Final answer:
Institutional racism is embedded within society's structures, leading to disadvantages for certain racial groups, whereas interpersonal racism consists of prejudiced actions or beliefs between individuals, which can support systemic inequalities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that accurately distinguishes between institutional racism and interpersonal racism is that institutional racism is embedded in societal systems, while interpersonal racism occurs between individuals. Institutional racism is part of the structure and everyday operations of organizations which can lead to systemic disadvantages for certain racial groups. This can be seen in examples such as racial profiling and discrimination in criminal justice, education, and political systems that result in unequal opportunities and resources for people of color.
On the other hand, interpersonal racism is the prejudice and discrimination carried out by individuals which can occur both consciously and unconsciously during daily interactions. This could manifest through racial slurs, jokes, or beliefs in racial superiority. While these actions sometimes reflect individual bias, they also can reinforce and perpetuate the systemic inequalities established by institutional racism.
The interconnectedness of institutional racism and interpersonal actions highlights the pervasive influence of racial inequality at both individual and structural levels in society.