Some people believe that Racism is race plus power, and therefore anyone who is of a racial minority group has no power to be Racist; they can be prejudiced, they can be bigoted, but they can't actually be racist. Do you agree?

I do not agree. I think it's a dumb excuse to excuse racism.

Besides, the idea that you have "power" just because you are white is a racist and stereotypical idea in it of itself.

If you are doing something against a person of another race because of it, you're exerting power. So even by that definition, you're racist. Minorities can be racist. The idea that only white people can be racist just screams double standard.

In this day and age, I hear more racist taunting coming from minority groups than I do some majorities. But overall, it's more racism against any sort of immigrant.

Anyone of any group can be racist but there is no institution in place to placate the racism of someone who is a social minority. IOW, a black man can hate white people and yes that would make him a racist, but his racism doesn't have the clout to strike fear in or belittle white people as a whole the same way a white man's racism against black people would.

^^^^I disagree. I think today's social minorities have plenty of clout. Maybe in the past this was true, but not anymore.

JM130ELM wrote:

Anyone of any group can be racist but there is no institution in place to placate the racism of someone who is a social minority. IOW, a black man can hate white people and yes that would make him a racist, but his racism doesn't have the clout to strike fear in or belittle white people as a whole the same way a white man's racism against black people would.

I very much disagree. Tell that to the white man whose car breaks down in the projects of Compton.

Rockbird wrote:

JM130ELM wrote:

Anyone of any group can be racist but there is no institution in place to placate the racism of someone who is a social minority. IOW, a black man can hate white people and yes that would make him a racist, but his racism doesn't have the clout to strike fear in or belittle white people as a whole the same way a white man's racism against black people would.

I very much disagree. Tell that to the white man whose car breaks down in the projects of Compton.

since when does the exception prove the rule? every major u.s city has areas where it is not safe for people of a certain group to go. however this is different than not being able to hail a cab, having a realtor direct you to a neighborhood for "your kind", the probability that you will be pulled over on bull-ish pretenses or seeing people of color go to jail longer than your "average joe" for the same crime. the list could go on and on. can a person of a minority group be racist? ABSOLUTELY. but don't act like when you hear the term "all-american girl/boy" you don't think "white."

Your post assumes that I'm white.

It can and does go both ways.

Rockbird wrote:

Your post assumes that I'm white.

does it?

I think everyone is able to be racist. Racism is a state of mind, first and foremost. Someone can keep their mouths shut and never hurt a fly, and still have an ugly heart.

Definitely.

Everyone has the ability to be racist but let's not pretend that all racism has an equal effect. A white persons racism IS more powerful than a black persons.

Only in certain situations.

Chris wrote:

Some people believe that Racism is race plus power, and therefore anyone who is of a racial minority group has no power to be Racist; they can be prejudiced, they can be bigoted, but they can't actually be racist. Do you agree?

Yup.

Rockbird wrote:

Only in certain situations.

I would say in most situations.

AtownPeep wrote:

Rockbird wrote:

Only in certain situations.

I would say in most situations.

I would say in all situations. Any situation where it isn't is a fluke of nature.

Sorry, I don't agree. I think racism cause damage on all sides. I think some of the worst accounts of it I've encountered come from those who you'd think would be on my side.

Chris wrote:

Some people believe that Racism is race plus power, and therefore anyone who is of a racial minority group has no power to be Racist; they can be prejudiced, they can be bigoted, but they can't actually be racist. Do you agree?

Well, if a member of a minority group can be prejudiced and bigoted too (and they can) I really don't think it really matters much if they're not "racist" because of a lack of somekind of economic or social power. There are some powerless white bigots out there. Does being powerless mean they're just scumbag bigots and not really racist? Besides. Didn't Chris Rock say that the most racist people in the world are old black men?

The sentiment that racism is power-based is an outdated belief from the days of Jim Crow and before. It should never be implied that in order to be a racist, a person has to have the prestige to be able to damage the lives of those he feels superior to because it would let a WHOLE LOT of people off the hook for their ignorant views (what innate social, demographic or economic "power" does some N-word spouting hick redneck in a trailer park have?)

Racism is the belief that the differences between the human races makes some innately superior (or inferior) to others and/or having blanket disdain/regard for people on the basis of race alone. Anyone of any group can be guilty of that kind of ignorance.

Yes - most definitely - minorities can be racist.

AtownPeep wrote:

Everyone has the ability to be racist but let's not pretend that all racism has an equal effect. A white persons racism IS more powerful than a black persons.

I don't believe a person of any group can be let off the hook for the "ability" to be racist. If you dislike, discriminate against or are weary of someone for no other reason than the color of their skin or their ethnic origins then you are a racist. Plain & simple.

But anyone who believes that racism from someone who is of the majority doesn't have much more clout to menace a minority community than the other way around has their head buried. And I'm not just talking about certain areas or neighborhoods where one group dominates either.

Black people can in fact be racist and victimize "a" white target, but it won't patronize or panic the white community overall the same way a white racists attitudes or stunts against a black person will the black community. They don't have the same consequences and that's just the bottom line. Everything would have to be fair and equal across the board literally and figuratively for the two racisms to be equal.

Minorities can hate and lash out at the majority but they cannot oppress them and oppression is a big component of the institution that is RACISM.