According to UN International Conventions, "the term "racial discrimination" shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic
origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the
recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life."
Sociologists Noel Cazenave and Darlene Alvarez Maddern define racism as
“...a highly organized system of 'race'-based group privilege that
operates at every level of society and is held together by a
sophisticated ideology of color/'race' supremacy. Racist systems
include, but cannot be reduced to, racial bigotry,” (Cazenave and
Maddern 1999: 42).
Many scholars maintain race to be a social construct with potent social and political effects but no basis in biological science.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racist
So there you have it, I am sick of the "Oh but I'm not a racist" blogs on there. A lot of us here know that, if you were a racist you wouldn't believe in equal oppurtunity, or whatever. You would instead preach hate towards a specific group of people. That is a racist, so stop, just stop throwing that word around as if it holds no meaning, because it makes you look like you just don't know what you're talking about.
Before you go about saying "Well I'm not a racist" it doesn't matter if you're black or white, know your history before you go off onsaying why you are against something, a little background would be nice.
Being a racist is holding your particular group superior or not wanting another group to have equal rights, etc, etc.
This is a rant if you haven't noticed, but that is a word that should not be taken lightly and it pisses me off even more that people don't even know what the word is or what it actually means or can't use it in the right context. And if people call you a racist and you're not tell them to get a fucking dictionary and look it up.
I guess I should pose a question...Do you think people throw this term around too much these days?
P.S. Yeah I don't think this will be one of my highest rated :P
you said yourself that “...a highly organized system of 'race'-based group privilege that
operates at every level of society and is held together by a
sophisticated ideology of color/'race' supremacy. Racist systems
include, but cannot be reduced to, racial bigotry,” (Cazenave and
Maddern 1999: 42).
so i have a question for you...
If you are ubsessive over one culture or race would that be racism? even if you didnt share the same ethnisity? like a african american woman holding a caucasion woman to a higher standard, or a white man expecting more from a black man because he should be faster or stronger...is it racist to say asians are smarter...is it racist to say that african americans are faster and can jump higher....is it racist to say caucasions are more literate?
Yes, to your first question. As far as is it racist to the others, I'd say no, thats more prejudice/stereotypical, being a racist (racist is the far extreme) is saying "Black people are better than white people and we want nothing to do with them" or "We want to see all black people hanged, just because" that would be a racist statement of holding your "race" superior regardless of how others might disprove it.
Also, the things you have mentions are much more complicated then you make them out to be you have to ask yourself a question of why do you think those things in the first place, no group of people are more, or less genetically different. Most of the things you mentioned has to do with culture, and upbringing and society (since race is not biological remember?).
The definition I got from wiki, so dont say "as I said" because you only saw that one thing and picked at it, but I think it does a good job of explaining if not, I can change it to make it more clear if it gave you problems when reading it, even though there was another definition above it.
Please read why I wrote this blog in the first place.
But thanks for commenting anyway! :)
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"You're asking me to *read*?! I'm not even in class...and just to think I had to put on pants for this."
~npsm18
Best video evar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8qubsp39M
As a white male, while describing my stance against affirmative action for the current times, I did feel the pressure to always mention that I was not... well... racist. I was always very careful to always indicate I was not trying to remove opportunities from women or minorities. I simply explained that I did not think, in most circumstances, that a legislated advantage is needed for equal opportunity access. Indeed, it would be of benefit for all involved for everyone to finally be at a level playing field. There was a time when affirmative action was needed, I don't think anyone could really deny that, but the time has passed.
I totally agree with you.
Its just what you just said using the word racist in the wrong context. People who say that are just as bad for throwing around a word like that and putting it on anyone, without knowing what it actually mean.
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"You're asking me to *read*?! I'm not even in class...and just to think I had to put on pants for this."
~npsm18
Best video evar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8qubsp39M
I actually do think that the word "racist" is thrown around too much in our society, but there is also this stigma that minorities tend to think that all white people are racist. And in reality it is beliefs such as these that are truly setting our country back as far as race relations go.
Take this example for instance- I have personally been called racist more times than I can count, simply because I disagree with the beliefs of certain minorities. Its like you can't even have a friendly debate anymore because the second you say their point is wrong, "its because youre racist." Its just frustrating really.
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Domination.
Communication.
Self Promotion.
"Every harlot was
Yeah, next time someone calls you that just whip out a dictionary and read them the definition. ;)
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"You're asking me to *read*?! I'm not even in class...and just to think I had to put on pants for this."
~npsm18
Best video evar: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OD8qubsp39M
When I am with my cousins, we joke about this sort of stuff but when people want to be taken seriously while discussing race, they should know exactly what they are talking about, far too many talk about it when they don't actually know the subject enough to discuss it especially race/racism...so hard to understand and discuss and write stuff about
"I leave my one and only grain of spiritual sand
to universal scales of humanity, all humanity...
forever is finding a solution to a solution." -Forever Begins, Common
http://www.progressiveu.org/231615-this-is-a-muslim-girls-plight