If you have come to this article wanting to find out once and for all whether you are racist, then I am afraid you are about to be bitterly disappointed. Well, quite possibly.
The fact is, there is no simple way to answer the question ‘am I racist?’ and there are a number of reasons why this is the case. Firstly, the concept of race is a tricky one. The way in which it has been used in the last few hundred years has had less to do with a general distinction of people groups in various parts of the world and more to do with power and politics. It is a social construct that has been shaped significantly by pseudo-scientific. European notions of difference, power and domination in relation to other people groups. Therefore, you could argue that to treat race as a real notion, we might as well give room to explore the possibility of the existence of unicorns. With that said, refusing to engage with the concept of race is not entirely helpful. In as much as it has dubious connotations, there is no denying that it has had a profound effect on our world today and for many, any talk of race conjures much passionate emotion.
Secondly, what is thought of as being ‘racism’ is often highly debatable. While many may agree that ‘race’ does not exist, its effects as expressed through racism cannot be so easily denied. But what is racism? For in the past year alone, there have been a number of examples of figures who have been publicly denounced as ‘racist’; from football players to historians right down to members of the general population airing out their ‘grievances’ on public transport. One definition states that racism is simply ‘hatred or intolerance of another race or other races’, which would justify why such people would fall into this category. Nonetheless, as we’ve already seen, the whole concept of race in society has been shaped by ideas of power and superiority; therefore, in her book called Defining Racism and Sexism, Paula Rothenberg states that:
“Racism involves the subordination of people of color by white people. While individual persons of color may well discriminate against a white person or another person of color because of their race, this does not qualify as racism… because that person of color cannot depend upon all the institutions of society to enforce or extend his or her personal dislike. Nor can he or she call upon the force of history to reflect and enforce that prejudice. . . History provides us with a long record of white people holding and using power and privilege over people of color to subordinate them, not the reverse.”
Whilst some may find this definition uncomfortable, it gives a somewhat clearer picture of what racism is and perhaps also what it is not. Moreover, it shows that there is a more prevalent form of racism within ‘institutions of society’ that by-and-large remains unchallenged. It is certainly not as sexy or exciting as it’s the former definition that would include certain individuals on the front of tabloids being publicly reprimanded for ‘saying too much’.
As a result, for many of us, it may seem as though it is easy to dodge the ‘racist’ label; perhaps because we have friends of other ‘races’, or we do not wield positions of power and deny others access to the same rights and power as us. However, if we engage with the linked, underlying notions of both definitions offered of racism thus far—namely that there are people that we judge by appearance to be inferior to us and thus treat them accordingly—our innocence in this particular attitude may not be all that black and white.
It is easy to judge and point fingers at corrupt institutions and show disdain towards those who outwardly display ignorance and bigoted attitudes. However, it never hurts to challenge our own preconceptions towards those of others—irrespective of their race. It may not be that you are racist, but do you hold certain prejudices? Indeed, the root problem is found in what people think; human beings are well-versed in formulating opinions and judgements on people based purely on what they see. Consequently, their actions are affected by the judgements they make. Testing what we believe to be true of others and seeing whether it is grounded in reality is an important exercise and reveals much. Our prejudices are the most dangerous when they are unchallenged (‘this is just how I am’) and thought not to exist (‘I don’t see colour’). Western society is based on a legacy of privilege and racism, therefore simply ignoring racism as though it doesn’t exist ‘for you’ is not the best way to go.
Ultimately, I do not know whether you’re racist, my friend. If you are a biased high court judge by day and wear a pointy white hat by night—then perhaps you are. However, in the same way that the concepts of race and racism are troubled and blurry— perhaps your answer lies somewhere in a murky place between the two extremes.
Written by Kazstarlet
TweetMe @kazstarlet
Check out her personal blog HERE