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Why Reverse Racism Isn’t Real

By Sara Luckey • March 21, 2013 • Editorial, Observations, Social Issues
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I spend a lot of time on the internet. I write in various places on the internet, I interact in lively and active commenting communities at different websites, and I partake in a multitude of online forums that have an ongoing and pretty continuous stream of communication between the contributors. Ya know what I’ve noticed? Any time a PoC starts to talk about their experiences with racism, a white person chimes in to derail the conversation and talk about their own experiences with ‘reverse racism.’ And yes, I’m going to say ‘any time’ and not ‘sometimes’ because I have never once been in an internet dialogue amongst commenters and observed a PoC bring up their experience with real, actual, systemic or overt racism and not encountered a white person trying to make it all about their experiences with perceived racism. Not once. It happens every time. Ya know what else? That shit is tired, played out, and incorrect. So let’s talk about why reverse racism isn’t real and why white people need to let that one go.

Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching. It is the prevalence of racism within social structures and institutional norms, along with implicit and explicit enforcement by members of a group, that allows racism to run rampant and unchecked. America is a country seeped in white privilege, and our social structure is built on colonization and forced slave labor that then turned into further systemic and ongoing oppression of PoC. We have a culture that presents whiteness as the norm and all else as ‘other’ or different. White is presented as the beauty ideal, the main face in the media (unless we’re talking about criminals, then PoC get unfairly misrepresented), the standard, the regular. It’s a structural problem that affects the perceptions of jurors in criminal cases, admissions to colleges, funding for public schools, welfare and food stamp programs, the redrawing of district lines that affect where we vote, who we see represented on T.V. and how, what schools people have access to, what neighborhoods people live in, an individual’s shopping experience, access to goods and services; it’s extensive and a part of the fabric that let’s whiteness remain dominant in American culture.

When I’m online talking to people and a PoC is sharing their experience with racism, I’m listening and I am learning. This is an experience I will probably never have in my lifetime, simply because of the skin I was born into. I need to know what I can do to be a better ally and to make the world a more equal place one interaction at a time. So I observe, I listen, I join the conversation, and I try to understand. Inevitably, here comes a white person either claiming that they have a similar experience because they grew up in an all black neighborhood and got chased on the way home from school a few times, or because their black friend tried to touch their straight hair one time without permission and OMG THAT IS SO RACIST and it is the exact same thing, or some other such bullshittery, and they expect that ignorance to be suffered in silence and with respect. If you are that kid who got chased after school, that’s horrible, and I feel bad for you. And if you are that person who had another person try to touch you without your permission, that was wrong of them, and I’m sorry that happened to you. But dudes, that shit is not racism.

reverse-racism

The situations in which you, fellow white person, were involved were unfortunate and inappropriate, this is true. But to claim that these experiences were ‘reverse racism’ both diminishes and minimalizes the real and actual experiences of PoC who really do encounter racism. There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people. Sorry to break it to you, but your individual suffering is just that, individual. The individuals acting against you do not have the institutionalized power to actively oppress you in every facet of your life, nor would their racism be upheld and supported by government, media, and legislation if they did. Because you’re white.

Reverse racism isn’t real because we live in a culture that supports and enforces whiteness as the norm and PoC as other. If you experience discrimination, prejudice, or bigotry, it’s valid to be upset about it and want to talk about it. It is not valid to claim that it is reverse racism, and certainly not valid to claim that it is racism on par with anything like the institutionalized racism that PoC will come into contact with. When a white person starts talking about reverse racism, what they’re really doing is derailing a conversation to make it about them. Their white privilege leads them to believe that what they say both matters and needs to be heard and is important and the conversation should stop to focus on their perceived ills. You know what? When somebody is talking about racism they have experienced, that conversation is not all about you, nor should you expect it to be, so stop with the derailing and just listen and learn.

When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges. And while it may feel bad to realize your privilege is crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted can be taken away from you, it is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience reverse racism.

What do you think? Do you ever get tired of people trying to make ‘reverse racism’ an active part of  dialogue? Do you feel like people are derailing when a PoC is discussing racism and another person tries to claim they have experienced ‘reverse racism’? Do you think ‘reverse racism’ is real and this whole piece is off point? Meet me in the comments and let’s talk about it.

Written by Sara Luckey
You can tweet with her here, talk beauty with her here, or engage in a conversation about current events as viewed through a sociopolitical, feminist lens here.

LOL Reverse Racism image by Mark Aguhar.

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  • http://twitter.com/CoreyLeeWrenn Corey Lee Wrenn

    Love it–well said.

  • English Teacher in the South

    I agree that white people talking about reverse racism is pretty irrelevant because there isn’t an overreaching issue with it, BUT it doesn’t mean white people don’t experience racism. And this would be the point when I tell all the stories of white racism I know, but I won’t. What I find even more frightening is the way in which those who have been discriminated against due to their race, in turn discriminate others due to their sexuality. In my classroom, the African-American students are the most likely to use slurs like fag or show disgust about homosexuality. Yes, reverse racism exists, but it’s not important. There are other important issues that you should spend your time on, like minorities hating other minorities.

    • Kaitlyn

      If you’re going to make an “all racism is racism” argument, calling it “reverse racism” isn’t helpful. It still implies the power of the white majority, that discrimination against minorities is “normal” and discrimination against the majority should be considered a special case. I’m sure that’s not what you intended, but word choice is important.

      I do agree that we have a lot of work to do regarding sexual discrimination. Unfortunately, a lot of people still think homosexuality is a choice, so they aren’t as sympathetic to that particular minority group.

      • Rémi Cerruti

        Why the discrimination against the majority should be considered a special case?
        The notion of racism doesn’t imply “majority power”, it implies “hate of a special group of people”, whatever the group is.
        It is important not to forget the meaning of words when talking about such important words.

    • http://twitter.com/TheFatherTeresa The Father Teresa

      The homophobia might be from a religion that was forced upon them

      • Geenius_at_Wrok

        More likely it comes from a culture that embraces sharply distinct and unequal sex roles and that exalts a physically strong and violent concept of masculinity. Such cultures are often intensely homophobic, because there’s no way to fit homosexuality into their schema of sex roles.

        • The Father Teresa

          feminist huh?

    • bluevw16

      I think this article topic is very important because it demonstrates a lack of understanding on the part of the majority. White privilege far, far, far outweighs any isolated incidents of discrimination that a white person may have experienced.
      As far as the homophobia, there is this very pervasive idea in African-American culture that a man has to be “hard.” Just listen to hip hop. This in some way stems from the institutionalized racism that Sarah was talking about and the poverty and bad neighborhoods it cultivates. When you grow up in the school of hard knocks you have to develop a thick skin to protect yourself. Being gay does not fit the image of being “hard.” It makes you “weak,” a “bitch” so to speak or so the ideology goes. It’s an unfortunate part of the culture that seriously needs to change. Especially since this idea of being hard often gets young men in prison. The strong influence the Church has on the African-American community helps spread the homophobia as well.

  • Name

    My thought on this in general is just that racism is racism. If an individual of any race has issues with another individual purely based on their race it’s racism. And I do believe that there are individuals of various races that may be racist against Caucasian individuals. The idea that there is a reverse racism though is ridiculous because that in and of itself is racist because it implies that an individual is being racist against a Caucasian person. When someone says reverse racism it is most likely not an individual from a minority race. I, too, think it is important to be careful about assuming any crime or inappropriate action done by one race to another is inherently racist. People commit crimes for a multitude of reasons and one should never assume until they know what happened. And that’s all I’ll say. I am of the opinion that no one should be judged by what they inherently are (race, gender, sexual orientation etc) but by who they are. Sadly, that day may never come.

    • Name

      Oh and also I failed to mention that reverse racism still implies an “other” mentality like that an individual of a minority race can’t be racist they have to be “reverse racist”. It’s like saying only Caucasian people can be racists and is still excluding others. It just seems silly to me.

      • Sara Luckey

        Nobody can be reverse racist. That’s the point and it’s in the title of the article. Reverse racism isn’t real. In America, only white people can be racist. PoC can express bigotry, prejudice and discrimination, but they do not have the systemic, institutional or government support of their bigotry for it to be racism. Do you know what I mean? And there absolutely is an ‘other’ in American culture. I also address that in the article. White is presented as the norm in the majority of all media and government representation and PoC are presented as ‘other’. Similar somewhat to male being presented as the standard and female being presented as ‘other’ in our representation and language usage.

        • Anonymous

          I was agreeing that there is an other mentality in society in general and that the idea of “reverse racism” perpetuates that idea.

        • eccles11

          What has happened here is that ‘Racism’ which can refer to systematic oppression by one race over another and personal racism have been conflated. One generally accepted definition has been thrown away, leaving only the other, which is defined in such a way that only one group can be labelled as such.

          You must remember that in greater society both defintions are accepted. It is possible for a hispanic man, for example to think black people are inferior, genetically, to him. That is an example of racism under the generally accepted definition.

        • librtee_dot_com

          So, ah, where exactly do you get this definition of ‘racism’ from?

          You admit that PoC can express ‘bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination.’

          But not ‘racism?’

          No, it boils down to a nonsense semantical debate about the meaning of the word ‘racism.’ In short, you’ve (well, the so-called ‘social justice movement’ has) created your own definition, and you are trying to enforce this definition on wider society.

          But wider society, who sees racism as feelings of racial hatred/racial superiority, isn’t buying it.

      • JK

        I agree. ‘Racism’ is basing one’s treatment of someone on race and to say that a comment is racist from a white person but not from a PoC is silly (I’d even say racist). ‘Bigotry’ and ‘prejudice’ are broad terms which cover racism, homophobia, sexism, xenophobia etc. and are unrelated to how much power an individual or group has. That’s not to say all these types of racism are equally harmful or that whites don’t have more power and privilege, just that it’s sadly possible for the oppressed to be racist individually (not ‘reverse racist’, that would imply… being racist about one’s own race?)

        That said, we’re discussing semantics. The important points of this article – that systemic racism still exists, that it is far worse than the cases of individual racism experienced by caucasians (which are probably far fewer than experienced by a member of a minority race) and the we need to shut up and listenso we can learn about this problem to help solve it – are dead on.

    • Josie

      “If an individual of any race has issues with another individual purely based on their race it’s racism”

      I would beg to disagree. What you’ve described is prejudice. *ism requires that the party with prejudice is a member of a group that has power or privilege that the receiver does not have.

      • Grinderrr

        “*ism requires that the party with prejudice is a member of a group that has power or privilege”

        No it doesn’t. I’ve seen this argument floating around that all ‘-isms’ are denoted to institutionalized, governing systems and it’s blatantly wrong. There are plenty of ‘isms’ that have their roots in philosophy, nature, science, individual thinking, etc. The big problem I see here is how some people are trying to redefine certain phrases and ideas to suit their argument. I think looking through the comments section it’s pretty obvious that putting a narrow definition on a wide-spread and complicated problem only causes further divide among people.

      • librtee_dot_com

        Where exactly do you get this definition of *ism from?

    • Sara Luckey

      I don’t understand what you mean. Yes, racism is racism, I agree with that. But for something to be an aspect of racism, the components of prejudice+power must both be present. When they are not both present, you have bigotry or prejudice, which is what (and I mention America a couple of times in this piece because I am speaking about America) white people will encounter. White people will not encounter actual racism because there is not institutional or systemic power behind the bigotry exhibited toward them by PoC. Our social structure is not set up so that PoC are in power and white people aren’t. It’s the opposite of that.

      I agree with you that people should not be judged for merely existing as they are.

      • JackDman

        Non-Whites not in power??? You got to be joking??? Barak Obama isn’t exactly a White man!! How about his right hand man Eric Holder?? He’s not a White guy either! Not that George Bush or Bill Clinton ever looked out for the overall interests of White people. But with our brown colored Jesus in the White house the last 5 years, you would think this idiotic narrative that “the White man is in power” would finally be seen for the BS that it is!! I guess not! Some people are either blind, stupid or hopelessly brainwashed!

  • http://www.facebook.com/cathy.knight.395 Cathy Knight

    Thank you for this post and i could not agree more. As a white anti-racist this definition and analysis of racism is critical to how we hear each other and change the systemic institution of racism and white privilege. Thank you! I will share widely.

    • Sara Luckey

      Thank you so much! I appreciate it!

  • Pingback: Why Reverse Racism Isn’t Real | Project Sara

  • Kaitlyn

    Sara, you are correct. A PoC hating white people is not the same as having to try to overcome systematic discrimination every day of your life. White people, I know we don’t “want” to be more privileged than anyone else, but the fact remains that we are. Claiming “reverse racism” doesn’t make us more relatable: it makes us insensitive assholes.

    • Sara Luckey

      Exactly. It trivializes and demeans the actual racism that PoC encounter on the regular. It’s an example of white privilege to even be able to cater to the concept of ‘reverse racism’ as being real.

      • caleb k

        I am in high school in america, and recently at our black history month assembly after we divided into groups to talk a black student was asked how he has to deal with racism and how it affects him. He said it does not, he has white friends and everyone sees him as equal, and (he is in a program that takes underprivileged kids from the city to our more fortunate school) he said that the other black kids in the program make the choice to sit at the same table, and nobody rejects them based on history or race. That being said, although racism is not so prevalent in my side of america, it definitely exists. First I want to mention we have a black president in america, and arguably nobody is oppressed systematically based on race, I have only in america seen diversity as a positive thing. Racism is just treating someone differently based on race, and if its against whites its not reverse or anything, its just racism. I recently got to experience what its like to have a true lack of diversity, I went to china as a foreign exchange student. There were only native chinese people in my school, and the other guy who came with me and I were the only white people we saw for the two months (outside of beijing and touristy places). The kids were curious as to what it would be like to be in a diverse setting. They asked if we had asians at my school. I told them they made up 10-20% and they were shocked. They asked if there were blacks at my school, and I said they made up a similar percentage. Here is what I did not expect. They asked me if they were the bad kids, they asked if I liked any of the black kids, they were shocked when I said they were no better or worse than anyone else, and that I had friends of all races. I had never directly seen somebody racist, and I still don’t think racism, especially institutionalized racism, exists in america, but I did learn what a lack of diversity can do, and how it impacts your thoughts. I think, if white kids grow up sheltered and racist to blacks, its racism, and if blacks grow up sheltered and racist to whites, its racism, and getting rid of racism of all sorts through diversity should be the goal, not fighting a specific form. I know my views are probably frowned upon as a white male teen, but I feel I have insight that is valuable to the topic at hand.

        • Anonymous

          I agree. Reverse racism doesn’t exist, purely because racism is discriminating against anyone because of their race. Speaking as a white high schooler, I know racism exists, but it is far less prevalent than it has ever been before, and diversity is being seen more and more often as something to be celebrated. I have an adopted cousin who’s black, and whenever I go to visit his family, he and all of his friends make fun of me for being white, and acting white, and dressing white. So, no, “reverse” racism doesn’t exist, but racism against whites definitely does.

