A complex psychosocial process that occurs when individuals or groups belonging to racial or ethnic minorities internalize negative stereotypes, prejudices and discriminatory beliefs directed against them by the dominant society. In such a situation, a person becomes both a victim and a servant of racism. He begins to believe lies and negative ideas about his race or culture, accepting them as part of his personal or collective identity. This type of racism is considered the most dangerous, as it is not only imposed from the outside, but also transforms into a self-sustaining belief that affects a person’s self-esteem, ambitions and image of himself and his group. It may lead to the reproduction of patterns of discrimination against members of one’s race or culture. Examples of internal racism include:
1) Appearance and identity: Some minorities choose to lighten their skin or alter facial features to meet the beauty standards of the majority, denying or disliking their native accent or style of dress, deeming them “uncivilized.”
2) In education and work: some minority students consider themselves “less intelligent” or “less capable” than most, which affects their academic performance; Minorities refuse to hold high positions because they believe that “these positions are not for them”.
3) In social relations: they prefer marriage or friendship with representatives of the majority and avoid communication with representatives of their race; adopt discriminatory rhetoric against their group (e.g., a person of African descent calls blacks “lazy” or “dangerous”).
4) In everyday life: avoid the public use of their native language, ridicule the cultural customs of their group for the sake of the majority.