Racism affects nearly every aspect of modern society. It can be both overt and invisible, and though not as readily apparent as in previous decades, it continues to proliferate to this day. From the quality of neighborhoods, jobs, healthcare, and education people can access, to the very air we breathe and more, racism can infect lives in the most minute to the most devastating of ways. 

The Encyclopedia of Racism presents the depth and breadth of racism and its interconnected impact on modern society in one accessible resource. Each entry in the Encyclopedia outlines a specific element of society in which variations of systemic racism have been examined by researchers and mainstream news organizations. Altogether, the entries reveal patterns that fuel systemic racism – disproportionate representation, discriminatory laws, lack of understanding of the different needs of racial communities or individuals, and more. 

The Encyclopedia aims to capture a representative spectrum of systemic racism as it exists in modern times. It was not created to surface every manifestation of racism, bias, and discrimination. The Encyclopedia also differs from resources that center on the recounting or analysis of historical events. Additional context for each issue can be found in the links contained in each entry.

The Encyclopedia is made possible in part by the use of artificial intelligence to surface the myriad of ways systemic racism affects modern society. Each entry contains information from and supported by multiple sources, including academic research and original reporting from mainstream news organizations. A representative exploration of each issue within the entry is linked for further reading. 

Systemic racism is so pervasive that there are many different points in the span of a person’s life in which they may encounter racism within a single facet of society. Some entries in the Encyclopedia such as housing, health, and criminal justice are comparatively extensive to reflect this. Additionally, there are so many medical conditions and related issues that research shows are affected by systemic racism that all together they could form an extensive resource of their own. The Encyclopedia includes entries on the areas of medicine and their relationship to race that are among the most frequently researched or reported or are among the most common public health issues.

Systemic racism is embedded in societies around the world in various forms. However, the Encyclopedia is inclusive solely of reporting on race in the United States. America is unique in the diversity of its population and the centuries of laws, institutional policies, and cultural norms that have limited opportunities for non-White Americans. The generational wealth created by white households over many centuries has resulted in other racial groups lacking comparable access to resources, power, and the ability to achieve the “American dream” of financial and societal success. The systemic racism that permeates America today can be traced to the earliest days of the country's founding and throughout its history. 

A significant difference between the U.S. and its engagement with racism and that of other nations is the vast research on the subject that originates from the country. The ongoing racial conflicts that have been intrinsic to America's social and political issues for centuries are openly discussed in public spaces and published research. 

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With knowledge of the breadth of systemic racism comes the pivotal questions of how to address it, or whether it should be addressed at all. The Encyclopedia was not created to be prescriptive in its entries or to editorialize the work of the research and reporting featured throughout. What happens next after receiving the information contained within is ultimately up to the reader.

Systemic racism will continue to thrive if people from underrepresented racial backgrounds are restricted from the power to improve their lives for the better. Individuals from majority racial communities must examine the world around them, the industries in which they work, and the government policies that harm members of minority racial communities to determine what they can do personally to affect meaningful change. Those who have the power to alter the systems can exercise their ability to do so.

Though affected systems currently exist separately, sweeping changes that root out systemic racism can create a domino effect of positive impact. The ultimate solution is knowledge, vigilance, and the collective desire to improve the quality of life for people of all races.

Editors

Mark S. Luckie is a digital strategist, former journalist, and author of “The Digital Journalist's Handbook,” and the novels “DO U.” and “Valley Girls.” Mark currently serves as the Director of Digital Strategy at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He has led media partnerships for some of the most influential social platforms in the world, including Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Mark has also led digital initiatives for the Washington Post, the Center for Investigative Reporting, The Los Angeles Times, and Entertainment Weekly. Mark is a GLAAD Media Award nominee, a Lambda Literary Award finalist, and a part of the 2012 Pulitzer Prize finalist team for Local Reporting. He was named by The Root as one of the most influential African-Americans of 2013 and 2014. Mark is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University and the University of California, Berkeley where he received his master's degree in journalism.

Michael J. Glenn, Ed.D. is an educational technologist who believes in the transformative potential of technology as an instructional tool to motivate and engage. Dr. Glenn was born and raised in North Carolina, where he developed a passion for education and learning from an early age. He completed both his undergraduate and graduate studies at North Carolina Central University in Durham, N,C. He relocated to Houston in 2009 to pursue his doctoral studies in Curriculum and Instruction at Texas Southern University. His doctoral dissertation focused on exploring teacher perceptions and preparation levels regarding instructional technology usage and its impact on student achievement. He taught Instructional Technology courses at Texas Southern University and also excelled as an Information technology consultant and data entry tech for Houston Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic. He spent four rewarding years teaching 7th-grade science at a middle school in North Carolina. He later transitioned to Cobb County School District in Georgia where he taught Engineering, Computer Science, and Technology. 

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