          • JasmineLei

            You’re both in high school and haven’t had the opportunity yet to study this topic thoroughly, so I can understand why you don’t seem to grasp the concept, but to both of the above commentators: “racism” against white people is not even close to the same thing as the actual racism that people of color face. This article makes it pretty clear why that is so, and if you don’t understand then I highly recommend you take a sociology class if you go to college.

          • John Henderson

            Are you kidding me? High school and college are both places where I experienced extreme racism and was profiled for being white by other black students in a predominately white school at that! I don’t care what term you use for it ‘racism’ ‘prejudice’ etc. It was wrong an I experienced it mainly in h.s. The worst part is…there was no one to help you because the teachers and staff ignored it and would not address it in any way lest their be discrimination suits! I am a woman by the way(pic next to my name is not mine). Anyway the black girls in our class (& their were only two) made everyone’s life hell! They called us namesthat were racial slurs

          • JasmineLei

            Your personal experiences, while unfortunate, do not equate to the systemic, institutional racism that people of color face. I am not attempting to invalidate any white person’s experiences with prejudice. Prejudice is hurtful to everyone who experiences it. What I’m saying is that you, and the other people posting on here insisting that what white people face is RACISM, are using the wrong language and misunderstanding the concept of racism. Yes, white people sometimes encounter prejudice from PoC. But PoC in the United States live in a society where they are not the dominant group and are denied access to resources based on race ALONE. No one is saying that every white person’s life is perfect and they will never face any kind of prejudice, injustice or hurt feelings whatsoever. What we’re saying is that white people will NEVER face INSTITUTIONAL racism on the level that PoC do. I feel like the real disconnect here is people not understanding that “racism” for PoC does not just mean “someone called me a bad name once,” it also means “I am less likely to be hired for a good-paying job than an equally qualified or less qualified white person,” “I am more likely than the average white person to live in poverty and have limited access to healthcare, education, nutritious food and other resources,” “I am more likely to face physical/sexual violence because of my race” and “I will always be judged by my race in a white-dominated society.” Those statements are simply not true for white people. If you all still really don’t get it, then go do some of your own research. There are plenty of great writers and bloggers out there who can help beat this concept into your mind. You’ll find that the concepts explained in this article are well-accepted truths not only in the social justice community online, but the scholarly academic communities in the fields of sociology, women’s/gender studies, race studies etc.

          • Bryce Jones

            really? because PoC here in canada get 100 000 dollar grants handed to them so they can start their own buisinesses, while my mother lost hers and couldnt qualify for even 5000 dollars. Most black folks I see here are far more succsessful than your average white person, many of them holding high paying white collar jobs and still getting subsidized, free housing, even though they make 250k a year. The only ones in canada that can even claim to be victims of institutional racism are native americans, anyone else who does is just full of shit.

          • idiotsallofyou

            Why do you keep bringing up Canada in a conversation about American institutionalised racism?

          • wes

            Why do you think stating the same drivel over and over again somehow discounts racism against white people?

            A great many of ‘POC’ live in very homogenous areas where literally everything in the community caters to them and pretends the white residents don’t even exist, white areas are very diverse in comparison and minorities are often overrepresented in the workforce to point that institutional racism against those minorities is a joke.

          • Lifthrasir

            According to the UN definition of racism they do qualify. So stop claiming a word, or an action as being limited to only people of colour. As i learned from a Liberian friend, nowhere is discrimination so bad as between people of the same colour but of different tribes, like in Liberia. remember also Tutsi’s against Hutu’s in Ruanda. You mix up racism and discrimination. Discrimination is across many levels, gender, age, race, education etc etc. With Oprah being one of the best paid people in the USA, your statement is biased. You should have the courage to look within, just like women in dutch society need to, for not landing high paid jobs in the management sector. And i even doubt whether your arguement is correct. With the immigrants from coloured nations, it is a very high number that goes to University, women more then men. And that is translating into politics and other high paid jobs. So show some courage as to why your communities are not working. And sure enough trauma, even bloodline trauma is a valid reason for that. Then get together search out the therapeutic methods that work for you and start healing. Also know that black Nigeria is the most corrupt country on the planet, according to a Nigerian, so wonder why that is. Instead of blaming Whites for all that is wrong in our world.

          • blablabla

            You went to a predominately white school as a white girl and let TWO black girls in your class bully you? Bullying is WRONG and hurtful. But seriously? TWO teenage girls were your personal ruin. RACISM ASIDE, show some personal strength.

          • Travis

            I have took sociology, and this article is trying to say that racism against white people does not exist (while calling it reverse racism). Reverse racism is a stereotype by itself, basically saying that white people don’t face racism.

          • wes

            There is no such thing as ‘people of color’, so if your sociology class says differently then you wasted your money.

          • Travis

            Not judging, I agree, but it doesnt even have to be discrimination; there only needs to be racial prejudice to be racism.

        • Sara Luckey

          you say you have insight that is valuable to the topic at hand. I’m curious about that. What insight do you have? I’m not seeing anything new here. Why do you think it has value? Do your thoughts automatically have value because they exist and you share them? How are you defining value? Does perpetuating the ongoing and over-arching cultural narrative make something valuable? I don’t mean this sarcastically at all. I am genuinely interested in why it is you think that what you have to say is valuable or different or new or worthwhile. Why?

          • Anonymous2

            Everyone’s thoughts have value and can provide insight in a group discussion. I think the young man is saying the experience has provided him with personal insight and is valuable to his personal outlook on the topic. Just because it’s something we heard before, doesn’t make his point worthless.

          • jakes

            “What insight do you have? I’m not seeing anything new here. Why do you think it has value?”
            I think you must be speaking to yourself

          • Zeroed Out

            This response says to me that you have no business speaking out on this issue or any other. If you can’t identify the fact that all of our thoughts and experiences have value, then trying to educate people against the idea of racism is far above your pay grade. And when people responded to you about this, you ignored them — very professional. Sounds like you have no real life experience and are simply talking out of a specific orifice.

          • oiprick

            yea, total dick response to a kid who admitted he wasn’t well versed on the subject.

          • Stop

            While I agree that the post you’re responding to is naive, this was an inane way to respond to it. You’re completely backhanded and then try to play it off by saying that you “don’t mean to be sarcastic” and you’re “genuinely interested in why [they] think that what [they] have to say is valuable or different or new or worthwhile”.

            First of all, I could say the same about your article. Thanks for your stunning insight that institutional racism exists in the United States. You’re right that there is no system of institutional racism against white people in the United States. You’re right that the claims of racism by whites are often not of the same magnitude as the struggles that minorities go through everyday. However, you are incorrect to claim that racism against whites is not possible simply because there does not exist an institution of racism. Racism itself is still possible on an individual level against anybody. An Asian-American can say to someone, “I hate you because you are white,” and that is racism. It does not have historical footing and it is not systematic, but it is racism. To say that most claims of racism by whites are unjustified, unsubstantiated and ignorant is correct. However, to say unequivocally that racism in any form cannot exist against whites is completely incorrect.

          • Fremdulo

            So…Your indignant repetition of a newfangled definition of a word that unwittingly supports the divide and conquer strategy of our true enemy has value? It has more value than the Caleb’s personal experience in a country with a long history of xenophobia? It is worth considering that the institutional racism (not just “racism”) that you are talking about exists only because we have a society working towards integration.

            Lastly, not responding to anyone who disagrees with you except for the one who identifies himself as being in highschool still shows serious weakness. You are a real piece of work.

        • garthgirl

          test

          • Anon

            From my own personal experiences with my last job I was jumped in the bathroom and held with a knife to my throat while it was explained to me that whites were not welcome and that I had stolen a job from a black person and that I should quit. So I am sorry but I can understand the big picture racism described in your article but some blacks do hate whites so what would you call that racism, bigotry, what is it when blacks hate whites. I have no problem with race I judge people on thier actions not thier skin color.

          • shondi

            Seriously, did this really happen because I have noticed a lot of extreme fake examples of Reverse Racism to prove some sort of point.

        • http://www.facebook.com/anngarth8 Ann Garth

          Personal examples aren’t equal to statistics. Here are some articles: www. cnn.com/2012/11/01/opinion/brazile-race-sununu- about the prevalence of racism in America. www. science20.com/news_articles/implicit_association_test_are_you_secretly_racist_hint_you_are-92783- about unconscious racism; even if you don’t support it, you can be racist without knowing it. As a fellow high schooler, I understand the desire to extrapolate. But, as nice as your personal experiences are (hopefully they’ll become more and more common) the don’t negate 1) statistics and 2) the experiences of PoC who may be facing racism that you aren’t aware of.

          • wes

            Imagine if someone cared enough to dig that deep for problems in white people’s lives…

        • Pat Riarchy

          It’s kind of appalling your school made black students do this. That kid may have said things are fine and there’s no problem, but what other choice did he really have? Saying the truth would be awkward and possibly lead to people shunning him. “Um, yeah, you guys discriminate against me everyday in little ways that hurt me, but I don’t want to say that because i know you MEAN well and don’t intend to do that, so what’s the point in bringing it up?”

          • wes

            And who are you to say he wasn’t telling the truth?

      • Aaron Plummer

        Unfortunately your comment is too generalized. You say PoC encounter racism “on the regular.” I would beg to differ. Go to Atlanta, GA for example where you as a white person are a minority and you will see nowadays that people of color live regular lives, with no discrimination and their personal self worth and value have to do with themselves and their education, experience, and successes. There they really don’t feel or experience any oppression at all as they are the majority. They own businesses, run government, hold high class positions, invest, play etc. just like anyone else would in our great and free country. Why keep identifying people of color like there is some sort of separation?

      • Rern Perl

        Pretending it’s not real, doesn’t mean it’s not real.

        Racism is an idea, that races are inherently superior or inferior.

        There are racist black people. Just because you don’t believe they exist doesn’t make it true. In fact, you’re racist for thinking they can’t be racist.

        • Esteban Ramirez

          Sadly some people think that racism has many other meanings… such as not agreeing with the President of the United States. Weird huh?

      • Lifthrasir

        So who are you. What is your own colour, race and nationality. Just to make this debate an honest debate. You are feeding the hatred of oppressed people, yet you look white. And just before writing another article like this which is used as ammonition to attack all Whites by some native woman, inform yourself of the definition of the UN of what racism in this day and age is. And trust me. Living in the most multicultural neighbourhood of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, my white children got a real taste of what that racism of immigrated people into the Netherlands felt like. They were Lucky for having a mother who was determined never to become racist or allow her children to become that. White privilege?? Where are you sleeping, dreaming. Have a check in with reality. See the many homeless, among them children, teenagers. Teenagers selling their bodies for sex. And learn some more about the war in Ruanda, Congo, Idi Amin, or Robert Mugabe. Or f.i. the occupation of Tibet. Racism is most likely inbuilt in the human brain, the primitive part. A defense against invading peoples who wanted to rob your land and resources. It is sadly of all colours, races, nations etc. Not for much longer though. Soon the One World Government mindcontrolling us all will take over all and be in charge. A worldpopulationreduction of 95 % thought up. Unless we can master a Rainbow coloured resistance to them, where we no longer accommodate this thesis antithesis, dividing us attitude but learn to stand united in our defense of this one earth, one planet. And btw i believe Oprah is one of the most privileged persons in this world, Can think of some more black, coloured people btw. So your whole article is in a way racist. Denying PoC the dream that they can be whatever they want, Just keeping them lethargic and stagnant into buying your racial hype that this is forever impossible, because Whites rule the world.

    • wes

      If you ever actually did any research you would be surprised how little power white people actually have due to the deep political, economic, gender, regional etc divide between white people in the US and the rest of world that negates any potential power we could have as a majority and actually puts us at a disadvantage.
      The fact is that non whites today don’t understand what it is like to walk the streets of a city with racist flash mobs routinely attacking, robbing, and even raping and killing specifically white people without a word from the national media, and without any attempt to reduce or eliminate these incidents via education or harsher sentencing of the crimes.

      The real reason why you try to shut up white victims of racism is because it completely overpowers and even reverses your own inconsistent and poorly researched message.

    • Lifthrasir

      Check out the definition of the UN. Spreading hatred is a crime and if you lived in my country i would take all hatemongers in this debate to court. However this is social media where apparently everything goes. Threatening Whites that soon you will be a majority, is like the speaking of Hitler. Making all Whites responsible for all wars, holocausts etc in the world, all nations is not only untrue and ignorant it is also not the way to go forward if we want our future descendants to still have a world. Not only did i take offense as a dutch white woman, but as a person living/surviving with cptsd it triggered me into a fulblown traumastate. I will never understand how hurt people, can make the choice to the hurt others, when thinking they will come into a position of power again.

  • https://twitter.com/#!/indigofiction indigofiction

    I think you were spot on in saying that white people generally bring up this one thing that happened to them once, without understanding that for POC prejudice is this huge, ongoing narrative. I generally read as white and I can only think of one clear instance of being racially judged, and I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have experiences like that on a regular basis. I wish other white people could take it as a window into how hard it can be for non-white people, rather than as “Oh well it happened to me too so I know just what it’s like and my experience is just like yours.”

    • Sara Luckey

      It is weird how somebody can have a singular experience and extrapolate that out as though it is the equivalent of a lifetime of experience. It’s actually really arrogant and narcissistic.

      • wat

        but is it your right to say that all white people are speaking only on singular experiences? certainly white people don’t deal with institutional racism in the way PoC do in our country, but does that mean that there are no white people who are mistreated and/or harassed on a daily basis because of their skin color? wouldn’t it take just one such person for “reverse racism” (not of the institution, but as it applies to an individual) to exist? …I agree that this sort of narrative of an individual event is way too often used to try and relate a white experience to an ongoing PoC experience, but saying that racism can only exist when enforced by institutional and societal norms is a definition of racism that you seem to have adopted in order to prove your (clearly emotionally driven) point.
        “1.
        a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
        2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.”

        It seems that you favor #2, but ignore the other two aspects of the definition according to dictionary.com. Both 1 and 3 apply here, however. If the man is harrassed daily and explicitly because he is white, is his harasser not someone who has hatred or intolerance for his race? If he is harassed daily because the harasser feels that whites a particular way that necessitates that they ought be harassed, is the harasser not someone who holds a belief or doctrine that there are inherent differences between the races that give someone the privilege or the right to harass or have power over the other?

        None of this is to justify the current system we have. There are many injustices and many white people who do not understand that for PoC, racial conflict is an all-the-time thing, part of the identity. However, it seems to me we ought be a bit more careful about making claims about who can or cannot be racist, what “is” or “is not” definitely racism, and what is or is not real.

