Racism as neglect and denial

Abstract

Has racism become a wicked problem, or it persists because of deficient anti-racism and/or unintentional or wilful neglect? This article examines neglect and denial as cognitive and functional features embedded in structural racial inequities. Denial and neglect, often analysed in socio-political discourse, are related yet distinct concepts, while neglect remains an underexplored feature of racism. I argue that denial and neglect embody key epistemic omissions enabling new racism to thrive unimpeded. Drawing on colourblind, White ignorance, and racial apathy literature, I conceptualize “racism as neglect” to draw attention to persistent yet insidious, often discounted racial inequities permeating the Global North. Understanding neglect and denial, and how they operate through minimization, ignorance, silence, or indifference, is crucial in tackling racism occurring in ideas, behaviours, and policies, and in omissions of anti-racist actions. Combating racism requires producing evidence of racism and pressing society to abandon evasion of responsibility and take effective actions against structural racism.