Racism

Since I'm a Black guy and this is all about how I see things, I figure I'll have to address the topic sooner or later. I think it best for me to introduce it so I can address it with a little nuance. We really don't want to wait until somebody make me talk about they momma.

A big problem in discussions of racism is that mainstream folks have a top-down approach to looking at it, where minorities have a bottom-up approach.

Which make absolute sense, when you think about it.

What mainstream types (of all races) are looking for is a definition of racism they can use to avoid being racist—or at least avoid being accused of it… all definitions are subject to Godëlian corruption. Minorities, on the other hand, prefer the disparate impact method of identifying racism—it has the advantage of denying purchase to evasive explanations and the disadvantage of all inductive reasoning… it can never state its result categorically.

Trying to define racism is pretty bizarre. It's literally like trying to define pain. No one who has ever felt pain needs a description of it; no one who has ever felt racism needs a description of it. I can work with racism on a conceptual level, but then it breaks out into its individually and collectively expressed parts— discrimination, hatred or fear, institutional racism (known to some of my fellow travellers as white supremacy). Those parts, however, are aspects of one dagger thrust, a single twist of the gut… racism.

By this very subjective description of the issue, it's obvious I take the bottom-up, inductive approach myself, despite its inability to assert racism with mathematical certainty.

This list comes from a page on the "Race, Racism and the Law" site maintained by Professor Vernellia R. Randall, Professor of Law at The University of Dayton School of Law. The author of the list was born in Bombay, India and moved to Northern Ireland when he was four. I think it fairly representative of the very subjective (and compelling) issues that are considered by most minorities when trying to decide if a person is a racist bastard.

1. Reducing people of other races to racial stereotypes. This can often be done in very subtle ways. For example, confusing race with culture, a belief that certain races are more adept in particular jobs or functions, a belief in differences in intelligence between the races, etc.
2. Advocation of segregation. This advocation represents a belief that different races should live apart, be educated separately or not intermarry. The advocacy can occur explicitly or implicitly.
3. Extreme pride in one's own country or race. Patriotism can be laudable but when taken to extremes, this sentiment becomes the basis of all fascist regimes.
4. Association. It is common for racists to associate with other racists. While not necessarily espousing racist opinions themselves it is common for them to personally defend other racists (without directly defending their opinions).
5. Belittlement of members of other races. Racist will constantly criticize the opinions of other races or even ridicule them. Often they will do it without explicitly making mention of the race of the person or persons.
6. Latent hate. An exaggerated reaction to any misconduct from a person of the other race, where the punishment is out of all proportion to the original wrong (real or perceived) and completely ignores the provocation which could have led to the original "wrong". Also, no feeling of moral debt to a racially "other" person for any favors he may have done.
7. Denial. Racist denies that the other person's or group's intelligence, cultural level, social status or other merits even in the face of overwhelming evidence which proves these qualities. The racist will attempt to "objectively" show proof, usually in the form of insignificant details to contradict the obvious.

This all being subjective, I can picture myself running afoul of that description by showing partial views of my viewpoint. For instance, I do see Black folks as the culturally creative part of the nation. That statement alone could be said to express points 1 and 3. If you're really sensitive you'd probably feel it at least touches on points 5, 6 and 7 as well. That's okay, for reasons most Black folks will understand without my needing to go into it (hey, might as well leave myself open to points 2 and 4, you know?). I do intend to go into it, but it's too raw and complex a topic to expect full coverage of in one sitting. So for now I'm leaving it at this. If it feels incomplete, good. It is. And I'll add parts to it at irregular intervals.

posted by Prometheus 6 at 6/14/2003 11:51:42 AM |