        • JenF

          ummm, there is no such thing as “reverse racism”. even if someone is discriminated against for being white, it’s still just plain old racism. reverse racism is a moronic idea that white people came up with so they don’t seem as bad as their racist ancestors. get the f**k over it.

          • wat

            umm… good argument? i think the author here, jen, is not arguing against a differentiation between “reverse racism” and “just plain old racism”. She is arguing against the idea that a white person in our society could be the target of any racist action, regardless of whether she refers to that action as a racist or as a reverse racist action… why would white people who are “as bad as their racist ancestors” feel less bad about being the targets of reverse racism than being the targets of “plain old racism”? It seems your comment stems from a fundamental inability to grasp the real argument that Sara seems to be making here, which is that any claims that white people have experienced racism, reverse or otherwise, are unsubstantiated due to a lack of /institutionalized/ and /societal/ racism or discrimination towards whites… I think i raised valid concerns about the author’s point, which she may or may not have valid responses to, so why the aggression? Why should i get the f**k over the questions I have about this article? Is my opinion on this article less valid than your opinion (which, let me remind you, you stated as being that whites are the subject of plain old racism rather than reverse racism)? You also believe that white people as a group came up with an idea? ;) I think actually they DO hold white people conferences every once in a while so they can come up with ideas as a “race”. I’ve heard about that on the those-things-don’t-happen news before. And they made up reverse racism so that they could have a special type of racism that only applies to them, because regular racism wasn’t enough to say that they were affected by! (those damn whites, always trying to one up us! #f**kem !) No. None of those things are more likely or valid or reasonable than anything I said. Anyyywayyyyyy, always nice to hear from ya JenF. Let’s tone down on the needless aggression though please :D we’re all just trying to have a discussion

          • http://www.facebook.com/thebodyisnotanapology Sonya Renee Taylor

            she is arguing that “racism” requires institutional power. Anything else is discrimination or bigotry and yes White people do experience discrimination and bigotry but people of color lack the institutional power to employ racism against White people.

          • Shipley

            I disagree.
            Racism only requires the ear of a young child on Christmas Eve and an evil uncle ready to fill it.
            Discrimination requires an institutional advantage. A power over those who seek something from another that is different in some way.
            Discrimination is institutional bigotry. Racism is mano-a-mano.

          • Shipley

            Racism, whether supported or espoused by government or not, is still racism.
            Negro College Fund
            Congressional Black Caucus.
            Black Entertainment Television.
            Numerous other grants, loans and bennies that only blacks need apply for. Take this one to heart. While arranging funds for Georgetown I had to.
            Anyone watched W. Kammau Bell lately?
            Anyone heard “Free, White and 21″ lately?
            You be the judge…

          • Cranky Steph

            Oh, right. BET. We can all go home now. Equality was reached decades ago. What were we thinking

          • Geenius_at_Wrok

            The United Negro College Fund, Congressional Black Caucus, BET, etc., are absurd examples. (I’m surprised you didn’t include Black History Month.)

            Look, suppose I’m administering a low-income loan program. You come into my office looking for a loan. You’re not poor. You’re actually living pretty comfortably.

            “Sorry,” I say, “I’m afraid you don’t qualify for our loans.”

            “What?” you say. “YOU ARE DISCRIMINATING AGAINST ME. You should lend money to ANYBODY, regardless of their income. I think you just hate successful people.”

            “Um, excuse me, but there are nine other banks you can go to in this town, and any one of them will give you a loan if you ask nicely,” I say. “What they won’t do is give loans to people with low incomes. I give loans to those people because nobody else is willing to. That is what I’m here for.”

            “IT’S STILL PREJUDICE,” you say.

            “No,” I say, “it’s doing what I can to help people who’ve been injured by others’ prejudice. And it probably isn’t enough to balance the scales, because they’re injured in many other ways in addition to being denied loans.”

            Either you buy my argument, or you don’t. But I hope you at least agree that it would be silly for you, out of pique, to go across the street and open up a high-income lending office. For one thing, the nine other banks in town are already high-income lending officers, whether they call themselves that or not. But more important, high-income borrowers don’t need the help.

          • brownflowers

            So all white people are rich and live well off lives, while black people on the other hand, are stricken with poverty and are the only ones the should allow special grants?

            Again, stop with the white guilt and putting down your race. When you make these claims, you are the one that sounds like a bigot.

          • Shipley

            Wrong, it was coined by a black man in Alabama while trying to stop blacks from ousting whites from government positions based solely on color. AKA “Black Racism”.
            This alone proves that reverse racism does exist, no?

          • Chaveevah Banks Ferguson

            so, ONE Black man in Alabama is now sufficient to speak for the shared experiences of ALL people who want to believe in the myth of ‘black racism’? No, that doesn’t prove the existence of reverse racism…the plethora of evidence, explanations of terms, countless re-statements of the problem, however, DOES prove that some people will go out of their way to re-define [or, as the author said, "derail"] the conversation and dovetail it to THEIR understanding, rather than consider the possibility that –*gasp*–someone else may have it right! READ THE DEFINITION of racism, okay? While you’re at it, read the definitions of prejudice, bigotry, etc., and check out the differences in meaning–even though you’ll still likely yell “reverse racism” if a PoC doesn’t agree with you, at least you won’t have the excuse of ignorance to hide behind.

          • Shipley

            Wow, can’t post as Shipley. Let’s try Guest.
            Yep. OK. From Websters:

            “1
            : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”

            And from there we must infer that it is you (and Genius) that redefined racism. Why does one example of “Black Racism” aka “Reverse Racism” not apply again? Because you do not want to accept it maybe? Because it does not fit your agenda?

            Now, please, take that snippy attitude over to someone who will put up with it. You can redefine yourself but not the English language.

            Genius decided that Reverse Racism cannot exist unless those that are considered lesser in some way are in power. Huh? That’s wrong. Racism resides in the individual, reverse or not. It does not exist in classes of people. For instance, there are no occupations that are racist. There are government bodies that are racist like the Congressional Black Caucus though……remember them? They exist SOLELY due to race. It is their purpose for being.

            It, racism, will continue on all sides of the aisle as long as there is Racial Pride. I assume you are fine with W. Kammau Bell and his racist comments? I would argue that pride in White is just as bad and destructive as pride in Black. Both striving oh so hard to be different.

            Difference is there are no White television show entertainers that are blatently and outwardly racist…..name one….I dare you…..

            I’m pretty tired of hearing how one race deserves or is entitled to anything over another simply based upon race. It does nothing but propagate racism. Aid to those who need it CAN’T be defined by race alone. A recent SCOTUS ruling supports this.

            There was a fiasco over a trailer full of watermelons in a parade in NC last week…..too far maybe? Not far enough? It’s all based upon perspective. As for me, I love watermelons and were happy to see them included though I am from MA.

            I was asked by my daughter in her college project interview last month. “Do you feel it is important to talk with your young child about the differences between White and Black people?” “No” I answered. “Because when you do this you are already making the assumption that the other race is different in some way. And this is wrong as well as harmful to any nation”

            So, yep, if whites or blacks want so desperately to be different than each other it will all continue forever. So be it. Vocal White racism is on the rise in recent years and it will continue to grow as long as vocal Black racism is also on the rise and vice versa.

            You can try your best to discredit me and my examples all you wish. That will only be successful in a closed environment. One like this blog. My only intention is to point out that racism exists in Black AND White hearts….you seem to disagree.

          • Bryce Jones

            it’s not “agreeing” I’ve only claimed to be a victim of that one time, and that was when a black dude who called himself the “cracka smacka” pulled a peice on my and put it to my forehead because “he hates white people”. and this was in canada, not the hick ass united states where everyone and their dog shoots guns.

          • wes

            Actually liberals created the term “reverse racism” to mock white people who claimed to be racial victims and unfortunately people in the public ran with it.

  • nyssa23

    Well said, Sara! Thanks for writing this. <3

  • http://www.facebook.com/nick.hedges.357 Nick Hedges

    Awesome post, Luckey!

    • Sara Luckey

      Thanks, Nick! I’m glad you liked it!

  • orijami

    I appreciate that you point out how imbedded racism is in our institutions- & I think the American demographic is changing so that ugh. can’t write now..My phone is boggin’

  • name

    This article has the right message, yet it was said in all the wrong ways. Everyone needs to be treated the same; this just seems to perpetuate the idea that there is an “us/them” culture.

    • http://www.facebook.com/mthr.nght Mothr Nght

      There IS an us/them culture! That’s what we need to fight to change.

    • Sara Luckey

      I think pretending that we don’t live in a segregated world and that there isn’t racial and class disparity amongst people that creates divides and social friction (this would be the ‘us/them’ culture you seem to think is imaginary) is akin to claiming that one is ‘color blind’ when it comes to race. It ignores the very real problems of racial and social injustice. We cannot fix the problems of an ‘us/them’ culture without acknowledging it and examining it and then working to change it. Pretending something doesn’t exist, just because we don’t like it, will not make it go away. These issues merit our discussion, introspection, and teamwork to find resolution.

      • Hound

        As much as I disagree with a LOT of points made in the article and comments, this is one I totally agree with! It is an us/them culture, it’s not going to change unfortunately. Sure, like everyone, I really wish it would, but the fact is, while the group might be racially tolerant, the individual is not. Our own prejudices are what is stopping anything necessary to move forward with racial unity. Regardless of what we say or do, we still see them as black, asian, hispanic, etc… as us as ‘normal’. You don’t see a white person walking down the street as white, you just see him as a person. I used to have a lot of other-race friends before i moved… and while I saw them as great mates, I also saw them as black, tongan, asian… my upbringing and social norms would not let me see them as just people. “Asians are taking over the country” “Blacks get special benefits” (always made me laugh… it’s actually true over here, my cousin brags about it [he's full Aboriginal, I'm only about 1/8th or something, so he holds it over me :P])

        While I try to treat everyone equally, the fact that I see these people as different means that yes, by the proper dictionary term, I’m racist… The fact that I can admit it to myself means that I can at least do something to change it. Look at yourself and decide if you see ‘them’ as different… then do something about it!

  • Privilege Aware

    I’m really curious, how, as a white woman, I can help work against racism. I want to sit and listen and learn and have the opportunity to ask questions and I want to do actions that help, but sometimes I worry about doing any of the above for fear of someone perceiving my efforts as me thinking of myself as a “white person savior.”

    I obviously speak up when I see something blatant, but I need to learn more before I would feel comfortable speaking up when a situation I see has nuance. Whereas I don’t hesitate when I’m working to fight against misogyny.

    And I’m usually afraid to even ask these types of questions because while I know I’m honestly trying to promote human equality, someone on the internet doesn’t know me and my intentions.

    And I just hijacked a wonderful article to talk about myself…

    Let me be the first to say that privilege is hard to overcome. I’m afraid to create an us/them mindset by asking questions, but I can’t look past my privilege (or in some instances, see it at all) unless I do.

    Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1005076852 Sheva Bree

      Keep speaking up when you see bigotry in action. Study your history, not just what is in the official history books but learn the names of those who have fought for equal rights not just in the 60s but before that as well. Read, Read,& Read some more. I recommend Tim Wise. His essays and books are all from a white ally speaking up on this subject. Learn how to look at the media through the lens of an educated observer. And don’t forget that racism isn’t just about white vs black but all People of Color.

      • no

        should we just accept it as white people in a colored/hispanic neighborhood to be called “snowflake” and “snowwhite” and harassed?

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1005076852 Sheva Bree

          No one has ever said that discrimination is okay and good. It would be nice if no one was ever harassed because of something like the color of their skin or their gender or sexual orientation. But at the same time there is a difference between individual acts of discrimination and systemic racism. There have been plenty of times where I was the only white face in the room. If you feel bad because someone discriminates against you due to the lack of pigment in your skin, imagine how their parents, grandparents, great grandparents etc have felt being treated like 2nd class citizens because of their darker skin.

        • Chelsea

          Wow, really powerful and harsh words they are calling you. Get over it are you kidding me? Snowflake? Wowwww, theres really a bite to that name. No. You can walk back to your white neighborhood and go back to being the privileged white girl you are. But no matter what, those hispanics are always “abnormal” and the “other” no matter what street they are walking on.

          • BlahhDeeBlahhDeeBlahhh

            It’s not the word’s denotation that we should take issue with. It’s the connotation. Do I get offended if I’m called a cracker? No. Does that word carry racial connotations? Damn right. Stop making excuses for racism and realise that everyone can experience it. It’s almost like minorities don’t want anyone to declare that they’ve experienced racism because they want it to be exclusively their problem so they can continue to play the race card in any menial instance that they see fit to do so (whether it applies or not). Those same kids who called her snowflake or anything else wanted her to feel “abnormal,” or experience the same feelings as they would when being called some sort of racial slur. If you believe that’s ok, then you can just walk back to the sanctuary of your minority neighborhood as you suggested she do. Racism is racism, and you seem to be a racist sympathizer in this case.

          • wes

            It is funny how people who think institutional racism doesn’t exist against white people are either consciously or sub-conscious creating institutional racism against white people in the blink of an eye.

      • Privilege Aware

        Tim wise is now on my to read list. Thank you for the recommendation!

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1005076852 Sheva Bree

          Wise is a good place to start. Once you have a good knowledge base it is of course important to branch out and also read and understand what people of color are saying for themselves. We don’t want to fall into the trap of only accepting the word of other white people like us on social issues. This is something I am working on myself. I need more writers of color on my go to list.

    • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

      You didn’t create us vs. them….you can observe it’s very clear presence and not feed into its negativity, though. There is a positive conception of it when we say us AND them AND them others, suggesting distinct cultural/political groups that do exist and deserve to be considered in all areas of social change. Thanks for the honest reply and do follow up on some of the suggestions made to you. Your agency, thoughtfulness and reserve is appreciated.

  • Neda

    I like how you were very forward about defining racism. It is not something that most people can agree on. I am a person of color and I do feel like white people always feel the need to share their experience with what they call “reverse racism”. Now, I do agree with you, it’s not reverse racism but it is rather prejudice. I have one issue with this article, it is supporting have prejudices and discriminating against white people just because they’re white and whether you’d like to call it reverse racism or not, it’s still not a good thing and shouldn’t not be implemented. People of color have been fighting for ages just to be seen for who they are rather than their skin color and it isn’t fair for us to judge other people for their skin color whether they are White or not. Call it what you wanna call it, it’s still wrong.

    • Sara Luckey

      I appreciate your feedback. I want to clarify that I am not supporting people having prejudices or discriminating against white people just because they’re white. I am not advocating for anything like that. My point is that when white people complain about ‘reverse racism’, what they really mean is ‘prejudice and discrimination’ and that bringing up perceived ‘reverse racism’ only serves to derail the conversation when PoC are speaking about actual racism. I’m asking for people to be aware of the words they use and their meaning and to not take instances of bigotry and compare to institutionalized racism. Also, i am white, so I’m definitely not going to imply or insinuate that I support prejudice or discrimination against white people. It really just wouldn’t make sense for me to do that, ya know?

