Race relations refers to the ways people from different communities, cultures, and racial and ethnic backgrounds coexist in a given space.

Racial chasm refers to how people of different races, cultures, and ethnic backgrounds are treated differently in society due to race. “Chasm,” or divide, points to the differing allocation of resources based on a community’s racial identity.

These terms refer to the historical, cultural, economic, and legal systems in place in the United States that routinely benefit white people over people of color, amassing power and privilege for white people and leaving other racial and ethnic groups with chronically less resources.