Final answer:
Racism is not a biological reality but a socially constructed concept entrenched in societal systems and power dynamics. It perpetuates discrimination through normalized beliefs and practices within various social institutions. To combat racism, a shift towards recognizing scientific and historical truths and actively engaging in anti-racist actions and discourse is necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question touches upon a complex issue of whether racism is a reality or a social fiction, and how it can be understood as being socially constructed. Race as a concept does not have a biological basis but is instead a social construction shaped by societal norms and power structures.
Émile Durkheim referred to racism as a social fact, meaning it can continue independently of individual actions, embedded within the systems like education, economics, politics, and law.
Critical race theory in legal studies suggests that the judicial system may be biased against minorities, questioning whether truth and reality can be universally agreed upon. In essence, what is considered 'real' often depends on the narratives constructed by those in power.
Social construction of reality is a process by which people perceive and understand the world based on the collective beliefs and shared understandings of their society. This is influenced by language and knowledge, which are, conversely, shaped by power dynamics.
Becoming anti-racist requires a shift toward grounding actions and beliefs in historical facts and scientific knowledge, moving away from 'alternative facts' and internal superiority complexes promulgated by dominant cultures.