When you think about racism, what comes to mind? Is it the blatant acts of violence we see in the media, the racist slurs thrown in anger, or the deeply entrenched inequalities that seem to persist, no matter how much time passes? Systemic racism, unlike overt acts of racism, works in the background. It is woven into the very fabric of society, influencing everything from education to healthcare, from housing to employment opportunities. But as we push for greater equity, one question continues to haunt the conversation: is systemic racism evolving, becoming more subtle and cunning over time, or is it merely hiding better than before?

The Face of Racism: A Historical Shift

To understand whether systemic racism is evolving or just hiding, we first need to take a hard look at history. For much of the 20th century, racism in its most overt forms was easy to see. From segregation laws to openly discriminatory practices in the workplace, systemic racism was laid bare for all to see. But as society began to recognize the destructive force of these practices, changes were slowly made. The Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s was a significant turning point, with laws and policies beginning to change in favor of racial equality. At least, that was the idea.

Yet, the shift didn’t come without resistance. While the legal framework around racism was dismantled, its cultural and structural roots remained. Though segregation was outlawed, redlining in housing continued. Though schools became desegregated, public education in predominantly Black neighborhoods continued to suffer from underfunding and neglect. While the law said we were all equal, society’s systems continued to reflect the inequalities that had long been in place.

Is Systemic Racism Hiding in Plain Sight?

Fast forward to the present day, and the face of systemic racism is far harder to detect. Gone are the days when we can point to a law that outright discriminates based on race. Instead, racism now manifests in ways that are more nuanced but no less harmful. The question we must ask ourselves is whether this means systemic racism is evolving into a more sophisticated force, or if it’s simply hiding in plain sight.

Take the criminal justice system as an example. The United States, along with many other countries, has made significant strides in addressing issues like racial profiling and discriminatory sentencing laws. However, studies continue to show that people of color, particularly Black and Hispanic individuals, are disproportionately affected by police violence, incarceration rates, and even the death penalty. The laws might have changed, but the outcomes remain strikingly similar.

This isn’t necessarily because the system is “more racist” today. It’s because the systems that perpetuate racial disparities have become more subtle, weaving themselves into policies that seem neutral on the surface but are deeply biased in practice. For example, “broken windows” policing, which targets minor infractions like fare evasion and loitering, disproportionately affects people of color, especially in urban areas. Even when the law is colorblind, its implementation can still be skewed by implicit biases that are often harder to pinpoint.

Similarly, hiring practices have undergone significant reforms, with diversity and inclusion initiatives becoming standard in many workplaces. Yet, reports and studies have shown that Black and Latino job applicants are still far less likely to be called back for interviews or offered promotions, even when their qualifications are equivalent to those of their white counterparts. The discrepancy isn’t always a matter of outright racism; it’s often about systemic issues, like networks of privilege, unconscious bias, and an educational system that doesn’t serve all students equally. These factors create a system that can perpetuate inequality without anyone consciously intending to do so.

Evolving or Hiding? Understanding the Shift

This leads us back to the question: is systemic racism evolving or just hiding better? The answer isn’t as clear-cut as we might hope. On one hand, we are certainly seeing an evolution in how systemic racism manifests. It’s less likely to take the form of an openly racist law or policy and more likely to appear in the form of structural inequities built into the systems that govern us. These systems, though, aren’t inherently racist; they are shaped by a complex mix of historical injustices, economic disparities, and cultural norms that reinforce privilege.

On the other hand, systemic racism is not necessarily becoming more insidious. It is simply better at operating under the radar. It adapts to changing societal norms, disguising itself as neutral or even positive policies. Yet the outcomes remain the same: people of color continue to experience lower levels of opportunity, access, and social mobility compared to their white counterparts.

This is perhaps the most insidious aspect of modern systemic racism: its invisibility. It’s harder to pinpoint, and it’s harder to fight because it isn’t a matter of changing one law or dismantling one institution. It requires us to look at the broader systems that govern every aspect of our lives—from the way we get healthcare to the way we build and maintain wealth. It’s not just about changing hearts and minds; it’s about dismantling entire systems that, while not explicitly racist, continue to produce unequal outcomes along racial lines.

Breaking the Cycle: What Needs to Change

In order to truly tackle systemic racism, we need to go beyond surface-level reforms and look at the underlying structures that perpetuate inequality. We need to ensure that diversity and inclusion initiatives aren’t just window dressing, but are deeply integrated into every facet of our societal systems. We need to address the ways that economic and social policies disproportionately affect marginalized communities and make sure that opportunities are available to everyone, regardless of their race.

Education, healthcare, criminal justice, and employment policies must all be reexamined with a lens focused on equity. By identifying the subtle ways in which racism seeps into these systems, we can begin to address the deep-rooted inequities that persist.

But perhaps the most important thing we need to do is start having real conversations about race. We need to create space for people to openly discuss the ways in which racism affects their lives, and we need to listen when they speak. Only by acknowledging the problem, rather than pretending it no longer exists, can we begin to heal the wounds that continue to divide us.

So, is systemic racism evolving or just hiding better? In some ways, it’s both. The structures that uphold racism have become more sophisticated, more hidden beneath the surface, but the fundamental inequalities remain. Tackling systemic racism in the 21st century requires a shift in how we understand and approach inequality. We must confront the systems that perpetuate these disparities and make meaningful changes to ensure that the promise of equality is a reality for all. The fight against systemic racism is ongoing, but by recognizing it in its current form, we can begin to dismantle the barriers it has created.