Final answer:
The government is the primary supporter of the racial formation process through institutional racism and systemic distribution of resources and opportunities. Other contributing factors include family racial socialization and reinforcement of norms by educational and religious institutions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of racial formation is supported by social institutions, family members, the government, and religious organizations. However, when narrowing down the choices, the direct answer is often considered to be the government. This is because institutions like the government have the power to affect large numbers of people and create laws and practices that lead to systematic inequalities, known as institutional racism.
Racial formation is a concept that refers to the socio-historical process by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroyed. It is supported by the various types of instruction and messages individuals receive throughout their lives. For instance, through racial socialization, families play a role by imparting the positive aspects of an individual's racial in-group. Social institutions, such as the education system, religious organizations, and the media, also contribute by reinforcing societal norms and biases.
The government, through its legislative, executive, and judicial branches, may perpetuate systemic racial biases by enacting and enforcing laws that do not distribute resources or opportunities equitably. The same is true for political institutions that are responsible for the systematic distribution of power and resources in society. Thus, all these institutions collectively support the process of racial formation. But when it comes to the systemic impact, the government's role remains paramount in shaping racial structure and dynamics in society.