Carl E. James FRSC (born 1952) is an Antiguan-born Canadian sociologist and professor of education at York University in Toronto, Canada, where he holds the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora.
James' research focuses on the sociology of education, student athletes, and "the intersections of race, ethnicity,culture, language, and identity in the Canadian context."
Societal racism is a type of racism based on a set of institutional, historical, cultural and interpersonal practices within a society that places one or more social or ethnic groups in a better position to succeed and disadvantages other groups so that disparities develop between the groups. Societal racism has also been called structural racism, because, according to Carl E. James, society is structured in a way that excludes substantial numbers of people from minority backgrounds from taking part in social institutions. Societal racism is sometimes referred to as systemic racism as well. Societal racism is a form of societal discrimination.