A social system of meaning and custom that is developed by a group of people to assure its adaptation and survival. These groups are distinguished by a set of unspoken rules that shape values, beliefs, habits, patterns of thinking, behaviors and styles of communication.

Institute for Democratic Renewal and Project Change Anti-Racism Initiative. (n.d.). 15 tools for creating healthy, productive interracial/multiracial communities: A community builder’s tool kit (PDF). Retrieved from http://www.racialequitytools.org/resourcefiles/idr.pdf.