Conversation

anybody can be racist against any skin color. Racism is more likely to occur in cultures that have narratives that make the racists feel completely justified and in the moral right. It's also more likely to occur when it's rebranded under a more minor or acceptable name.
16
278
Replying to
You are bypassing the fact that the term “racism” has long outgrown its dictionary definition (and, in fact, MW is currently revising). Only people with power in a racist system can perpetuate racism. Anyone, regardless of power within the system, can be prejudiced.
9
7
Replying to
Some people mean different things by racism, but others don't. I commonly hear it used according to the dictionary definition. I also think it's important to keep it to the original definition; it carries a strong punch that 'prejudice' doesn't.
We obviously need a new word for the top down version of racism. Prejudice has nothing to do with ethnic group or skin color, nor does racism have to do with the powerful oppressing the powerless. Was the Stalinist regime racist against whites? Or the Maoists against Chinese?
1
Replying to
If most people use it according to the dictionary definition, how do you account for the proliferation of the term “reverse racism”? Ppl who use the strict dictionary definition are usually interested in racism as a personal morality, which is the least interesting type.
1