      • Travis

        Racism, whether institutionalized or not, happens to white people. Although, it probably is experienced more by minorities, it still happens to white people.

      • Lifthrasir

        Well a native woman is using your article to support her racism against all Whites, all europeans. So again look at the definition of racism by the UN and like in dutch start using separate words like racism and discrimination. Although racism can go with discrimination in the collective society, it is not always the case. As for discrimination look into black mothers who do not want their children marry white people. And no i did not loose my house over this, nor have my income lowered. But living with cptsd, i got my trauma’s triggered. I have no defense against such biased hatred of all Whites, all europeans. But more importantly in my view it does not add to overcoming issues of racism in all of us. Learning to celebrate diversity, differences of all cultures has been in my dutch experience a much better way to overcome discrimination. I have noticed that it is often the victimhood of a community, the feeling of having rights more then acknowledging living in a society has duties that makes progress for certain minorities stagnant.

  • Guest

    I think the term “racism” needs to be redefined. If you look at its definition:

    rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm]

    1.a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right torule others.

    2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

    3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

    We can see here that it makes the term “reverse racism” redundant as technically two out of three definitions don’t claim it has to be systematic and institutionalized to be called racism; or in other words any act of discrimination due to race can be defined as racism.

    I agree that you can’t limit racism to this because there is a huge difference between racism encountered by a minority and racism encountered by the privileged majority. All these people claiming it’s still racism are by definition right, although they shouldn’t be, and these “reverse racism” people you are referring to are milking the hell out of that linguistic failure. But it also causes regular people not wanting to compare their experiences to PoC to be confused, because their experiences are still technically defined as racism although once again they shouldn’t be.

    • Sara Luckey

      ‘ But it also causes regular people not wanting to compare their experiences to PoC to be confused, because their experiences are still technically defined as racism although once again they shouldn’t be.’

      When you say ‘regular people’, who do you mean? Do you mean white people? If so, I would ask that you reconsider your phrasing as this is an example of placing white as the norm and PoC as other and is an example of how racist language can seep into our everyday usage.

      • Guest

        Erm I didn’t mean for “regular” to describe white people although I see how it could be taken like that! I actually intended “regular” to describe people who don’t want to their discriminatory experiences to be put on par with PoC but still call it “racism” because of the technical definition, unlike the “reverse racism” people who are the subject of this piece and can’t differentiate between the two. In my experience the majority of people I meet nowadays can differentiate between a random act of discrimination and racism, and these “reverse racism” people are the minority and irregularities. My fiance is a PoC so I certainly would never refer to him and people his colour as irregular hahaha that would not go over well.

      • wes

        Do not realize that the very dichotomy of white vs ‘POC’ puts ‘people of color’ in the position of being the norm?

  • http://twitter.com/MarcDBarnhill Marc David Barnhill

    “A person of color may have race prejudice, but until most of Congress, state, provincial, and local governments, the Pentagon, the FBI, CIA, all major industries, the Stock Exchange, Fortune 500 members, the educational system, health care system, the International Monetary Fund, the armed forces, and the police force are all operated and controlled by people of color and their cultural values, we do not have the kind of power that it takes to be racist toward anyone. Similarly, ‘reverse racism,’ within the context of present society, is a contradiction in terms.” – Amoja Three Rivers

    • Sara Luckey

      That is so perfect and I am glad you posted it! Thank you! That really sums it up.

    • Emily Vrotsos

      Thanks for posting about the difference between “racism” and “racial prejudice”. I’m not well-versed in race theory and so the lack of vocabulary on subjects like this always got me a little irked. I really appreciate it!

    • Mr. Barnes

      I disagree. Any system that has been created in america has never and will never be ruled by a person of color. You mean to tell me that a black man in America is equal to a white man in America to the point that the black man can have so much power ? Foolishness! The ruling class of people ( who happen to be white) rule the world. The ruling class consists of many groups such as: the Bohemian Club, bilderburg group, skull and bones soceity (George bush sr. was apart of that any many more secret groups. As a mulatto ( with black being my main race) I’m not against whites at all, however; everyone in this country needs to realize that the RULING CLASS RUNS THE WORLD!

      • Aaron Plummer

        Unfortunately, you have based your opinion that there is some kind of “us vs. them” conspiracy from a race class level. Your question, “You mean to tell me that a black man in America is equal to a white man in America to the point that the black man can have so much power ?” Answer: Absolutely-and why not. Look at our government!! A black man is just as equal to a white, red, brown, or purple man. The past few years have proved this as many races have circumvented Americas atrocious history of discrimination and as resume’s and qualifications have begun to match up, it doesn’t matter what color the person is doing the job. Your “Secret Group” ruling the nation is limited to certain companies or organizations, not the US of A.

        • SkySong

          Although Obama is partially black, look at the backlash since he has become President; he is treated worse than Bush. Look at the rise in racist internet posts and threads. I don’t recall people making racist jokes about Bush. On the contrary, I can’t find an article about Obama without someone calling him an unpleasant, racially-charged name in the comments section.

          In the privacy of my home and in public, I only refer to race if it is pertinent in neutrally describing physical features or culture (art, cuisine, etc). We don’t generalize people or make fun of their features. On the other hand, my best friend’s mother (who just happens to be of the Caucasian persuasion, no offense) would constantly bash, on Hispanics, Asians, and Blacks in my presence and see it as normal. One of her daughters grew up to be quite racist and in denial about her behavior. We are no longer close because of her use of the N-word in my presence and her drug use. The other daughter is my best friend. She may say something insensitive but, we communicate and love each other like sisters.

          Unfortunately, it seems that being hateful to others and stereotypical is part of American culture. It makes me so sad that I cry myself to sleep sometimes. Even when I smile at the grocery store, I will get mean looks or people will purposely not want to make eye contact with me. Conversely, if I don’t smile, then people will think that I am an angry, mean woman with an attitude. At this point I don’t know which face to have so I just look aloof and stare into the distance… My mom says that I’m too uptight and I need to relax or I will not appear attractive to men, but living in America has made me think ahead of time of my every action and word. I feel so lonely, and isolated because of this.

          Racism from my point of view as a PoC, means constant alienation, demonizing, and stereotypes along with any rude treatment received solely due to race. I have had classmates who were rude to me, because they were just mean people. Racism is not related to such instances of hardship that everyone must face. Racism means being assessed less value than other human beings and thus being treated in a worse manner than normal and having such treatment be socially acceptable. I never knew my natural physical features would cause my social life to be a living hell.

          -Love from Phoenix

          • House Nigga

            Also worth noting, Obama is not fully black.

          • wes

            Obama never has had someone with enough hatred against him to make money on merchandise describing in detail how to assassinate him, Bush junior has. Liberals really need to stop making fools of themselves or they have no chance against the future right wing politicians like myself.

          • Lifthrasir

            Love back to you Phoenix. May you find people so that you will no longer feel lonely. I am white, living in multicultural Netherlands and made a vow, when my white children were abused in a multicultural area of Rotterdam, never to become racist. Welcome to my world.

        • Lifthrasir

          Wrong. Check out the foundation of the USA. And learn it was all Free Masons and Illuminati. They highjacked the USA or thought it up. Check out Francis Bacon also. Monsanto, FDA and the US government are all in bed with eachother.

          • capurafarol

            What does any of that from the past have to do with any of it now. We have made a complete 180 in regards to treatment of people with color. If you don’t see this, you are blind.

      • Lifthrasir

        If you are aware of that then stop making these anti white statements. Obama is black, is he not. So is Condoleeza Rice and Colin Powell and who is in the Bilderberg group remains to be seen. I bet many semites, who should classify as non Whites, although in many individuals, just like with natives, you cant always tell the difference. .uling class rules by this divide and conquer method. Thesis and antithesis. That is how the French revolution was staged as a false flag, based on lies by the Illuminati

    • Travis

      This actually distinguishes Institutional racism from racial prejudice. If you have any sort of racial prejudice, then it is racism (with or without discrimination).. Pretty simple. Institutional racism requires, racial prejudice, power, and obviously some sort of organization or government.

    • Lifthrasir

      Just do some more learning. And now the real power is in the hands of not even 1 % and many of those are nonwhites. They are semites. You overlook the many people who are white who are just wageslaves and suffer from this system as much as poc do. You forget the homeless, the children of dysfunctional families sleeping rough at night, selling their bodies for sex. You forget the many women who still in this day and age are some man’s property.

  • http://www.facebook.com/aliekgreene Aliek Greene

    Spot on article. I met a young caucasion man working at a gas station and he told me he didn’t get into the medical school of his choice due to affirmative action, and this is why he was working at the gas station. Really? First I asked would he rather the class be all white regardless of qualifications. He said no. I asked did he not think the non-whites were qualified. He said he felt they got in b/c of a quota. I tried to explain to him that those students he didn’t know, yet harbored resentment towards were likely the hardest working students in the class as there were likely students in the class that felt like him. He was unmoved. I avoided the obvious how does not getting into one particular med school put you at the end of taking my $20 for gas and just became scared. This person is no doubt in tune with Donald ‘that negroe couldn’t have possibly gotten into Harvard’ Trump, George’hey black guy, what are you doing in my neighborhood walking fast in the rain?’ Zimmerman, and Bill ‘I’m not a racist….I’m just making a point’ Oreilly. This is the reason America will never put down her 300 million guns or have a single payer option so a citizen doesn’t have to file bankruptcy every 44 minutes due to medical bills. To too many caucasions in power, there are too many non-white people with guns and w/o insurance.

    • http://www.facebook.com/mthr.nght Mothr Nght

      Uh, working at a gas station =/ not getting into the school you wanted. When I applied to university I applied to a million different things in case Plan A fell through. Blaming all your life’s problems on affirmative action in itself shows how inherent racism is within some people.

      • jakes

        and yet many blacks are encouraged by self hating whites to blame whitey for every failure they experience in life.

    • http://twitter.com/shetalksfunny Cynthia Peterson

      This gas station guy’s story reeks of BS. If he was good enough to have gotten into one medical school (except for being white, of course) he could have gotten into another one. I am sorry that you had to hear that azzhole’s lies.

      • jakes

        you assume the asshole telling the story wasnt lying.

    • Corn Husker

      1. Affirmative action exists in higher education. Lower qualified people get into school ahead of higher qualified people based on race. It is what it is and we have our reasons for doing it. Are non-disadvantaged people not allowed to raise questions about the practice? Are they racists? Do you think he “harbored resentment” towards those who got in ahead of him or he “harbored resentment” towards the system? You sound fairly uneducated about the practice and about the current job market.

      2. Ad hominem attacks against Trump, Zimmerman, and O’Riley are pointless. FYI Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty.

      3. You bring up issues of gun control and health care reform into a talk about reverse racism. What?

      4. “To too [sic] many caucasions in power, there are too many non-white people with guns and w/o insurance.” Cool concept.

    • Guest Speaker

      Government is full of employees who only got hired because they were Black or Female. This is why government messes up. They hired based on race instead of qualifications.

  • bluevw16

    Very refreshing to hear. I was getting sick of those comments as well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Palantas Michael T. Vawter

    So we’ve determined that white people do not experience racism against them, and it is in fact impossible for this to occur presently. Is it possible for a black person to be racist? Is it possible for a white person not to be racist?

  • http://www.facebook.com/mthr.nght Mothr Nght

    I think the term “racism” needs to be redefined. If you look at its definition:

    rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm]

    1.a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various
    human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually
    involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right
    torule others.

    2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.

    3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

    We can see here that it makes the term “reverse racism” redundant as
    technically two out of three definitions don’t claim it has to be
    systematic and institutionalized to be called racism; or in other words
    any act of discrimination due to race can be defined as racism.

    I agree that you can’t limit racism to this because there is a huge
    difference between racism encountered by a minority and racism
    encountered by the privileged majority. All these people claiming it’s
    still racism are by definition are right, although they shouldn’t be, and
    these “reverse racism” people you are referring to are milking the hell
    out of that linguistic failure. But it also causes the *average member of the privileged majority* who doesn’t think their discriminatory experiences compare to PoC to be confused, because their experiences are still technically defined as racism although once again they shouldn’t be!

    They change terms to become more politically correct all the time. Why not just redefine the term and make it more specific?

    *I changed “regular” to “average member of the privileged majority” as to avoid confusion! My intention was to imply that members of the majority who recognize that their experiences are not comparable were “regular” and those who do not recognize that were the “irregular”, and not that white people were “regular” or PoC were “irregular”. The way I worded it was really confusing sorry!

    • http://www.facebook.com/mthr.nght Mothr Nght

      Augh I never use this Disqus thing and didn’t realize my comments were immortal and ended up posting the same comment twice. Anyway, I reworded it so it didn’t seem so confusing, you get the point.

    • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

      I think the term racism needs to be left alone and you guys need to invest in a dictionary

      • Mothr Nght

        A perplexing comment given I pasted the dictionary definition of racism.

  • http://www.facebook.com/Shirl.inLA Shirley Aldana

    Can we discuss brown on brown racism? I am a Guatemalan immigrant, and a fair skin Latina. I worked and lived in predominately black middle class sectors and while most black people are inclusive I have experienced racism in the form of being ignored at restaurants and shitty customer service. Being called white girl until they hear my accent.

    • Joe

      I suspect this received no replies because this formula for racism fails on such a simple challenge.

  • greenball

    No.

    Any racial prejudice towards anyone is racism. Power, privilege, “the norm” are all irrelevant. The most well-off white guy can be the victim of racism. Anything else is just double standards intended to increase victimhood. It’s like waiting for everyone to have “equal power” before treating everyone equally.

    The sociological claim of power + prejudice was merely a way to collect statistically relevant data. It was not meant to discount individual acts as racist in normal practice. It has only been recently hijacked by leftists within sociology to perpetuate double standards.

    So, there is no such thing as reverse racism, because all racism is racism.

    The people who claim “only whites can be racist”, are in fact, racists towards whites. As long as everyone has good intentions to work against racism, I will stand up for whites too.

    -A non-white man who’s tired of self-flagellating whites

    • tiredofdreaming

      Everything that was said CLEARLY went over your head.

      -A non-white man tired of PoC who choose to remain ignorant of the role of social constructs in the creation of racism

      • Rern Perl

        “A non-white man”

        Yeah, definitely no agenda in your commentary POV.

      • meg

        it didn’t. the author of the article just did a really poor job of saying what he wanted to say.

        -someone who knows things about words

    • Bryce Jones

      i very much agree with you here. it seems that, everyone can hate on white people and be pat on the back for it because it’s the cool thing to do. the only time white peopel ARENT racist is if they hate themselves for their filthy white skin (sarcasm btw). Everyone seems to be bigoted towards white and it’s kind of getting ridiculous.

