Racial Equality vs. Racial Equity: What Are The Differences?
If you sometimes feel like you don’t understand modern-day discourse, you are not alone. Discussions can become quite puzzling when the terms being used feel unclear to you. Of course, some folks are trying to impose new meanings onto old words. But, in other cases, it can be a matter of terms sounding similar but having sharp distinctions. Case in point: equality and equity.
In order to sustain a productive conversation about race-related issues, it is essential that you comprehend the differences between racial equality and racial equity. With that useful goal in mind, let’s take a closer look.
What is Racial Equality?
You could say it begins with a belief. Racial equality is a tenet that individuals are inherently equal — regardless of their ethnicity or racial characteristics. In this concept, “equal” is held to have meaning in a political, legal, and moral sense. No race is believed to be either inferior or superior.
Since the advent of the civil rights movement, racial equality relates to both equal treatment under the law and having access to an equal amount of opportunities. This could pertain to, for example, education, employment, housing, healthcare, and more.
On the surface, it is hard to imagine anyone who is not racist finding fault with the quest for racial equality. However, this is a complicated and nuanced topic — and that’s where racial equity enters the conversation.
What is Racial Equity?
Adherents of racial equity remind us that not everyone starts from the same point. Systems in place can favor certain individuals and groups. Therefore, if justice and fairness are your goals, it’s not enough to make sure everyone has the same options. Equity is a concept in which people are met where they are, not how it could be on a level playing field.
Racial equity is not a single step or piece of legislation. It is a process that begins with recognizing how certain individuals or groups are struggling against a systemic structure. From there, yes, some racial equality measures can be helpful. But it must go much further. We must implement diverse and flexible strategies. Solutions are not one-size-fits-all.
According to the World Health Organization equity is: “The absence of avoidable or remediable differences among groups of people, whether those groups are defined socially, economically, demographically, or geographically.”
A Simple Way to Recognize the Difference
Giving all people access to education is important. It provides them with a degree of equality. However, it is not equity. You see, each school in each geographical area has different demographics and dynamics. What works in one district could be woefully insufficient in another.
Taking it further into a micro-view, each classroom is made up of individuals who learn in their own unique way. Thus, a scenario founded on equity would empower the teacher to factor in each student’s needs rather than providing a single lesson plan.
What Does This Mean in Everyday Life?
If you are a person of color, you may be more concerned with daily issues than discerning the differences between academic-sounding terms. This is where a strong sense of balance can be useful. We are each called to manage our personal, day-to-day responsibilities. At the same time, we want to leave the world a better place than how we found it.
Striving for a society that favors racial equity as a blueprint is an excellent way to challenge the status quo. It’s not easy and it can be discouraging. Hence, you may find comfort in talking with someone who understands — a counselor who gets it. With that in mind, I invite you to reach out and start that conversation with a free consultation to learn more about working with a black therapist.
