Active racism involves explicit acts of discrimination, such as telling a nurse supervisor to prevent an African American nurse from touching a child or laughing at racially charged jokes. These actions are overt and clearly indicate prejudice. In contrast, passive racism consists of subtler behaviors and attitudes, like ignoring the lack of diversity in a workplace or not questioning a limited educational curriculum that overlooks significant aspects of black history.

This form of passive racism also manifests in situations where individuals might defend someone in a legal case who is facing indictment due to their race, yet fail to acknowledge the racial implications of the case. It highlights a willingness to overlook systemic issues and the impact of race in various contexts. Both active and passive racism contribute to a larger societal problem that needs to be addressed.