    • Mez Kitsu

      I’m also a non-white and I’m tired of articles that claim that you can’t be racist toward white people. Yes, you can. I will go a step further and say that people who claim that you can’t be racist toward white people are actually being racist toward my people; Native Americans.

      We were attacked and oppressed by white people. We suffered at their hands more than any other. We have every excuse to be racist, but we don’t. In fact, my particular culture worked so hard to eliminate our prejudices toward any race that a white person on our land will be treated with the same respect as a fellow native. Articles like this basically tell me that all of the work my culture did to eliminate racism was worthless because, after all, we can’t be racist because we’re not white! That’s a ridiculous attitude that harms any effort toward truly eliminating racism.

    • Lifthrasir

      Check out definition racism of the UN. Find that racism goes much further then race in their definition even. The determination of the word used in this debate is no longer valid. I am a dutch woman, appalled and hurt by the racism towards all Whites and all europeans as expressed by some native people on fb.

  • Caitlin

    I agree that the term is inappropriate and offensively diminishes the reality of racism in its historical, institutional, and ultimately cultural capacities. And in said capacities, this is primarily a black-white issue in America, which is the only reason I frame it in such limited terms. However, to every yin there is a yang, and the term “reverse racism” though blunderous, is attempt to put a name to the push-back felt by white people in response to the realized or legitimate fear of oppression that racism affords to black people. Conversely, this prejudice felt by white people is not oppressive or threatening, nor does it permeate beyond individual experiences. And it is not in any way an appropriate excuse to be involved in the topic of racism and claim as a white person, you have a place in the conversation. I will say that nonetheless, crude misnomer and all, it is an experience felt by white people on an individual level in abundance, and it is relevant – not because white people are being treated unfairly but because of the commentary it makes on the socialization of racism in America and the fear it breeds – the kind of mentality where when faced with a perceived threat, you must decide to wait to initiate violence and hope the other person doesn’t either, or take a chance and throw a punch to not leave yourself vulnerable. “Preemptive warfare”. As a white person involved in numerous accounts of this nature involving race, every time it makes me sad. I would like to believe that my generation has no tolerance for racism, and thus there is no reason to fear it. I realize that this is not entirely the case but believe it is moving in the right direction. I’m not sure what the answer is, but the Civil Rights Movement was bred from grassroots sentiments based on interpersonal exchanges experienced by white and black people. On an individual level, i’d like to see the experience between races to demonstrate kindness and unification. Can interpersonal racial tensions be diminished without a top-down catalyst? I’m not sure. I do know that we are all responsible for treating each other with grace in our trivial interactions and it is our best chance at lifting one another out of the tradition of racism in this country.

  • Brujah81

    The self-righteousness and political correctness of this article is nauseating. ”PoC” can do no wrong? I’m sorry but ”PoC” constitute the majority of the globe’s population and can even be racist, cruel and what have you towards each other with no dastardly white man in the picture. They even run their own countries you know? Imagine that!

    • Sara Luckey

      I didn’t say PoC can do no wrong. And I mentioned America within the article 3 times so it would be clear and evident that I was speaking about America and not the rest of the world. Reading an article before you comment may seem soooo passe and 2012, but it will get you closer to commenting about what’s in the article and not just the thoughts in your head. Context was in the article, you know? Imagine that!

      • Brujah81

        My point is perpetrators of injustice most often have their own victimhood narrative to assuage their moral compass. No one should have a free pass when it comes to acting morally.

        • garthgirl

          No one does. Discrimination is wrong no matter what. But discrimination against white people is not racism- which is the (only) point of the article.

          • Hound

            Sorry, but this “prejudice/discrimination is not racism” thing got to me at this point. Not just your post, but all previous and probably all future. Institutionalised or not, racism is racism… Oxford dictionary does not make a distinction between the two. Now, I totally agree that there is institutionalised racism in EVERY country, but there is also personal racism in society, with people of ALL colour. How many “one white person” stories must we see to realise that racism affects all colours… oh wait, white isn’t a colour? I have my own story, but that doesn’t count, I’m just a white guy… but that one black, asian, hispanic, arab person has a story… OMG, RACIST WHITE GUY!!! The reason why I’m using the white guy as an example is that the OP mentioned how she totally disregards every one of the “racism against white” stories. Quotes: “Any time a PoC starts to talk about their experiences with racism, a white person chimes in to derail the conversation and talk about their own experiences with ‘reverse racism.’” “Not once. It happens every time. Ya know what else? That shit is tired, played out, and incorrect. So let’s talk about why reverse racism isn’t real and why white people need to let that one go.”
            I totally understand that the examples that were given were total bs, and in no way racist… but how many bs stories have you listened to/read about from a PoC that was in the same bs area and thought “Oh wow, that is sooooo racist”? I don’t know about you, but I have heard so many! I could go on and on, and yes, I have had this discussion with PoC at length, and we all agree that racism is rampant in ALL races.
            Look, you can flame me all you want, I totally expect it and really don’t mind if you do, show me where I’m misguided if you can find anything untrue please.
            Definition of racismnoun[mass noun]
            the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races:theories of racism
            prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior:a programme to combat racism
            Source: http://oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/racism
            also http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism has a similar description

          • agentleman

            What’s funny to me is that White people will take one to three occasions that a person of color have done them wrong as a racist incident….and yeah it’s wrong. There’s a lot of wrong or bad people out there, criminals, rapist, arsonist, pedophiles, etc. I’ve read many comments to this point…and one thing stood out to me. Earlier, there was a comment made by a young man that went to Beijing, and the students asked him, first were there any black students at his school…and then asked were they bad. That’s racism! For Asian kids to just assume that the black kids were bad and they have none at their school…proves what Ms. Luckey was talking about. People of Color do not….I repeat do not have the “power” to create a negative thought about white people, or any race of people thousand of miles away.

            Here’s another example…my company is all about helping people (I won’t go into depth), so when I see people on the side of the road, broken down, I pull over and help them. This was on an expressway and it was over 100 degrees outside, I pulled over to help this lady and she told me her brother was coming, I told her I could go and get her water or wait with her to make sure she was ok. She told me I needed to go because she didn’t know what her brother or father would do if they pulled up and saw a Black man by her car. I stayed, met them, and explained why I stayed….you should have seen the look on their faces.

            If people did something to you personally that hurt you, physically, emotionally, or just rubbed you the wrong way, that is unfortunate. There’s a lot of over weight people who gets discriminated against, there’s a LOT of women who are discriminated against as well……and it’s some people who get their ass whooped because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time. But until you go somewhere and people automatically assume that you are bad before they even get to know you, until you go to help someone, genuinely help someone who needs it and they almost refuse to take it because of the color of your skin, until you feel like when you meet someone White you have to prove that you are one of the good ones before you can build rapport then you have not experienced racism.

          • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

            Dictionaries are often a bit behind if not tragically behind in areas of socio-political definitions. I would not base THIS particular definition on what a dictionary says as the Critical Race Theory academics and anti-racism activists and authors along with Occupy movement PoC organizer definitions (which generally agree) will be much more clear and functional. It is actually a choice of privilege to say, “but the dictionary says” and hold the idea that that would be a cogent source of information around key dynamics of social change. And I do like dictionaries. : )

          • Lifthrasir

            Just get up to date and check the definition of the UN, Instead of sounding superior that your definition is valid and the only one valid. In other nations it never was. You will know what racism is when you feel it. Curious thing was that a nigerian friend of mine had no identification whatsoever with your kind of racism, when in the Netherlands. He just suffered from his fellow nigerians being the most corrupt in the world, fouling up all and any progress. buying each other favours etc. etc.

        • Sara Luckey

          Which has what to do with this piece or what I said, exactly? I’m not saying anywhere that anybody should get a ‘free pass’ when it comes to acting morally. (and I don’t know if you mean free pass to act morally or free pass to not act morally; you aren’t specific) You’re saying things like they have a point and relate to what I wrote, but ultimately you’re just saying random talking points that aren’t related to what I wrote except within your own thoughts.

          • Brujah81

            Racism is real no matter who perpetrates it.

      • Bryce Jones

        see, here in canada pretty much everyone’s equal. the only people that arent and can actually make a claim to institutional racism are native americans. PoC (other than natives) are treated FAR better than your average white or native american.

  • http://www.facebook.com/megan.saylor.31 Megan Saylor

    Yes, I completely agree and I love this Luckey. Thank you for posting!

  • http://www.facebook.com/iris.loyens Hippie Iris

    I agree with you that what happens to PoC ins’t correct, but the fact that ‘white’ people get chased isn’t good either. And to call it that they’re losing a privelege is saying that it’s okay to get chased.
    What I’m trying to sya here is that no matter what race you are, no matter what skincolor you have, you should never experience hate or anything like that, because of it.

    Please tell me if I understood anything wrong.

    • Sara Luckey

      You misunderstood some things, and I’m open to talking about it. I’m going to break out your points for clarity and flow.

      1.’to call it that they’re losing a privelege is saying that it’s okay to get chased.’ -No, that’s not what that means. First, I don’t think I say anywhere that getting chased is losing a privilege. Fairly certain I don’t say that as I definitely don’t mean that. When I talk about privilege, I am talking about privilege from a sociological perspective, meaning I am discussing aspects of our existence that we have for one reason or another and that you don’t really have to earn. I don’t think it’s ok for anybody to be chased and I would never advocate for that.

      2.you should never experience hate or anything like that-Here we are in complete agreement. Nobody should be chased or experience violence.

      Here’s a summary of my main point(s)

      1. Racism is real. PoC experience racism, white people experience prejudice and discrimination.

      2. When PoC are talking about their actual experiences with racism and white people chime in about ‘reverse racism’, they are taking away from the real and actual racism that exists in the world and trivializing it.

      • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

        Sara, can you please cite your sources?

      • Hound

        Point 1 is flawed in that racial prejudice and discrimination IS racism, according to at least 2 well known and published dictionaries.

        Point 2 is correct at times, and just an example of your own prejudice and refusal to see that white people CAN and DO suffer from racism too. How is what happens to a white person by black people any less important than what happens to a black person by white people? In the exact same situation, how can you honestly say that one is racism and the other is racial discrimination? Aren’t you making light of a serious situation in this case? I could cause a MAJOR backlash with what I’m thinking of saying, so I’m going to stop here!

  • Pingback: Why Reverse Racism Isn’t Real ‹ Feminspire | Inequality | Scoop.it

  • http://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.jellison Elizabeth Jellison

    I think the real issue is that racism needs to stop being used as a moral and personal issue. It is an INSTITUTIONAL one, and as long as it is used as a fighting word, people will never be able to discuss race/racism/ethnocentrism without getting upset or feeling personally attacked.

    • Sara Luckey

      I think you’ve got a great point. Nobody wants to be racist and as soon as it’s pointed out that somebody is being racist, the person can get defensive and shut down the conversation without being open to learning or exploring or changing. That’s a really good point.

      • jakes

        maybe because some people are tired of bing accused of racism as a way of stopping the dialogue.
        “i am against illegal immigration”- “ugh you racist”!!!

        For someone ranting about white people selfishly stopping dialogue, you seem t have no problem with people being falsely accused of racism.

  • Lindsay

    Thank you so much for writing this article. I tried to explain this to my boyfriend the other day, and couldn’t find the right words.

  • A naive article

    Well, i suppose i’m going to be that one white person…

    I find this article naive and one-dimensional… not thought through well at all. The authors assertions are more than a bit ridiculous. I’m not a racist, i see all as equal and that includes owning your bigotry, whether or not you exist in the minority.

    So – a white racist here in Canada, who openly, even aggresively attacks other races(let’s say chinese people) here in this country, is deemed a racist because they are white, and therefore in a position of power because of course Canada is largely owned, operated and controlled by whites… “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine…”

    This would suggest that same person can go to Shanghai, step out of the airport and begin to scream racist profanities at Chinese citizens – but because China is certainly not owned, operated and controlled by whites, this individual can no longer be deemed a racist!!????

    Reverse racism!?? Racism is racism period! When i was accosted 5 years ago in North London UK (oh here they go) by a group of 5 black guys on a street corner, pushed around and taunted (SPECIFICALLY directed at my skin colour), verbally and physically threatened… are you telling me that wasn’t a racially motivated act? Seriously?

    It was grotesquely racist Ms Luckey. Your ideas around what constitutes racism are
    irrevocably wrong. Anyone can be a racist, anywhere. As someone who has travelled and lived around the world, let me be the first the tell you, as you don’t come across as particularly worldy… racism exists in ALL countries. And the degree to which that racism plays out, outside of western countries, is FAR more overt than here in Canada as well as the European countries i have lived and worked in. Rasicm is OPEN AND RIFE in the middle east and Asia. I have lived on both continents. The racism we have here in North America is tame in comparison.

    When one of those racist Asian or Arab citizens immigrates to Canada, and continues to behave as a racist against whites, they are, whether you want to believe it or not, still a racist.

    It must also be true that anti-racism, by some degree of interpretation, insists that we are all equal – isn’t that really the crux of the situation? Forget about skin colour, essentially we are all the same, right!? Except when it comes to whites being treated poorly because of their own race, that’s only fair because white people hold the power…

    Get serious – if a group of women find themselves at the head of a large corporation, filling every seat, and they decide to act towards men in the same oppressive way they themselves had experienced over the years (lower wages, less positions of power, sexual harrassment….) that this is acceptable and men don’t have the exact same rights to call those women into question, make accusations of sexism and demand better treatment, because men, in general, are the oppressors in society? It’s wrong no matter who the perpetrator is or under what conditions, just like racism

    You, and it sounds like a lot of those reading your juvenile article, are simply on some kind of PC march against oppressive white rule (and i’m not arguing there isn’t oppressive white rule)… but this knee jerk, jump on the band-wagon PC approach to whites having no rights when it comes to being on the receiving end of racist behaviour is absurd and i believe hampers the fight against racism itself.

    • http://www.facebook.com/thebodyisnotanapology Sonya Renee Taylor

      I think your personal experience is shrouding the ability to see the larger social narrative. Prejudice and discrimination exist everywhere. YES. But systemic power does not. Our discussion or racism in this dialogue is about western racism, in this social context. Social context matters. The idea that social realities are world paradigms and not mitigated by geography, culture, history etc is what is naive.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036681 Candace Horner

        I think you misinterpreted his use of examples regarding the overall concept of racism.

        • Aja Nile

          Racism is systematic, he is talking about predjudice.

          • AnnoyedByYou

            Really? Prejudice on the basis of skin colour or race is racism.

          • Janet Mary Estelle Hutchings

            Nope, people are prejudice about other things in society, other than race. Some fine examples of this are : gender, smoking status, age

          • Kat Young

            you forgot sexual orientation

          • Jasila

            No. Raci-ism is prejudice based on race. Systemic racism is systemic. Institutional racism is systemic. Racism already has a definition, and you can’t just change that by fiat because it suits you.

