Racism is a form of discrimination directed at people based on their actual or perceived physical or cultural characteristics, including skin color, origin, language, or religion. Those impacted are often generalized as a homogenous group, viewed negatively and face exclusion. Racism asserts the inequality and unequal value of groups of people based on supposed biological or cultural differences. It represents an argument, which has long been scientifically refuted. Racism is rooted in unequal power dynamics and includes all behaviors, perspectives, and laws that perpetuate hierarchies and exclusion.

Racism is not merely an opinion; rather, it is an inhumane ideology rooted in devaluation and discrimination. White people are not subject to racism because racism presupposes a structural power imbalance that is historically and socially geared towards the privileging of white people. This does not imply that white people are always doing well and cannot experience rejection. However, in terms of racism, whites are not structurally disadvantaged.