Racism is the attribution of characteristics of superiority or inferiority to a population sharing certain physically inherited characteristics, often leading to prejudice, discrimination, and the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over others. It is a complex system of power and ideology that operates at individual, interpersonal, and institutional levels, based on the social construction of racial categories and the belief that these categories are biologically real and associated with distinct traits, abilities, or moral character. Racism can manifest as overt acts of discrimination and hate speech, as well as in more subtle forms of bias embedded in social structures, policies, and practices that perpetuate racial inequalities in areas such as education, employment, housing, and the criminal justice system. It is a pervasive and harmful social phenomenon with deep historical roots and lasting consequences for individuals and societies.