years (vs. 80.2 years for non-Indigenous males) and for Indigenous females about 75.6 years (vs. 83.4 for non-Indigenous females). This gap reflects differences in access to healthcare, education, employment, and the enduring impact of colonization and discrimination. Australia has launched a “Closing the Gap” initiative to reduce these disparities. Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2019
52. Black People in the U.K. Are Far More Likely to Be Stopped by Police
Racial profiling in law enforcement is not limited to the U.S. In England and Wales, Black individuals are about 9 times more likely to be stopped and searched by police than white individuals, according to government data. In the year ending March 2019, there were 4 stop-and-search instances for every 1,000 white people, versus 38 per 1,000 Black people, under policing powers. This disproportion remains even though Black Britons do not commit crimes at 9 times the rate of whites. Similar to the U.S., such practices strain community trust and reflect systemic bias within U.K. policing. Source: UK Home Office, 2019
53. After 9/11, Hate Crimes Against Muslims in the U.S. Skyrocketed
Racism can spike in reaction to events. In the United States, after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, anti-Muslim sentiment led to a massive surge in hate crimes targeting people perceived to be Muslim or Middle Eastern. FBI records show that anti-Muslim hate crime incidents jumped from 28 in 2000 to 481 in 2001 – an increase of 1,600%. This included assaults, vandalism of mosques, and murders. Although the annual totals dropped in subsequent years, they have never returned to pre-2001 levels. This episode illustrates how quickly bias and violence can intensify against a minority group due to racist scapegoating. Source: FBI Uniform Crime Report, 2001
54. Roma (Gypsy) Communities in Europe Face Pervasive Racism
The Romani people in Europe (often pejoratively called “Gypsies”) endure severe and systemic racism. They are Europe’s largest ethnic minority, and many live in extreme poverty due to longstanding exclusion. A major EU survey found that about 80% of Roma in some countries live below the poverty line, and a disproportionate number of Roma children drop out before secondary school. Roma often experience open discrimination – for example, being denied entry to shops or segregated in schooling. In some Eastern European states, hate crimes and mob violence against Roma settlements have occurred. European institutions have acknowledged anti-Roma racism (antigypsyism) as a significant human rights problem. Source: EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, 2016
55. In Brazil, Afro-Brazilians Earn Far Less Than White Brazilians
Brazil has the largest population of African descent outside of Africa, and it also exhibits deep racial inequality. Afro-Brazilians (Black and multiracial Brazilians) earn on average only about 56% of the income of white Brazilians, according to the World Bank. Black Brazilians are also overrepresented among the poor and in informal, low-paying jobs. For instance, in 2018 the average monthly income was around 1,570 reais for white workers but only 870 reais for Black workers. These disparities trace back to Brazil’s history of slavery (which lasted until 1888) and persistent discrimination in education and employment. The Brazilian government has implemented some affirmative action policies in universities and civil service to address this gap. Source: World Bank, 2018
56. If Current Trends Continue, Black Household Wealth Could Hit Zero
A startling projection highlights the urgency of closing the racial wealth gap. A report by economists in 2017 warned that if the then-current trends in wealth accumulation continued, median wealth for Black households could approach $0 by the year 2053. In contrast, median white household wealth was projected to climb into the six figures. This scenario, dubbed the “road to zero wealth,” isn’t a predestined future but serves to show how decades of inequity, if unaddressed, can lead to an absolute collapse of wealth in Black communities. Factors like stagnant incomes, rising debt, and lack of intergenerational transfers contribute. Such an outcome would have devastating effects on economic security and mobility for millions. Source: Institute for Policy Studies & Prosperity Now, 2017
57. COVID-19 Highlighted Racial Disparities in Health
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored existing racial inequalities in health and healthcare. In the United States, Black, Hispanic, and Native American populations suffered significantly higher COVID-19 death rates than whites. For example, during 2020, Black Americans were roughly 1.9 times more likely to die from COVID-19 than white Americans, according to CDC data. Contributing factors include frontline job exposure, crowded housing, preexisting health disparities, and unequal access to medical treatment. The pandemic’s disproportionate toll has been described as a “syndemic” of the virus with the “underlying condition” of racism. Addressing these disparities requires tackling the social determinants of health tied to racism. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021
Conclusion
Racism is not an isolated incident or a relic of the past. It is a powerful, enduring system that shapes nearly every aspect of society, from education and healthcare to economics, policing, and global human rights. The 57 facts outlined here reveal how deeply racism is woven into the fabric of daily life and historical development, not just in one country, but across the world.
Understanding these realities is the first step toward dismantling the structures that sustain inequality. Facts alone will not bring change, but they arm us with the clarity needed to challenge injustice. They dispel myths, expose patterns, and offer undeniable evidence that racism is not simply about personal prejudice, but about systems of power and exclusion.
Real progress requires both acknowledging hard truths and committing to meaningful action. This can come through policy reform, education, activism, or personal reflection. It demands persistence, empathy, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable realities. Only by facing racism honestly and systematically can we move closer to building societies where dignity, opportunity, and rights are truly universal.
The fight against racism is a fight for a better future for everyone. It is not the responsibility of the few but the moral duty of all.
