What is defined as an action that subordinates individuals based on their skin color?

Racism is defined as beliefs, actions, or institutional patterns that subjugate individuals based on their skin color or racial identity. It encompasses not only personal prejudices and discriminatory acts but also systemic inequalities and institutional practices that marginalize certain racial groups. Understanding racism in this context highlights how it operates on both individual and societal levels, affecting opportunities, treatment, and the overall dynamics of power and privilege. This distinguishes it from concepts like ethnocentrism, which refers to the belief in the superiority of one’s own culture over others, and prejudice or discrimination, which can occur without the broader implications of systemic inequalities associated with racism.