Analyzing Systematic Discrimination and Racial Disparities in the United States

• In Event: Intersecting Inequities: Discrimination, Policy, and Health in Underrepresented Communities

Abstract

This research analysis examines systemic racial disparities in the United States through an in-depth exploration of discrimination across three critical sectors: housing, employment, and lending. Leveraging the interdisciplinary perspectives of law, sociology, and critical race theory (CRT), the paper synthesizes scholarly findings from six peer-reviewed sources to assess methodologies, reveal emerging themes, and highlight critical implications for public policy.

Systemic racism continues to perpetuate significant socioeconomic disparities, as evidenced through persistent housing segregation, employment biases, and discriminatory lending practices. While legislation such as the Fair Housing Act and anti-discrimination employment laws exist, their inconsistent enforcement and institutional resistance limit their effectiveness. The integration of CRT into policy analysis further elucidates the structural dynamics sustaining racial inequalities and underscores resistance to race-conscious educational and institutional reforms.

Additionally, this paper explores the contentious topic of reparations, providing historical and contemporary analyses that highlight both public support and institutional barriers to implementing reparative justice. Empirical research underscores significant racial disparities in financial equity, indicating the necessity of comprehensive and proactive policy reforms.

The findings advocate for a multifaceted policy approach, emphasizing stricter enforcement of existing anti-discrimination laws, incorporation of CRT-informed curricula, targeted reparative economic policies, and robust empirical methods to measure and address systemic racism effectively. This research contributes substantively to APPAM’s conference theme, "Forging Collaborations for Transformative and Resilient Policy Solutions," by proposing informed, interdisciplinary strategies to dismantle entrenched racial disparities and achieve systemic equity.

Author

• Seth Usifo Nwosu, Pepperdine University
  Presenting Author