Jeremy Stangroom

Perhaps. It seems plausible though that something like the conceptual claim I had in mind might complement an attempt of the sort that you suggest. The conceptual thought might motivate the/a political move. The latter doesn't seem particularly insidious to me anyway.

But it isn't merely a conceptual claim, not least because there are plenty of alternative conceptions of racism. It's a rhetorical bludgeon that often leavers a wholly mistaken view of the discipline of sociology (where concepts are inevitably contested).

Controversial conceptual claims are still conceptual claims though, right? Perhaps I was wrong to put it in terms of concepts. It seems like a claim about the nature of a particular kind of moral wrong, which distinguishes that wrong from others.

Right, but they're not *merely* conceptual if they involve an attempt to police the proper use of language. It's a political move.

What is not being said: Here is a fruitful concept of racism that picks out an extant social phenomenon in its institutional/historical context. What is being said: This is the only correct use of the word racism.

I'm not so sure. The original tweet seems more capacious to me. The viewpoint I described certainly is. I'm going to give claims like this the benefit of the doubt. Thanks for exchanging though!