            What’s hard to understand about that?

          • disagree

            Racism is racism. It’s bad on a personal level. It doesn’t and will never affect most white people, and definitely not to the same degree as POC. Especially in America. But it’s NOT okay just because it affects them less.

            Racism is a stance you take inwardly. Systematic racism is an action executed outwardly. This is more than a strict definition or semantic argument for its own sake; it has a purpose of distinction because of how the racist feels, since it is a microcosmic sociological event. Their inwardly held beliefs guides a lot of actions unforeseen. It’s still a hateful thing and calling it another term to distinguish it is diminishing the danger it holds in the minds of the people who make it, NOT those who receive it.

            Why would you ever, ever advocate or excuse any level of hate in the first place? Is “not derailing the conversation” such a catch-all that you wanna give inner hate a total pass?

          • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

            It seems you are missing the point here. It’s not racism coming at European people in these cases, though it may be indirectly caused by the initial offense of racism toward the PoC that is now expressing their personal agency, positive or negative, toward the European person. It’s another thing that is part of the system of racism, but is not racisim in and of itself being expressed.

          • Jkjljmt_Pqprpstt

            If I hated a race, I might campaign to flood all of their countries with millions of people that are not their race, and tell everyone to “mix in”, until no people of that kind were left. If anyone objected, I would scream the R-word! at them and get them fired from their jobs.

            If I hated a certain race, I might do that, but I am not doing that. Anti-whites are doing it to White people in all & only White countries.

            Anti-racist is a codeword for anti-White.

          • Al

            Racism is a form of prejudice. It does not require any system whatsoever. Racist policy or social norms do require some sort of structure to enact. The problem with all of this is that you need a new word. Reinventing what racism means according to some deconstructionist critique won’t get anywhere.

            The sad thing about all this is that reverse racism is a totally foolish idea that will not be overcome by creating imaginary rules for how racism can occur.

      • capurafarol

        I’m sorry, racism in and of itself is not limited to systemic power. I see what this author is saying by the societal approach to racism, and it will continue to take generations to undo the devastating prejudices from America’s past, however, when this prejudice and discrimination that exist EVERYWHERE, as you say is based solely on a persons background or skin color; plain and simple it is racism. If I get treated differently, get passed up for a promotion, spoken to in a derogatory manor or attacked physically, verbally, etc. for no other reason than the color of my skin, it doesn’t matter what color I am, it is racism. The premise to this article is clearly stating that blacks can’t be racist. Bull!!

        • Kaitea

          I believe you are correct when you say that being attacked for no other reason than the color of your skin is wrong, but I don’t believe you read the article with the intent to further understand what the author was trying to portray. She actually doesn’t ever insinuate that “blacks” can’t be racist. She is speaking of many different groups and cultures of people, hence her use of the acronym PoC, and for you to just pick one of those groups out and almost pull the attention towards the possibility of them being at fault leads me to believe that your intent in reading this may have not been very altruistic.

          • capurafarol

            Ahhh yes the old, it’s okay to call a white person “white” or “cracker” but not okay to call an African American a “black”. Who do you think she is talking about when she says PoC? Obviously you haven’t seen PoC organizations throughout the country that are made of primarily of???? You guessed it African Americans. You will also find that other ethnicity’s and races are not clamoring and screaming from the roof tops for equality. The only other group that has seen radical reactions or mistreatment have been Muslims; but this article doesn’t touch on the details of the racism they face, so who is she talking about? Yup, African Americans.

          • Setsyouright

            Excuse me,

            First of all, the author says PoC, instead of black people, for the reason that she is talking about PoC in general–not just black people. Meaning, that she’s talking about African Americans, Caribbean Americans (for simplicity), Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans (for simplicity), and “Muslims” as you so eloquently put it. For your sake, I hope that you know that “Muslims” isn’t a race or ethnicity, but followers of the religion Islam. Second of all, did you really say, “The only other group that has seen radical reactions or mistreatment have been Muslims”? Are you–oh, I don’t know–ignoring the Holocaust? As I recall, from history textbooks and extensive documentaries, the Holocaust was a tragedy in itself and its aftermath resulted in the creation of the Jewish state, Israel. Antisemitism, a form of racism, was so intricately woven into society, and so bad, that Jewish people had to create their own country. Racism, literally, isn’t black and white. And it’s a shame that you think so. Lastly, you implied that it is wrong to call someone a “cracker”. This is true, but only for the fact that the word is offensive–not racist. Like the word “asshole”. The word “cracker”, in its origin, is a shortened form of “whip-cracker”. You know, like back in the days when wHiTe people used to whip BlAcKs. The word was a title, not a derogatory insult. It was aimed to give a sense of position. Not oppress or belittle. Not like the word “nigger”, which I’m sure you’d like to have used in your comment when you said, “. . . person “white” or “cracker” but not okay to call an African American a “black”.”. Yes, I see it, the missing ” . . or “nigger””, there.

          • haksdha

            brilliant point but read up on the Crusades. Some Muslims consider them to be an example of western hatred for Islam. And personally, I consider them to be as well.

          • Harry

            How in the flying fuck are the crusades a relevant context? If you’re going to use historical examples lets try and stay within 500 years of the present shall we? I think the statute of limitations has passed on that on, unless we should be worrying about the terrible oppression of the Brythonic peoples under Rome too?

          • haksdha

            If you read my other comments you’ll realise that I call people who bring in a random irrelevant point in history to this conversation. I was simply telling him to look at something else to do specifically with the comment I replied to and not specifically to do with the article itself. Sorry if it confused you.
            But go down and read all the random things people have tried to bring in to this very specific discussion about the last hundred years in American history.

          • haygis

            the crusades are still taking place. do your research buddy….balfour declaration ring any bells? that was the british gambit to create a permanent outpost in the holy land via backing zionist colonizers.

          • Ldog

            Why would we stay in a specific time frame? Has slavery not been wrought on every race known to man thru history? Yes it has, there is no time limit to the occurrences and pain it caused people. No race owns slavery..That me a black man can yell about reparations for slavery of black people and not take into context that others have had this done to them thru history, all the while I have never been a slave myself is somewhat dishonest and ridiculous.

          • Nyah

            Because generations of black people today, the world over are suffering from what colonialism has done over the last 500 years…. because places like the U.S were virtually appartheid states until the late 1960s. There has been significant advances in technology, education and agriculture in the last 150 years. So…you think slavery has happened throughout history… so what. This is a hopefully a more intelligent generation….Just because what happened to other groups of people who were slaves in history was that they got no reparations, took many hundreds of years to recover (if ever) and were relegated to the lowest ranks of society does not mean that we should take the same course. Is it not the study of history that teaches you of how not to repeat it? there is no invasion of Europe by African peoples apart from the Moors. There are also significant differences in ‘slavery’ practices that occurred in Africa and the type of slavery that blacks in Americas have faced. Please before anyone wants to claim that ‘slavery is slavery’ ….go look and see what the differences /similarities were and look at the time period then and look at the time period now.
            Sorry but calling yourself an educated blackman with regards to history kind of implies that you are some sort of special and elite exception especially when there are black people who are more educated than you and dont at all hold your view.

          • starlightsynesthesia

            Hopefully they can get over that. Shit was literally like a thousand years ago. The only reason anyone anywhere hates Islam in the present (where actual living people who matter are) is suicide bombings that arbitrarily kill innocent people on purpose.

          • AverageWhiteDude

            To try to argue that calling a white person “Cracker” is not offensive? Seriously… You sir are an idiot… it is offensive and racist…. Like the assumption that all white people back in the day had slaves… less than 5%… before the Ellis Island influx… the reality is “Cracker” and “Nigger” where terms used by a VERY small percentage of the elite… and yes… some blacks (oh sorry) PoC’s owned slaves too… and not just relatives they set free….

            I’m so sick of the freaking politically correct pandering, and refusal to look at exactly how “racist” the black community has become… Dig around on the FBI’s own website… you’ll see that 90% of black/white homicides are blacks… killing whites… then people rage about a black youth trying to bash a mans head in that gets shot… all the while overlooking the 70% incarceration rate of male black teens…

            No… there’s no problem… whites are racists… bad bad people…

          • vlad the impaler

            I hereby proclaim that nigger isn’t offensive.with emphasis on the “R”….its.meaning is dumbfuk ignorant retarded.it has nothing to do with skin color.

          • robynbuckins

            you are so right… but it is offensive if you are not part of the “in-group” to use it… just like calling someone a faggot is offensive if you are not part of the in-group… RACIAL SLURS AND RACIST BEHAVIOR HURTS EVERYONE… not just Blacks.. but EVERYONE…

          • Ldog

            You hurt all of us black people by trying to hold onto a name you want to deemed offensive for anyone but yourself. Need I remind you black slavery is something relatively new in the span of human history. Romans, Egyptians, Asians, and host of other races kept people as slaves for many hundreds and some could argue thousands of years. There are numerous articles that delineate the history of human slavery we do not hold rights to it exclusively. Should all people want reparations since there ancestors were slaves too? How naive is it of us as black people to think we are the only ones who have been wronged in life/history. Most black people i talk with are very misinformed as it pertains to slavery. They seem to only focus on a specific part forgetting it wasn’t unique unto the black man.
            As a somewhat educated black man who strives to keep race out of life and stop spreading such hate, I know I have to look at the bigger picture of life, not just the recent discretion’s against my own people. What will you bring to your child, and their children, hate or hope? Will you go down as someone who fought for all to be the same or one that only fought for you to be ahead? Seems shameful that we do not all recognize and move forward.

          • ada

            do I need to school you on the violence committed by whites, not only today but throughout the course of history? please don’t even try that argument, you sound beyond ignorant.

          • robynbuckins

            true and most Europeans will never acknowledge the acts of terrorism they have committed throughout history on other groups

          • Chuck U Farley

            as long as you don’t mind being schooled on how much violence has been and is caused by non-whites too.

          • jm313

            Let’s stop looking back hundreds of years ago. Falling back on history especially when it’s over a hundred years old is a cop out. We are talking about problems today. Blacks today have a huge crime problem! It’s a fact. Average white dude is correct. Blacks are killing many more whites than whites are killing blacks. And black on black crime is insane.

          • Adam.E

            Do I need to school you on the ONGOING enslavement and brutal treatment of blacks by other blacks in southern Africa? Yes. Many different people have done many bad things. Bringing race into the argument, trying to derail the topic with vague scrappy examples makes no sense. Anyways just my 2 cents: racism is racism. There is no ‘reverse racism,’ because that, in itself is racist. Being racist against someone is racist, regardless of who is being racist against who. As for the article itself, saying there is no racism against white people is ridiculous and not well thought out at all. Racism has nothing to do with ‘power.’ The KKK never became a real power in government. Are you saying since they were not institutionalized, they were only ‘discriminatory’ and not actually racist? Give proper thought to your arguments before writing out random biased ramblings.

          • haygis

            where are you getting your numbers from? because i happen to be a student of race and racism and nothing youve claimed is, in fact, true.

          • jm313

            Then tell us your numbers.

          • Sam

            Did you consider that maybe the disproportionately high black male incarceration rate has less to do with the incidence of black crime and more to do with a racist criminal justice system? There’s a lot of research out there on this topic if you’re interested. And, you know, willing to actually look at the factual evidence with an open mind.

            No, “white people” are not bad, and no, it’s not your “fault” that institutionalized racism exists. It is, however, your responsibility (and mine, and everyone else’s) to acknowledge that white privilege exists and to try and bring about equality.

            And this is coming from an Asian American, so no, the issue really isn’t just black and white, literally.

          • schlomo goldstein

            there is more research showing that it is not racism, and is in fact blacks committing crime. Source, the color of crime and FBI statistics. You can make a rational argument that white privilege exists the day you can show me affirmative action for being white

          • jm313

            For the most part it’s not a racist justice system blacks are really committing a very high amount of crime.

            If you look at poor black neighborhoods and compare them to poor white neighborhoods you’ll see that many more police reports are being filed in the black neighborhoods there is much more crime in the black neighborhoods.

            Look at gangsta rap. Listen to it. Many black youth’s do exactly what is being said in this gangsta rap. It glorifies that gang banger lifestyle.

            I’m white and I use to be a drug addict. I lived in a city that borders Detroit and me and many other white kids would buy drugs from blacks in Detroit. Detroit is loaded with crime! It is horrible. I was car jacked once by two black kids and another time a black kid tried to car jack me he pulled a gun and shot me car in the bumper I got away safely though.

            My father grew up in Detroit. One night a bullet came threw the kitchen window but no one was hurt. Another time he was walking home from high school and was shot at by a black with a zip gun but it missed him. My father told me blacks use to make zip guns in shop class.

            It ain’t racism for the most part it’s blacks committing crime and the black crime is usually condensed to the inner cities so it makes it easier for cops to catch criminals.

          • Kyoko Sakata

            SYR, thank you!! I completely agree with you!

          • robynbuckins

            no racism isn’t just about Black and White but in the United States the foundation of racism is from a Black/White perspective .. what separates Blacks experience from other groups is slavery and it is from that experience that fthe foundation here in the US is built on…

          • Ldog

            So White, Asian, European, Middle Eastern, etc. people didn’t face slavery thru history? I find this disturbing that you can only justify black slavery and not the truth that slavery has been around and all races have been subjected to it in history far longer than the short span of it as it pertains to America.

          • IRISH AND JEWISH

            Being Irish and Jewish, I commend you on adding section on The Holocaust, but will qualify it with the fact it wasn’t just Jews who were killed. Yes, Jews were killed in the greatest ratio, and Jews held HItler’s greatest ire, but he intended to erradicate all “inferior” races to make way for the “Superior” Aryan Master Race. Hitler killed: the handicapped, Gypsies, blacks, and so on. Had he had his way, the one people left would have been of Aryan descent.

            Lastly: Before Hitler was dictator, but merely Chanchellor of Germany (this is timely) the Olympic Games were held in Germany in 1936. This was a huge moment for people of African descent, as the athlete Jesse Owens was there. He won; but Hitler did NOT acklowledge his win; due to his being of ‘an inferior (not Aryan) race’.

            It is instructive to know that we are all the same in Hitler’s eyes. He would have killed us all.

          • Gabrielle Smith

            :) beautiful.

          • omfg

            …………white people are called crackers because that is literally what they did. they CRACKED their whips on the backs of their slaves. STOP.

          • Jane

            and what about the white slaves??

          • haksdha

            I assume you’re referring to the Arab slave trade? Or the sexual slavery. If you are speaking of actual white (and by that I mean British, French, American, Spanish, etc) slaves at the time of the slave trade, who were slaves in the Americas and were treated like the black slaves then this is a phenomenon I have never encountered before. Please educate me.

