Main Entry: rac·ism
Pronunciation: ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-
Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
— rac·ist -sist also -shist noun or adjective
Pronunciation: ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-
Function: noun
Date: 1933
1 : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
2 : racial prejudice or discrimination
— rac·ist -sist also -shist noun or adjective
Now I bet you are wondering why I posted the definition for racism. I was reading an article that was posted on an AOL sub-site (? is that what you would call it?) called Black Voices. (The actual website is bvblackspin.com). I understand why the article was written and to me the article was well written and addressed an important issue. What disturbed me, however, was the comments that were left on said article (as well as comments left on the website for previous articles). It seems to me that people in this country, of all colors, need to learn what the definition of racism is before they start spouting that something is racist.
A few months ago I commented on an article on the website, and a woman basically told me that "black people cannot be racist because racism is only against blacks". This pissed me off to no end! The woman who said this at first sounded like she was intelligent and could have a healthy debate with someone. Then those words popped up on the screen. I was literally floored. This woman honestly thought that the only racists in the world were white people. Someone please tell me where in that definition it says that. If you can find it then I will gladly admit that I am wrong, but I did go to school. I know how to read. I know how to use a dictionary. In every dictionary I have ever picked up it never says anything about which races it applies to.
This brings me to another point. Why is it called racism when a black person is discriminated against based on color, but when a white person is discriminated against it is called reverse-racism? If I am not mistaken reverse is one way of saying "the opposite of" So that would mean that reverse-racism would mean "the opposite of racism" which is not racism. That statement in itself is an oxymoron. Racism is racism period. No matter who it is against. Whether they are black, white, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, middle-eastern, Native American, or even an alien from Mars (I am sure that would bring a whole new issue of spec-ism).
I have noticed that people like to say that the problem with racism in this country got worse when President Obama took office, but that is not the case and those of you who think so are being a little bit naive. There has always been a problem with it. And when I say that I mean from all ends of the spectrum because white people have been on the receiving end as well. I believe that when President Obama took office, people just became more open with their feelings of racism. For some reason it became alright to express concerns based on race. Why is it all of a sudden okay?
Until everyone learns that anyone can be the victim of racism just as easily as they themselves can, the issue of racism will never be solved. Each race needs to understand that it is no better than the other. This should not be a problem at all. But then again, it might be asking too much of people.
A few months ago I commented on an article on the website, and a woman basically told me that "black people cannot be racist because racism is only against blacks". This pissed me off to no end! The woman who said this at first sounded like she was intelligent and could have a healthy debate with someone. Then those words popped up on the screen. I was literally floored. This woman honestly thought that the only racists in the world were white people. Someone please tell me where in that definition it says that. If you can find it then I will gladly admit that I am wrong, but I did go to school. I know how to read. I know how to use a dictionary. In every dictionary I have ever picked up it never says anything about which races it applies to.
This brings me to another point. Why is it called racism when a black person is discriminated against based on color, but when a white person is discriminated against it is called reverse-racism? If I am not mistaken reverse is one way of saying "the opposite of" So that would mean that reverse-racism would mean "the opposite of racism" which is not racism. That statement in itself is an oxymoron. Racism is racism period. No matter who it is against. Whether they are black, white, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, middle-eastern, Native American, or even an alien from Mars (I am sure that would bring a whole new issue of spec-ism).
I have noticed that people like to say that the problem with racism in this country got worse when President Obama took office, but that is not the case and those of you who think so are being a little bit naive. There has always been a problem with it. And when I say that I mean from all ends of the spectrum because white people have been on the receiving end as well. I believe that when President Obama took office, people just became more open with their feelings of racism. For some reason it became alright to express concerns based on race. Why is it all of a sudden okay?
Until everyone learns that anyone can be the victim of racism just as easily as they themselves can, the issue of racism will never be solved. Each race needs to understand that it is no better than the other. This should not be a problem at all. But then again, it might be asking too much of people.
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