I've seen in a few places around the interwebs, and now here from Athena, the claim that for for "racism" to exist, it requires power. The logic seems to be that only white men can be racist because some old white men are who are in the echelons of power. Pretty much everybody else I have spoken to sees "racism" as simply people who discriminate or judge others based on race (usually negatively).
I might be a novelty to you as I understand racism to be more specific than just "simply people who who discriminate or judge others based on race". The specific being about viewing ethnic groups as superior or inferior.Usually, the superior is attributed to one's own ethnic group and inferior to either other ethnic groups or one specific ethnic group.
Possibly the "power" element is related to how the history of mankind has demonstrated that ethnic groups being in the category of perceiving themselves superior have been the same ethnic groups who subjected the perceived inferior ethnic groups to exploitation, slavery etc...to include colonization.
Why do people push the "black people can't be racist" rhetoric, why do they insist on that, and what do they think that will accomplish for them? Do they have any word for when black people discriminate and prejudge based on race. If it isn't racism, what do they call it? Do they define racism as they do so they can pretend this doesn't exist? We asked this in another thread where Athena was pushing this definition, and she declined to answer.
IMO, the issue here is how one defines racism. I do not believe that the definition I presented above which is more specific than yours is somehow applicable to Black people being the ethnic group who has demonstrated throughout the history of mankind the propensity to exploit other ethnic groups while cultivating the sense of being superior to other ethnic groups.
Can Black people nurture prejudices and negative stereotypes based on race? Sure. However, as an ethnic group and based on their history, do they fall under the category of an ethnic group who has persistently acted on any sense of ethnic superiority to then exploit, enslave other ethnic groups they perceived as inferior to them? Non.
And what do you think the effect of hearing "black people can't be racist" will be on the listener? I think it quickly labels the speaker as somebody not to be taken seriously. Saying such things only undermines the valid points and calls to action these people may otherwise have. It seems to be a great way to lose support in fighting white racism, and yet it is done by those who claim to be the most dedicated to that cause. Is appears designed to backfire.... so why do it?
Again...if one pays attention to the history of mankind, there should not be a response based on "not taking the speaker seriously". Rather making the effort to recognize that the listener might have adopted a definition of racism which deviates from what racism actually means. Which specific concept is at play when using the term "racism".More importantly, can we seriously conclude that people of Black ethnicity whether it be on the African continent, on the Northern American Continent or in Europe are a people notorious for considering themselves superior to other ethnic groups and have acted on such sense to the point of empowering themselves to exploit other ethnic groups. The answer is that there is no way we could reach such conclusion.
IMO declaring that "Black people cannot be racist" is directly related to an analysis of which ethnic group(s) have persistently exhibited the traits of identifying themselves as superior (race supremacy) versus people of Black ethnicity who have been the ethnic group persistently viewed as inferior.
I brought up African continent, Northern American continent and Europe because that is where my field of observation has been, regarding culturally induced mentalities which promote the concept of "race supremacy". I must say that it has not been my observation that people of Black ethnicity have been an ethnic group nurturing or cultivating any sense of being superior to other ethnic groups. Africa having been the most demonstrative field of observation on my part as I was a daughter of French colonials. Further, it has not been my observation of a phenomenon of self empowerment based on any belief of "race supremacy" exhibited by people of Black ethnicity on either continent.
I must confirm here that our population of Sub Sahara immigrant origin in France certainly cannot feel that they are in any way shape or form superior to our Caucasian/European origin French. They are the ethnic group still carrying the stigma imposed on them via our past colonialism.
I don't get it. If you are trying to undo prejudice and tribal impulse, you shouldn't be doing it with prejudice and tribal impulse. The same goes for any feminists who would claim that women can't be sexist or are incapable of sexual assault against men (don't know if there are any). If you are not willing to look for prejudice and tribal impulse and acknowledge it in yourself, how can you demand others do so in regard to prejudice and tribal impulse against you?
Again, issue here being how one defines racism.