          • Sarah

            People of Ireland, white people, were also slaves and treated just as harshly.

          • Me

            Yes by other white cultures LOL I love how whites call racist on other whites. That must be what she means about white privileges

          • Amanda

            What about Haiti’s slave population at present?

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            And where do you think the Europeans get their slaves? They bought them from other Africans.

            And which countries were the first to abolish slavery? European countries.

          • jennyct

            Anybody who is different ethnically or phenotypically (red hair, dark skin, etc) is stigmatized by outgroups. Even SES confers prejudice, albeit very subtle. It’s not all black and white, you know.
            BTW I have European, Western African, Native American, Middle Eastern and Ashkenazi ancestors… in that order.

          • haksdha

            Finally, an answer to my question! I’ll look into it, thanks.

          • Rachel

            Also Scottish

          • haygis

            until the early 1900s when they officially became “white” and started gaining access to all the privileges previously denied them. its a matter of historical record….see roediger, wages of whiteness

          • shutufuwkup

            You speak about african americans as if they some holy race that was scared and whites did absolutely nothing but ‘crack’ the african american slaves? it was hundreds of years ago, the same has been happening over and over to different cultures and ‘whites’ sacrificed a lot to and you keep talking about educating, maybe one of those racially abused slaves should educate you :)

          • Jicarilla/Apache

            Yes the enslavement was a few hundreds years back, but the racist entitlement went on and still go’s on. Do you forget only 72 years ago the civil rights movment? People like you speak as if this stuff went on hundreds of years ago but it didnt

          • haksdha

            Hahaha, I’m really not. Try reading the whole of my comment. I’m asking about white slaves who were treated just as bad as the black slaves were. I mean who were treated as though their skin colour totally didn’t matter and they were just the same as the blacks who were unequivocally beneath whites of any status. We’re talking about race issues here.
            I really was only picking up on something. I personally don’t think we should dwell so much on the Slave Trade as that’s what’s causing the racial tension in America right now. And in that sense you are right, we need to accept the past and move on. But we haven’t and I can’t pretend (no matter how much I like to) that we have.

          • brian

            Well im guessing you never went to school then what about when the romans went to the british Isles and took it over well what they could and the gladiator days or when the anglo saxons where raped and murdered so yea white people where slaves to and if you look at the history blacks in north America where slaves the least amount of time than almost any other race what about the jewish I mean millions upon millions where murdered at one time and studied upon inhumanely and what about the native americans wich is my race is almost is at the brink of extinction

          • Jicarilla/Yaque

            one what you mean as a native myself. Over 100 million of our ancestors killed, raped, enslaved and murdered. The biggest but least talked about genocide in history. You talk about the Romans enslaving the British isle and so on but you forget that that is all white on white enslavement. Yes whites where enslaved too but other Euro cultures did it. Colonialism shames anybody or anything that is different. And that’s all that the America’s are. Colonialism at its finest

          • haygis

            EXACTLY! white on white enslavement….then when there were enough people of color, it became white on brown/black/asian enslavement. in canada and the usa it isnt asians who invaded and colonized and genocided indigenous peoples….it was whites who did it and whites who established a total system of oppressive racist control based on terrorism, murder, rape, slavery, genocide, etc etc.

          • Lyvy

            Before the British even came to America, the Spanish enslaved Native Americans, then when the Natives were dying out due to disease, they enslaved African people since they were already exposed to the European diseases and couldn’t escape as easily. So your right, it wasn’t the Asians who invaded and colonized and genocides indigenous peoples, it was the Spanish . At that time it was the Spanish who “established a total system of oppressive racist control based on terrorism, murder, rape, slavery, genocide, etc etc.” So what you’re saying about it only being white people, isn’t true. In fact during that time there was a whole racial hierarchy that put Spaniards at the top, then mixed Spanish and Native American, then Native American, then African/Spanish, etc.

          • Vanessa Muzondi

            sorry to break it to you but spaniards are white. They’re just tanner than you.

          • Nyah

            Colonization from Europeans, (invasion, racial genocide) was a popular notion and activity. Those main Euro nations were Dutch, French, Spanish, British (including, Irish, Scots, Welsh). Sounds pretty white to me.

          • haksdha

            I acknowledge what you’re saying but the comment to which I replied was just broadly speaking about white slaves but speaking about white slaves in the time of the Slave Trade. And the repercussions of the Slave Trade are far greater (or maybe it seems that way because we live in this time right now) than that of slavery for other races in classical times, or pre-modern history. And if you wanna talk about genocide then we can talk about genocide but please place it context which it isn’t here. I mean are you trying to say that we should ignore one bad thing in favour of another thing? Cause that’s definitely not what I’m trying to say and totally wrong.

          • Amanda

            There were indentured servants who were treated like slaves.

          • haygis

            first, there is no such thing as “race”. second, being a victim of abuse does not make it okay to become an abuser. yes the british were colonized by the romans (and everyone else for a long period of time), but by your logic, then, any pedophile is justified in his pedophilia because he was raped as a child. which makes no rational ethical logical reasonable or legitimate sense of argument at all.

          • Jicarilla/Apache

            The true people of the Americas are indigenous not European. Europeans came here and killed millions of Indigenous people. Then built a white privileged society on top of it. So not actual white people ONLY come from Europe and yes that INCLUDES the descendent on other continents. By the way ‘Americans’ is a broad statement it means anyone in the American Continent

          • haygis

            what white slaves? oh, you mean the indentured servants who became nonexistent once europeans established the african slave trade?

          • jm313

            I hope you know in Africa blacks captured there own people and sold them. This is not some myth that whites made, it is true, even Henry Louis Gates a black academic who has studied the African slave trade admitted it.

          • haksdha

            and then it became a pejorative term. STOP

          • White Guy 420

            Doesn’t make it not racist…. You’re calling someone a derogatory name based on the color of their skin. White people of today are not the same as the ones that owned slaves, but you throw them into the same group because they have white skin. By this logic you could call a black guy a “spear-chucker” and it wouldn’t be racist because they actually threw spears back in Africa? This is what’s wrong with the world today, everyone is stuck in the past.

            Also, on another note, how is “African-american” the politically term for black people? It’s assuming (based on their skin color) that they are both American AND from African decent.

          • Black guy

            So do we call white people British-American or Irish-American or better yet Anglo-American…why can’t we all just be American?

          • nych

            Exactly. People assert that race is nonexistent.. a social construct. Then these same people keep the race rhetoric going with divisive labels.

          • ada

            white people today may have nothing to do with what their ancestors did, but they sure as hell benefit from the insidious oppression and power structure that they set up. and for a term to be considered racist, you have to look at it origins. If you feel getting called a cracker is racist, you’re entitled to that. I’m not here to educate you or change your opinion, but please don’t insult African Americans by saying it’s the same thing as getting called a “nigger”.

          • Ldog

            Being called a kaffir, or serf in middle age times is the exact same as being called the N word, and some would say worse. It was meant as the most vile, the most derogatory, and racially offensive term they could come up with in those times. You speak of history and of words but you do not own them or understand them , but you would act as if you are educated on the subject. I would say I am only of the most basic in the understanding of such derogatory words and or terms and even i recognize there are words that are every bit as offensive. I find it ironic that while other races went thru slavery that modern society can only focus on the last couple hundred years, as if since it happened before black slavery it doesn’t count or mean anything. You are mistaken if this is your assessment.

          • haygis

            its not based on the color of your skin. its based on your behavior. white people are the most depraved social group in the written history of the world. im not even kidding…..you need to learn your own history and actually understand it before you go about screaming and looking like an uneducated ignorant fool.

          • guest

            i thought it was because they’re white like crackers. the food you eat with cheese.

          • Ali Chavez

            Yup yup, I agree; kill Whitey because they invented internet and computers!

          • Fooly

            Yes it’s true that’s how the word came about – no one can argue against that. However, just like how the term “gay” changed from meaning happy to refering to a homosexual, cracker changed as well. I certainly fail to see whites going around “cracking” blacks for picking their cotton too slowly anymore. The historical context has changed, and with it the context of the word. One can easily perceive its usage as racist, or at least offensive.

          • White with Amnesia

            Oh okay, so I’ve been called a cracker because I used to own slaves. It’s weird how I forgot something like that… Don’t be so dense.

          • haygis

            you were probably called a cracker for being an asshole.

          • Justathought

            Not all white people did that. Stop generalizing. Look up statistics during those times of how many people actually participated in those crimes. Not even half of the white American population did that. A small percentage sick, twisted individuals in the south owned slaves and beat them. Now anyone that is white of that time, is being painted with the same brush. Freedom was found by individuals (many of them white) that realized that the color of person’s skin did not determine their worth. Many people that fought and died for this change during the civil war were white.

          • starlightsynesthesia

            Literally dude, you honestly think “omfg, stop,” that ‘cracker’ is not racist, even though the majority of white people did not own slaves and do not appreciate being associated with slavery whatsoever, or persecuted as a false persecutor? That’s like me calling black people ‘gangbangers’ because there are gangs of black people in my city that literally go around shooting up white people just because they’re white. So it’s suddenly okay for white people in my city to get offended and start calling all the black people gangbangers? That’s not racist? “omfg, ……..black people are called gangbangers because that is literally what they did. they went around in GANGS and BANG BANG BANG their guns’ bullets into the faces of their white targets. STOP.” See how stupid you sound?

          • iknwimhott

            You guys are crackers cuz if the truth is brought up even one you crack like glass and we see right through you

          • digitalruckus

            this is literally my favourite comment ever omg

          • shq

            the author says “white” because that is the majority. the author says PoC because there are multiple minorities abd to say black would underrepresent the other PoC. Have you been around America, observed every activist group? Just because your personal experience leads you to draw these naive conclusions doesn’t make them correct so please try to educate yourself thanks

          • JAES

            The author says “White” because she is speaking specifically in terms of skin color, therefore “People of Color”.

            It would be lovely if we – the folk that have taken the time in our lives to educate ourselves about this stuff – would just agree to drop the bullshit skin color references once and for all & refuse to call anyone by a “color” – because it perpetuates that old, played out power struggle.

          • JAES

            Maybe that’s because the oldest PoC ethnic group besides Native Americans in this country is African Americans. And they are the largest, as the Europeans decimated the indigenous population.

            And by writing PoC, she was being inclusive, not limiting her article to only one group. She may speak primarily for the group she is from. But she is not limiting it, you are.

          • Kar

            Cracker is a term that displays the power white people have historically had. It is derived from the slave era common place practice where white individuals beat black people with whips. The crack of the whip. Look up cracker on google images. A picture of a wheat snack will show up. Next google search the N word…

          • XX

            What you said right there is ignorant and degrading. Right there, when you said that JUST because most PoC in the US are African Americans, she means black people. PoC means Asian, Arab, African, Scandanavian, etc.

          • digitalruckus

            omg you did not say scandinavian…

          • robynbuckins

            because no other group had to fight 400 years of legalized discrimination… and you are blind if you think that other groups are not .fighting racial inequality….I live in the US not Canada.. where do you live under a rock….. also African-American/Black are used interchangeably…but let me see we have gone from Nigga to Color to Negro to Afro-American to African-American/Black..but we are always NIGGAS ummm I’m interesting in knowing what other groups has been redefine so many times by the powers to be ..

          • ghanderman

            lol…how is white an insult when europeans coined the term themselves to describe themselves even to the point of making white a legal category to privilege themselves?

            and no one said it was okay to call white people “crackers”, you just totally made that up all by yourself and threw it in.

          • Nyah

            Muslim is’nt a race by the way. Its a religion. The religion has members of many races.

          • haksdha

            don’t be pedantic, it’s annoying. you know perfectly well what the above person is trying to say. the writer of the article is explicitly implying that minority ‘races’ cannot be racist towards the ‘race’ in power because racism is “prejudice+power” which is rather idiotic. She doesn’t understand the origin of the term ‘reverse racism’ and how that in itself is an impossibility. She’s not writing about reverse racism which is institutional racism, racial discrimination from the ruling power against the ruling ‘race’. Which is an oxymoron, the ruling ‘race’ can’t discriminate against itself. She is writing about racism on its own.

          • Supremo Lagarto

            Actually she does indeed imply that blacks cannot be racist. She also cooks up a theory that that the very structure of society is racist. It is an ignorant conspiracy theory. Many people are racists. There is a legacy of past racism against minorities, but that doesn’t mean racism against whites does not exist. In fact, the history of white oppression actually INCREASES the probability of racism against whites that had NOTHING TO DO with that history AT ALL.

          • haygis

            well, they cant be racist. if you are a white person living on the ancestral tribal homelands of any indigenous group in any region colonized by the british, then you are, by definition, racist and no person of color in ANY of those regions can, by any stretch of the imagination, be racist.

          • IRISH AND JEWISH

            This would then, for instance, include Ireland… which is a bizarre statement, as they were subjugated (700+ years by the British Empire, and there was even an attempt to kill them off, via genocide (The Irish Potato Famine). You may make this into a case of “Get out of Racist Free Card” which an incredibly immature, childish, and hurtful statement, as this is showing how the Irish people IDENTIFY with the African American experience. In fact it’s a well known fact the Irish were routinely referred to by their British masters as “Couch Monkeys” (research to verify if you don’t believe me!), in adition, the Irish Diaspora in America cared SO MUCH about the plight of the African American experience, that a very, very large number of them fought in the Civil War to free the slaves. Now if you say they just did that because the ‘Irish like to fight’, you have to remember, this is an insulting, demeaning Irish sterotype designed by the British TO KEEP THEM DOWN.

            In addition, though I technically am “white” I do not identify with the group “White”. LIke Blacks, Whites are comprised of MANY MANY different people; in my case I alone am Jewish and Irish. To make a stereotype of me being ‘advantaged’ is a deeply, deeply anti-semitic remark, one that has been used and utilized by hateful people for centuries.

            Lastly, I know for myself that the Irish and Jewish people are typically (but not always, like any group) a good and caring people who want things for the best. We care about the plight of the African Americans and what was done to to them, as we are the Chinese, and so on.

            Racism is racism, no matter WHO is being the one being racist. It’s absurdly difficult being the one seen as “racist” by someone… as they are seeing a ‘typical white male’ a symbol of ‘white oppression’.

            To clarify how absurd this is, I am currently out of a job and working hard to get one. To be told I’m an “Elite”
            (I don’t like the elite, but I am NOT one of them) is rediculous. It’ also very very racist, and the anti-semitcism there is just ripe.

            To be sure, the true elite are not any specific Jewish person, or white… this is just an abstraction, that may in fact be perpetuating the problem. But you have to understand that the idea that I, being a white person, am priveledged is very very hurtful to a person of Jewish background. This invective has been used against us since time immorial, by ages less able to do the research.

