In what way does institutional racism differ from individual prejudice in its impact on society?

Institutional racism refers to the ways in which organizations and systems create and maintain racial inequalities, while individual prejudice is about personal beliefs and attitudes toward people based on their race. The impact of institutional racism is much broader because it affects large groups of people through laws, policies, and practices that disadvantage certain racial groups. For example, if a school district has policies that lead to fewer resources for schools in predominantly minority neighborhoods, this can limit educational opportunities for many students at once, not just one individual. In contrast, individual prejudice might manifest as a person making a racist comment, which harms one person but doesn’t change the system. Therefore, while both are harmful, institutional racism creates widespread issues that can persist over time, affecting generations, while individual prejudice is often more isolated.