Final answer:
Racial realism recognizes that racial categories significantly influence society and individual lives, stressing the importance of anchoring beliefs in scientific knowledge and historical facts. It aligns with critical race theory, calling for the acknowledgment of race as a social construct and advocating for actionable change against racism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Racial realism is the conviction that racial categories are real insofar as they shape the structure of our society, influencing our thoughts, actions, and even our subconscious tendencies. In contrast to perspectives that may portray an embellished or alternative version of historical facts, racial realism insists on the observance of truth through scientific knowledge, historical facts, and the relinquishing of internalized superiority complexes. It acknowledges the ingrained social and racial injustice and economic hardship reflected in the social realism movement and confronts the consequences of racism on both perpetrators and victims, highlighting the void in the souls and conscience of racist individuals.
The concept aligns with critical race theory, which pertains to an academic framework that examines society and culture as it relates to categorizations of race, law, and power. This framework challenges the perception of race as an objective, inherent truth, instead considering it a social construct that imposes a significant impact on individuals' lives. It engages with ideas such as conflict theory, to understand society as a competition for limited resources, highlighting how racism can affect access and distribution of these resources.
Ultimately, the approach towards tackling racism involves more than just acknowledging it as a social construct. It demands action against the perpetuation of racism and the establishment of meaningful communication and policies to foster a just society that emphasizes social justice, as theorized by philosophers like Rawls. Through affirmative strategies that counteract the forces of racism, society can strive towards an environment where the statement 'Black Lives Matter' is an acknowledged reality reflecting the pursuit of equal inclusion and justice for all.