We no longer need the word "racist".

I've been reading various threads about racism on DU. The one that sparked this post was http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x611892 , but it's far from unusual.

Two memes crop up again and again:

1) All white people are racist, either subconsciously or actively; denying this is proof that one doesn't recognise one's own privilege.

2) Racism by non-whites doesn't matter - racism is a function of power, only white people have power, therefor only racism by whites is a major issue.

Putting these two together, we arrive at a very simple solution.

Abolish the word "racist", and simply use the word "white", with which is is synonymous, in its place.

It would make discussions like the one I've linked to so much simpler.




This isn't a serious suggestion, of course - there are still vast numbers of people who don't fall for either of the two fallacies I've outlined above, and use the word "racism" in a meaningful way. It is undeniable that a very large number of white people harbour racial prejudices, and that a smaller but still very large number are influenced in the way they act by them (although probably smaller in both cases than the corresponding fraction of black Americans). It is also undeniable that racial discrimination will make a far larger impact on your life in America if you're black than if you're white, and this is an extremely serious issue.

But nevertheless, if you want to be taken seriously when talking about racism, stop and think about this suggestion.

or to whom it's directed.

I posted my thoughts on "hatred" a day or two ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=609417&mesg_id=609417

Someone else has recently been skewering "bigottry"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x616775

I think that "racist" is a perfectly good word to use, provided it's used to mean "racist".

Everyone of them are small minded people. Hate comes from all kinds but we must try to stop it

... that DU is a "target rich environment" for stamping out racism, sexism, and homophobia.


:sarcasm:

Not just white people but ALL people who grow up in the U.S. are racist because they are taught to be. Some oppression has been ameliorated; but we still have a system that oppresses and exploits on the basis of skin color. It should not be about guilt-tripping whites, it should be getting rid of racist exploitation.

We should get rid of the word "meme".
Lee

n/t

and one I hardly ever hear in normal conversation.
By the way, congrats on your thought-provoking thread on reverse-racism.

Lots of poor poor people aw gettin all upset that poor widdle Imus is getting called a wacist.

:nopity:

That if you want criticising someone for being a racist to mean something, you have to refrain from referring to everyone as racist?

If Imus is racist for calling several black women "nappy headed hos," then my goodness! Everybody's racist! Dave Chappelle must be a racist! And Billy Nye the Science Guy must be racist! The Pixie Queen of Gumdrops must be racist!

Why, if we call Don Imus a racist, is anybody safe?!

:crazy:

FWIW, I think that Imus clearly is a racist; I - unlike many, including it seems, you - have the right to make that remark because I actually use the word in a meaningful sense.

There are more than three hundred million citizens fo the US who aren't Don Imus.

There are dozens of threads about Imus about at the moment. If you want to discuss him, go and post in one. I'm talking about the use of the term "racist". If you can't separate the two, then I may use you as a case study but I won't take your views seriously.

Bornagin...don't be picking on Bill Nye the Science Guy...<g>...
Lee

he was referring to? It has NOTHING to do with feeling "sad" aboutImus being called racist. Imus is a dumb fuck. It has to do with the the ridiculous comments made by people on these boards denying that racism or bigotry exist in any other community than the white community.

Some sanity amid the irrational chaos that passes for intellectualism on DU regarding this topic.