The poll today was on racism. Browsing through the comments, I found a disturbing new definition of racism being put forward. Traditionally, racism has meant actions and/or words that are based on a prejudice against another race(s). Lately, however, it seems to refer to any inkling of prejudice. Under the latest definition of racism, everyone (but especially white people) is racist, and many people on this site will tell you that this is their belief.
I suspect that this comes from the common conception that every white person is racist. I've never considered myself racist, in fact (and I know that this is over-used and sounds corny) one of my best friends was black, until I moved away, and we got out of touch, but I've been called racist by black people that I've met in public. I've even seen on my local news channel a special airing, in which they framed it as though all black people in our city were taunted, threatened and such, and all the white people were racist.
The problem with that is that there's no objective way to tell how much of the racism (jaded looks, random laughter, etc.) is in a person's head and how much is real. Many minority leaders, such as Jessie Jackson, interpret everything that a white person says or does that even mentions or slightly involves black people as racist. I've heard black people say that people looking at them when they enter a public area that usually doesn't see very many minorities is racist. Or, it could just be that something is wrong with their hair or makeup, or that the people are just innocently surprised to see them there.
This whole thing goes along with the thought that you can't say anything that might offend anyone, such as gays or black people, because that would be mean. While I don't agree with insulting people, some things are not meant as insult, and should be taken with a grain of salt. If you believe that everyone is racist, of course you are going to interpret everything as racism.
Many of you will probably disagree with my definition of racism, so I just want to say in advance, that I know.
I really think there are more minority racists than white ones. Especially demagogues like Al-Sharpton and Jesse-J. I believe anybody that is quick to play the race card is racist. By the way i am black.
"I like the dream of the future better than the history of the past."
Amen.
You shouldn't write and / or assume that everybody is racist because some people (like myself) aren't racist because I'm not racist because I like everybody regardless of their race, religion, sex, etc.
Read my blog!
I didn't assume that everyone is racist. My point was the exact opposite: I don't believe that everyone is racist. Perhaps I'm taking your comment wrong, but if you're saying what I think you're saying, then you must not have read the blog.
P.S. It is impossible to like every single person that you meet, as is.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have." - Barry Goldwater
"... the ostensible means [diversity] of acheiving a desired end had become the end itself." - Clarence Thomas
Whatever... you're just racist because you think that people aren't racist, which shows the racistness of your racist stance!
wait.... words have meanings? Genius!
Next thing you know, they'll be suggesting that if someone opposes illegal immigration, they're racists...
oh... wait.... carry on.
I can't tell if you are being sarcastic or not, but this is my opinion.
Being against illegal immigration does not make you a racist, it make you an American. People who come into the country don't have to pay state and federal taxes, and use resources such as public hospitals for free. It doesn't matter if you come from Latin America, Africa, Asia, and even from Europe, if you are illegal you are illegal. There are thousands of people who want to come to America and do it legally, I have no problem with that, in fact I enjoy living in a country that is so diverse, but if you want to immigrate do it legally.
Everyone's racist to an extent. Some people won't show it that blatantly. Even the little things like stereotypes, judging from their likes, dislikes, their looks is racist to a smal degree. Although I find Whites to be more insulting and I'm Asian. But I won't get into that.
That depends on your definition of racism. Under your definition, anyone who even has a first impression of someone is racist, depending on the factors coming into play, of course. That's just an unreasonable definition. Your comment that "I find Whites to be more insulting" is a stereotype in and of itself. So I could say that you're racist against whites, under your definition.
Racism: animosity toward other races: prejudice or animosity against people who belong to other races
Encarta ® World English Dictionary ©
Obviously, your definition differs from theirs.
"A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you have." - Barry Goldwater
"... the ostensible means [diversity] of acheiving a desired end [equality] had become the end itself." - Clarence Thomas
Maybe it is more appropriate to say that when you encounter racism it is usually from Whites. It sounds a little nicer.
it's okay. I have a black gay friend.
Despite the fact the definition of race in the English dictionary doesn't mean it actually applies in today's society. Remember the word "fag" in the dictionary, it used to mean to work until tired but now people use it as a slur against homosexuals. British culture use it as slang for cigarette. Words have different meanings than they do before. I will admit I am a racist to an extent, but not to the point of a full fledged KKK member. Those people actually mean to be racist where they do want to wipe out people. It all depends how big of a racist you are to define racist. If disliking certain people of a different race but tolerating them is racist then fine, I am a racist. Whether or not I get the culture itself confused with race, they both end up in the same debate either way.
I know that not everyone is racist just like how everybody else know this. However, everybody is bias, this does not mean someone is racist. There is alway something in people that someone else won't like whether it be through appearance, online communication, personal interaction, and etc. I think people get this bias confuse a lot with racism. When we get this bias and racist mix up, that's when people stir everything up and really turn it into an racist affair.
“I've heard black people say that people looking at them when they enter a public area”
Some black people who recently got into a racist inspired conflict get affected not knowing how to deal with “it”.
Their mindset can get stuck into thinking or generalizing the “it” and misfortune which comes along with it, making them to become very focused and sensitive in regard to their surroundings and its interaction.
Youngsters going through their puberty are quickly confused and are most likely to wonder around with all sorts of emotions which are difficult to be understood.
They become mixed up on an emotional level not knowing how to deal with “it”.
Yet gain, poor education is the cause for them to become a bit paranoid when “it” has been projecte upon them.
The good news, racism will die out over time, if more efforts would be put in place to kick education towards an responsible level, things might even speed up…lol
Black people need to stay in tune, and not mirror themselves when racism is projected upon them, because they should already understand not every white individual around is racist.
Stay cool, be cool, relax, zen…. is the message
It is said,
Serpents Egg – The Host of Seraphim
In Ethnic Studies, racism is a set of values and beliefs that rationalizes a society's structure of power and privilege.
The social definition of race is based on notion that certain physical characteristics are more important.
This is no such this as race. We are all human. Biologically proven, there are barely any differences between people of any color.
Ethnicity is a social construct based on obvious cultural characteristics and the notion that they are important.
Race and ethnicity are just social illusions that were create to enforce the social construction called racism. Racism enforces society's structure of power and privilege toward one group of what we call race or ethnicity, thus creating inequality.
Because of the perception of the illusion of race and ethnicity, people treat other people differently which is plain stupid to me. We are all human, that is how I see people.
Of course if anyone hasn’t taken an Ethnic Studies course yet, this may be confusing with racism being a structure of power and privilege but I do hope this make sense. This is assuming that Ethnic Studies course teaches the same material.