We will study structural racism in this course by exploring the role that race and racism - experienced as disparities and discrimination - has played in making our social, economic and political structures unequal. Policy decisions then made by these unequal and therefore unjust institutions can only lead to furthering racial inequity. Even if deliberate policies are made to foster racial equity, the implementation of policies by those very same unequal institutions is fraught with hurdles. It results in a flawed policy in practice that does not really change ground realities. How can policies and their implementation break free from the structural inequalities that shape and execute them? This question expresses the biggest challenge in our work to end racism.

In this course, race will be understood more broadly than just skin color; it will include gender, sexuality, nationality, religion and other identities on which people are discriminated. Students will learn to analyze the sources of racism in policy decisions and will explore the impact of deliberate policies that tackle racism on broader race relations in society.