Institutional Racism and the American Psychological Association¹

Abstract

Institutional racism—institutional practice that perpetuates racial inequality—does not require individual prejudice or institutional intent, but is a by‐product of business as usual. Psychologists for Social Action showed how APA practices institutional racism by condoning employment practices of Lancaster Press, APA's major printer. In May 1969, the Press employed one black person (“wash‐up man”) out of 300 employees, though Lancaster's 63,000 population included over 15% blacks and Puerto Ricans. Both the Press and the APA Central Office attributed this to low educational level. The authors met with representatives of Lancaster minority communities and together with them influenced the Press to hire 9 black persons out of 18 new employees between October 1, 1969 and September 30, 1970. A May 1973 postscript documents APA's continued hesitancy to influence its suppliers toward equal employment practices.