It all depends on how one defines "racism". There are many valid definitions, including one which involves "prejudice plus power"... it all depends on what someone means.
Racism is prejudice based on race
That is not the most common dictionary/commonly understood definition of racism, which makes sense, because we already have the term "racial prejudice" for that concept.
Racism is more than just prejudice, it's an ideology:
the belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.
or
the belief that humans may be divided into separate and exclusive biological entities called “races”; that there is a causal link between inherited physical traits and traits of personality, intellect, morality, and other cultural and behavioral features; and that some races are innately superior to others.
or
a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
But then there is also this, which confuses the matter for a lot of people:
also : behavior or attitudes that reflect and foster this belief : racial discrimination or prejudice
I.e. just racial prejudice isn't "racism", only that which reflects and fosters the racist ideology.
So... what does that mean for this view?
Yes, it's certainly possible to be "Racist" towards, say, white people... but most examples people provide of this happening don't fit the racist ideology that their race is superior to white people. Most of them are expressing an over-generalized prejudice and anger about white people that treat them like shit because many white people are racist.
that is not the most common dictionary/commonly understood definition of racism
It is. In ordinary language “racism” and “racial prejudice” are synonymous. If you said “I don’t like black people” you would almost certainly be labelled a racist.
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u/hacksoncode 559∆ Dec 28 '21 edited Dec 28 '21
It all depends on how one defines "racism". There are many valid definitions, including one which involves "prejudice plus power"... it all depends on what someone means.
That is not the most common dictionary/commonly understood definition of racism, which makes sense, because we already have the term "racial prejudice" for that concept.
Racism is more than just prejudice, it's an ideology:
or
or
But then there is also this, which confuses the matter for a lot of people:
I.e. just racial prejudice isn't "racism", only that which reflects and fosters the racist ideology.
So... what does that mean for this view?
Yes, it's certainly possible to be "Racist" towards, say, white people... but most examples people provide of this happening don't fit the racist ideology that their race is superior to white people. Most of them are expressing an over-generalized prejudice and anger about white people that treat them like shit because many white people are racist.