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Basic Facts About Cultural Insensitivity and Racism

Cultural insensitivity constitutes seemingly lesser offensive comments or acts that tend to stem from stereotypes and ignorance about individuals or groups from cultural backgrounds that are different from one’s own.  Racism encompasses race-based discrimination or negative differential behavior that is designed to keep groups and individuals in inferior positions solely because of their racial background.  Nevertheless, it is often difficult to differentiate between racism and cultural insensitivity.  Therefore, the following list, which was compiled from the book, Exploring the Culture of Arrogance in the Academy: A Blueprint for Increasing Black Faculty Satisfaction, (which I [Gail] wrote with Dr.  Angela Louque) and also from my (Gail’s) book, The Power of One: How You Can Help or Harm African American Students, should be helpful.