Internalized Racial Oppression (IRO) is as harmful as racial oppression; in that, it carries out the same system of oppression. IRO is inherent behavior that exists within the race and maintains the System of Oppression. IRO has long been a part of the history of black people and has the same effect on black people in diaspora. The great kingdoms of Africa were devastated by tribal warfare and after defeating a tribe or kingdom.What men were not killed, were sold into slavery along with other women and children. Tribal Warfare continues to this day and manifests itself as IRO. We can see IRO again in the role of the Black Mississippi Spies, who were informants for the CIA inside of NAACP and other civil rights organizations for the purpose of upholding segregation.

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WE MUST ADDRESS INTERNALIZED RACIAL OPPRESSION…

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within the same framework that we address racial oppression: education, change racist organizational cultures, economics, and more.

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THERE ARE TWO WAYS THAT INTERNALIZED RACIAL OPPRESSION FUNCTIONS:​

1. People may internalize stereotypes about their own group or other groups that look like them.

2. They hold themselves back from living life to its fullest potential by acting in ways that reinforce false stereotypes.