Quote:
Originally Posted by Disco King
Yeah, some sociologists have tried to redefine "racism" as not just "prejudice and/or discrimination on the basis of race," but to rather be synonymous with institutional racism (prejudice + power).
I think their rationale is that they don't want the racism of minorities against whites to be considered morally equivalent to the racism of whites against minorities. Especially when white racists try to make them seem equivalent to muddy the waters of debate, I can understand this intent. But it's unnecessary, because one can easily call any prejudice or discrimination on the basis of race "racism" while still holding that racism backed by power, namely the racism of whites against minorities, is worse because it has wider societal implications than a single interpersonal interaction. Also, language can't really be changed by fiat like that, even if the intent is well-meaning.
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1. racism is dependent on a power structure, it's based on a group of people removing power and dehumanizing another group of people based on their race. You can't have one without the other.
2. Prejudice and bigotry can happen from minorities but it will never be racism, exactly because it doesn't carry the same repercussions, a white person will never get arrested, murdered, beaten up, forbidden from entering a store based on their skin color.
3. Language is constantly changing and evolving to suit the needs of the time.