The Difference Between Racial Equality and Racial Equity

It’s been estimated that about 7000 languages are spoken across the world. None of them are static. Languages evolve as cultures evolve.

In recent times, this evolution has been happening at a dizzying pace and can leave some folks confused and frustrated. Outcomes like this can be intentional but most often, they are the result of old perceptions not matching new beliefs.

For example, the topic of race has been on the front burner for quite a while. This reality has provoked much debate on racial equity and racial equality. Understanding the difference between these terms is a giant step toward deeper reflection on how to bring about a more just society. 

What is Racial Equality?

The foundation of this concept is the belief that no race is morally or legally inferior or superior to another. People of all ethnicities are equal in terms of:

• How they are treated under the law

• Access to opportunities like healthcare, education, housing, employment, voting, and more

This may sound uncontroversial, but human culture is a lot more nuanced than we typically imagine. Not every neighborhood or school, for example, needs the exact same allocations. The funding can be sufficient — or even ideal — even if it’s unequal. This realization brings us to racial equity. 

What is Racial Equity?

The foundation of this concept is that everyone starts from a different point. We live under a collection of intertwined social systems that can affect individuals in very different ways. As much as we wish it was, the playing field is not always level. Therefore, if some people start from a far more favored position, it’s less than ideal to simply give everyone the same exact treatment.

Solutions are not one-size-fits-all, and that’s where racial equity might become a more just and fair approach. To imagine what equity means, consider this example:

There’s a neighborhood in which all residents have safe and swift access to exercising the right to vote. But, in the same town, another neighborhood has a long record of voting issues, leaving residents feeling disenfranchised. Equality assigns the exact same voting-related resources to both neighborhoods. Equity recognizes that one area is doing fine when it comes to voting and, thus, does not require an equal amount of resources.

The Difference Between Racial Equality and Racial Equity

Perhaps the simplest way to state the difference is related to the system in place. If the blueprint by which society is constructed is flawed and inherently skewed, equality is a very challenging initial goal. There are way too many steps to take before all people can feel they’re treated the same.

Equity, on the other hand, represents the bumpy road we start out on. To aim for equality before traveling the road of equity can lead to even greater inequality. It’s a shortcut that neglects reality. On the public stage, pieties about equality sound noble. In the trenches where change is forged, equality can sound like a pipe dream until the right foundation is laid.

Racial equity can lead to racial equality, which, in turn, creates racial justice. 

How Does Such Change Happen?

Quite often, societal shifts begin with individual change. Everyone involved in this collective struggle is required to challenge long-held beliefs. Self-reflection is how we assess our own beliefs, conditioning, and behaviors. This goes for people of color and, perhaps even more so, for people who have unconsciously benefitted from institutional flaws.

Either way, this is a monumental task that can be made easier with the guidance of a professional who gets it. If you want to be part of the solution but don’t know where to start, reach out to us today.

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