General Discussion

gollygee

(22,336 posts)

20. It's interesting

Thu Feb 12, 2015, 09:51 PM

Feb 2015

Most white people define it the way you and the OP do, but most people of color define it as structural imbalances, or discrimination plus systemic power. But it's seen as "redefinition" if you don't accept the general view of white people, which is an example of how racism is structural. And then people use the dictionary as proof, which is precisely structural. The opinions of people of color don't often get into the dictionary because people of color are not generally the ones writing dictionaries.

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Racism [View all] GummyBearz Feb 2015 OP

How do you define racism? Brickbat Feb 2015 #1

I go by the dictionary definition GummyBearz Feb 2015 #6

That's fine. You'll find that many go by another definition. kwassa Feb 2015 #8

Yea GummyBearz Feb 2015 #9

At DU? JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #11

... the definition used by the social scientists ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #19

Many on DU, but not many as a whole. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin Feb 2015 #40

True, but don't also forget..... AverageJoe90 Feb 2015 #42

If you think Beck earned the Grammy over Beyonce. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #49

Pardon me, but how is *that* racist, necessarily? (Or are you just being facetious?) nt AverageJoe90 Feb 2015 #65

I'm just passing along what was explained to me. Nuclear Unicorn Feb 2015 #66

Oh, I see now. AverageJoe90 Feb 2015 #67

No. n/t 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #2

May I ask GummyBearz Feb 2015 #10

Racism, according to the weight of 20th century social science ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #15

The dominant race that has the power to create systemic and institutionalized racism .... kwassa Feb 2015 #18

True. Though what might happen treestar Feb 2015 #37

+1000 smirkymonkey Feb 2015 #47

+1 uponit7771 Feb 2015 #50

What? uppityperson Feb 2015 #3

Racism means different things to different people. ZombieHorde Feb 2015 #4

Words should not be redefined. Unless your a fan of double-speak and a memory hole. Glassunion Feb 2015 #12

Does/do science/scientists ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #17

Terms are not redefined by science. Glassunion Feb 2015 #22

Okay ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #24

True. Glassunion Feb 2015 #30

I largely agree ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #31

Agreed. Glassunion Feb 2015 #35

Oppressed is the key word ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #36

Oppression IMHO includes many of those things. Glassunion Feb 2015 #38

Exactly ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #45

Social sciences are not phil89 Feb 2015 #32

So their observations and conclusions are to be ignored ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #34

It's interesting gollygee Feb 2015 #20

Excellent post, a great and brief summation. kwassa Feb 2015 #21

Since I never gave a definition, please do tell me what my definition is. Glassunion Feb 2015 #23

Posted without comment ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #33

What's the true meaning of the word "racism?" nt ZombieHorde Feb 2015 #25

Definition Glassunion Feb 2015 #39

I think that is the common definition, but many don't use that definition. ZombieHorde Feb 2015 #51

Nor does describing behavior and how ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #57

And for academics, i.e., the 20th century social scientist that study the topic ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #16

I agree, but I don't think that is the common use of the word in the US. ZombieHorde Feb 2015 #27

Funny ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #28

You usually describe what you're talking about. ZombieHorde Feb 2015 #29

Of course it is. NaturalHigh Feb 2015 #5

Racism is more of a sinkhole in the street. kwassa Feb 2015 #7

Petulant childishness over a hidden post is also a two way street. Glassunion Feb 2015 #13

+1 N/T JustAnotherGen Feb 2015 #14

More of a parking lot.... daleanime Feb 2015 #26

According to pretty much every single valid definition out there......yes. AverageJoe90 Feb 2015 #41

Oh. You're back. And inserting yourself into race threads again. kwassa Feb 2015 #48

And by "valid definition" you mean .... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #54

Good points. NaturalHigh Feb 2015 #64

one of the favorite tactics used to confuse noiretextatique Apr 2015 #73

Racism has many defintions imo. romanic Feb 2015 #43

Welcome to DU, romanic. =) AverageJoe90 Feb 2015 #44

Thanks romanic Feb 2015 #46

Hey homie! Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 2015 #53

Welcome to DU ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #55

Thanks for the welcome. :D romanic Feb 2015 #58

I understand what you said ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #59

Yes you do understand why people would resist new information that would force them to randys1 Feb 2015 #61

Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2015 #63

I'm not resisting anything. romanic Feb 2015 #68

Okay. ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #69

No. romanic Feb 2015 #70

I don't know ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #72

My Detroit suburb was whites only. kwassa Feb 2015 #60

Another Michigandier. :) romanic Feb 2015 #71

Not sure what you are asking Dyedinthewoolliberal Feb 2015 #52

He/she is asking ... 1StrongBlackMan Feb 2015 #56

In America only whites can be racist, now Black folk can be and sometimes are very BIGOTED randys1 Feb 2015 #62