            Please do the research. This conversation is terribly American centric. If you did research it a bit you’d understand that people have dealt with issues of racism differently (and better) than us; perhaps we could learn from them? There are of course those that did worse, but we can learn from their errors also.

            Lastly, if we are to rise above our past we seriously need to rise above our own self-arrogance and needed to appear smarter and “better” than everyone. There is far too much smarmy “know it all” ness to these discussions and this goes no better than a post from a Troll.

          • robynbuckins

            while I do believe that Blacks can demonstrate racist behavior just like any other group.. I don’t believe that Whites are directly targeted with respect to structural racism as Blacks and other groups are; however, that is not to say that perhaps Whites are not affected by racial inequality especially institutionally. Racism hurts everyone!

          • robynbuckins

            white oppression.. really….please explain that within a historical context… yes do share your knowledge of Western Civilization…

          • reallyreally

            People you can’t be serious… History has been around longggg before the western conquest of much of the known world and the societies they have built upon the rubble of others, its only the most recent! Everyone has done it at one time or another! Everyone has committed genocide, everyone has stolen land, everyone has has inter-bred!! Everyone has oppressed everyone since the evolution of homosapiens the only difference is this part of history has been recorded and remembered due to our innate ability to preserve history and technological advances over time, the victor has always written the history books, has been unfair to those they have conquered! But we live ina world slowly trying to rectify this! Its a much more intelligent world and at the same time a stupid world, we should be more worried above the development of human consciousness and our abilities rather than who rides who and who holds the reins, truth is most people are friendly and equal with each other and there is more of the common MAN than there is of any type of elitest power the makes the big decisions that seperate and destroy the world. If a system is based and bias toward a certain skin color its not right, but not much right ever happens unless we make it no matter what world or society we live in, social structure doesn’t even come into it, we all have to deal with what we have and where we live and there is alot of different places in the world who all have the same difficulties everyone everywhere else no matter what background you come from has to adapt and has always had to since forever and ever, peace on earth, now think about it. We have all wanted it always even through time of turmoil but there has always been those oppressing it whether it be local, international or global because they will lose the power they imagined they had by trying to control what they thought they had locked down. Its not a negriod, mongloid or Caucasian trait, its a human trait, I guarantee we have all despised it at one stage in history or another and I’m not saying that makes it right now. But you can’t hold a whole race, majority or not, responsible,for the actions of their past descendants, for they did not decide to do this to any one themselves, it qill always be the same, favoritism towards what you know and are comfortable with no matter who you are or where you come from hate won’t get anyone anywhere and that’s all there is to it, you all defend your own ideas but none of you are truly equal with one another and never will be, you are what you make of yourself and should continue to improve on who u are consistently and inevitably, think for yourself and if you come to these conclusions against one another you are all aiding the segregation of people, accept what has happened and move on, no one can change the past, we can only.look forward to the future, fighting won’t do it, fighting won’t work, all it will do is fuel the fire and continue sprawling the situation out of control, stop your arguing and realize we are all wrong and we are all at fault and so are all of our ancestors. Shit needs to change but we are ALL going the wrong way about it.

          • ghanderman

            im sure the entire academic profession will read your post and do a complete 360 upon realizing that YOU are right, and they are wrong.

        • haygis

          its called racISM for a reason. same reason why its called sexISM. the -ism indicates a pattern of behaviors that privilege one specific grup over and over. a black person can call you a cracker, (oh boo hoo for you), but they are still a racial minority and do not have access to the social systemic routes of oppression that the average white person does.

        • ghanderman

          blacks in a country built on the african slave trade, genocide of indigenous peoples, CANT, by definiton, be racist.

          period.

          just because youre in denial doesnt make the claims stemming from your denial valid.

      • Aaron Plummer

        Racism in an of itself is not solely systemic!! Anytime someone is treated differently, mocked, scoffed at, passed up for a promotion, belittled, assaulted (verbally or physically), or discriminated against based solely on the color of their skin, is plain and simple racism. Doesn’t matter how much power is behind it, it is mistreatment based on race=racism. Doesn’t matter what color I am, if it happens to me, it is racism.

        • Cup of Tea

          Doubt it. Textbook racism still includes inferiority/superiority. Someone black having a bias against you is because of your position as a majority. A majority making you seem superior. Someone white attacking a black person has historically been because they are deemed inferior.

          • sandwiches

            Normal people use the word racism to mean “prejudice by race.” It’s pointless to argue semantics and it’s just a matter of agreeing that we’re all simply talking about different things. When white folk say that they have been victims of racism, they are saying they were discriminated for being white.

            Whether or not this is how you or textbooks use the word “racism” is irrelevant. They are simply not taking about the same thing you are.

          • eric

            (black folks)

        • shq

          oh and how often does that happen to a majority race? Not even close to the degree that affects a PoC. While Racism causes actual life problems for them, I just see white girls complain that “he assumed i like starbucks and wear uggs only cause i’m white! RACIST” yeah poor you

          • Kat Young

            OOOO FUCK YOU shq i grew up in oakland was alot more than assumptions I delt with I was more than just socialy outcast THE 1ST DAY These 2 guys told me their g/fs were gonna beat me up I didnt EVEN FUCKING KNOW THEIR G/FS A CHICK I DIDNT EVEN KNOW PULLED ME OUT MY DESK AT SCHOOL AND BEAT ME in a fucking group home and that wasnt the ONLY occasion. people I havent even spoken two words to have hated me for no reason with no prior knowledge of me **so Im sure it wasnt a hierarchy with one race above another there was literally NO white staff and even the staff beat me ** racism is racism despite color or creed Ive delt with prejudice all my fucking life for my sexual orientation Ive been fired from jobs or exluded from friendships or beat in some cases for my skin color, for not being the same Ive been to ks city mo for fuck sakes you think I was welcome there? The thing people arent getting is that there ARE hierarchy where other races are ontop TRUST ME I TRAVELED THE US . Im a fucking liberal I wouldnt judge a f-ing banana ok? but does that stop people from giving me shit? Hell no. And Im honestly sick of all white people getting crap talked on em by natives african americans or chineese as gay as this sounds CANT WE ALL JUST GET ALONG and drop the b/s of the past NONE OF US LIVED IN THE DAYS OF SLAVERY OR THE TRAIL OF TEARS why do we have to all pay for the sins of the forefathers? Hell Im scottish and french MY PEOPLE DIDNT EVEN HAVE ANY KIND OF HAND IN IT but Ive paid 10000 x over and you know what? I still dont give a g’dam what color you are people are people and people need to get over it PERIOD and I highly resent your remark

          • capurafarol

            how often it happens or to what degree r acism happens is irrelevant , the question is does it exist and does it affect everyone who is judged or belittled by it . Just because you think that being descriminated against as a white is just not hard enough for you goes to show how ignorant you are of the world around you. Anytime a person is judged or mistreated or harrassed based on thier race is inacceptable and should be addressed

          • JAES

            There are a lot of assumptions made by ignorant people on both sides of the “color” coin about the other. Just because that is all you have seen personally doesn’t make that all that there is.

          • what

            What…that doesn’t even make sense. It doesn’t matter how often something happens, or that there are worse ways of being afflicted, racism is a broad term with varying degrees of magnitude, just as there are varying degrees of bias and bigotry. That’s like saying a certain Jew can’t be offended by anti-semantic clothing that depicts a Jewish person with a huge nose because they’re not being gassed in the camps like the TRUE sufferers who lost their lives in the holocaust. Or that no black man or woman can complain about being called “a punk ass n!gger” because of the oppressed starving kids in Africa. It’s called Fallacy of relative privation, fuckass. Read about it and better yourself.

          • starlightsynesthesia

            Racism toward white people in my city from blacks and Latinos literally causes actual life problems for me.

        • Jane

          What about how: old people are treated, disabled, poor people.

        • Harry Seaward

          ^^^^^ This

      • Jane

        Then we need to get people on the same page. Moslems and indian people treat women like dogs- so this means a white man treats an indian woman better t han her own race!

        • Faisal

          Lol what bollocks how many Muslims do you actually know? Or are you just going off the media as usual. FYI I’ve had a beer bottle smashed across my face by my ex and I still didn’t hit her back-any man that does hit a woman is a coward in my view, and cowardice is frowned upon in Islam i think you’ll find. Also, my sister works and got married to her Bangladeshi boyfriend, even though there are cultural differences between us pakistanis and bangla’s. in addition to this my mum is a school teacher and my dad has NEVER hit her, furthermore my eldest sister who died of meningitis in 1992 had a white british boyfriend before she died, n my dad didn’t have a problem. Don’t talk shit when you don’t know fuck all. If you’re culturally ignorant and are in the habit of making sweeping generalizations, do everyone a favor and shut the fuck up.

          • None

            Thank you for that. You should all be aware that the Middle East has voted in more woman presidents than Ameri-
            Oh wait!
            America hasn’t a single woman President!
            Or Vice for that matter!

          • RealityCheck131

            Lol the guy saying he hates all whites complaining about generalizations. Moron.

      • JAES

        Actually, systemic power has always existed in state level civilizations, because it is what separates haves into have nots, and who is accorded automatic status as a have…. thinking about those within the ruling class vs. peasant class vs. slave within any major hierarchal civilization. Skin color is often used in general because traditionally the ruling class has had other people do manual outside labor for them and therefore is much lighter toned; the Europeans did turn this on its tail end in the Americas. Honestly, we as a species have not advanced very far over the hundreds of millennia that we have flourished on this planet. We recreate the same b.s. over and over….

      • Brian Black

        Yes, but those who complain of a group using systemic power against them usually end up doing the same to the group they think aggrieved them. You can say wealthy white men (as if the level of melanin in the skin means anything) are the richest in society, but they also account for the US’s largest number below the poverty line and the largest number of homeless, something I’ve seen myself volunteering.

        Laws like affirmative action use systemic force against a group of people based on a stereotype, imply that the ability to achieve is set by ethnicity and requires systemic force to force equality, and hypocritically use systemic force against these groups as a justification for doing so.

        Expecting perfection from others to ignore our own faults, effectively holding everyone to a higher standard than oneself is not the answer to malignant self interest, and is instead its greatest boon. We don’t need politicians, elected and unelected (whether that be in government or special interest), to tell us who to attack and when and how to feel good about ourselves and our actions. We can keep our own interests, yet at the same time help others not only out of squalor but into a chance to elevate themselves.

        Avoiding personal responsibility, hating indiscriminately based on superficial categories, and lying to ourselves about the real causes, motives and effects of our actions serves not to give us control over the world, and instead allows us to rob ourselves of freedom, opportunity, happiness and security. Freedom is a natural right when all abide by it to others, it is not given by government mandate. Opportunity is abundant when judgments are made solely in logic, with respect given to the accountable and just, and not denied from judgmentalism based in self-serving emotions and self-deception. Happiness comes from within and is shared with others, it does not flourish in a society that chooses hatred and suspicion before logic and personal accountability. And security comes not from an automated check directed by government bureaucracy, but from the unabused support of our own little slices of society.

        Obsession with perceived slights and preoccupation with racism is just baggage, and a twisted mirror we morph to as we accuse others of it. Hatred is a neighbor that pretends to be with you while opposing you at all times. And it has no place in the hearts of those who yearn for freedom.

    • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

      Why does it take such a long comment to get people to recognize such an incredibly simple concept?

      • Kwehrheim

        Look at the replies to the comment for your answer.

        • fernando Rivera Jr.

          I still don’t get it. The people who disagree with the established definition of racism have perfectly good words they could use instead. I kind of feel like people want to use the word ‘racism’ because it’s a buzz word, and not because it’s the right word.

          Same thing with sexism on this site, really…

    • Wester

      One of the chief factors of racism is claiming and defending the power to define what is and what is not racism. By your insistence that getting mugged by black people is “racism”, you are showing your bias, your privilege and your myopia..

      • Souther

        so if someone say… shoots someone because of their skin color, it’s not racist! Makes soooo much sense.

        • Sarra

          No its hateful discrimination, bigotry and prejudice. Not racism.

          • pangtongshu

            You just described racism

          • capurafarol

            “No its hateful discrimination, bigotry and prejudice”=RACISM!! HELLO!!!! YOU JUST DESCRIBED IT!!

          • John Olson

            You cannot conflate the distinct definitions of discrimination, bigotry, prejudice, and racism into one convenient little melting pot to compensate for the fact that your are ignorant that these four concepts maintain separate meanings.

          • capurafarol

            All I know is that anyone who is ignorant enough to believe this article, and all of those who believe there is still this giant oppressive movement; they all use these words as identifying characteristics of racism. So talk to them if you don’t agree.

      • Jasila

        “One of the chief factors of racism is” prejudice based on race.

        Unless you’re calling Sara Luckey a racist for writing this article… or yourself a racist for defining racism and defending your opinion… :D

      • Nichole Allen

        It is racism you idiot. Yeah he had a total privilege getting mugged based purely by his skin color. Get over yourself.

      • commonsense405

        What a bizarre retort. It’s simple: if he was attacked for his skin color or ethnic appearance, it was racism. That’s going by dictionary definition, so I suppose now you’ll tell me that the dictionary is also racist?

        • Caucasian Person

          Who wrote the dictionary? A bunch of rich, white men

          • commonsense405

            “A bunch of rich, white men”

            Assuming all “rich, white men” are racist… is completely racist.

          • Feminista

            That’s not racism, that’s a generalisation based on everything that ‘white men’ as a demographic have done throughout history

          • iknowall

            It’s a racist stereotype.

          • wes

            And people wonder why white people don’t feel safe…

          • Janet Mary Estelle Hutchings

            More like a stereotype

          • faith

            But you can literally say the SAME EXACT thing about poc and it would be racist??????

          • Derek Jude Tallman

            Yeah, those dictionary editors are lighting Macanudos with $100 bills while sipping Moet from the cleavage of Victoria’s Secret models.

        • Hammerstrike

          Yep, the dictionary is racist, bigoted myopic and privilegied.

    • Wester

      I would hope that you go to Shanghai and start filing suits in the court system against what you claim to be racism. So (1) you can be made a fool of and (2) that you can feel exactly what it is like to be treated like a Tibetan, Musuo, Hui or Huiger minority. What happens in China would most likely be called imperialism instead of racism. They just do it with the gloves off and without a shred of plausible deniability. So when you come back to the states and you see internal US colonies like African American, Pacific Islander, Latino and American Indian, then you can get a better feel for the definition of the word race-ism. It is a system, like capitalism or communism or feudalism. But racism is a system built around skin color privilege. So now you can call it by its more exacting name – Racial Imperialism, and like Malcolm X, maybe you can start thinking about taking that crap to the UN or the World Court instead of retreating way back up into the white privilege cul-de-sac from where the logic of your comment came.

      • cerny

        typically fancy and overly contrived arguments can actually reach a persuasive conclusion!!! ;)

    • JohnDoe

      Thank you for your answer, couldn’t have written it better myself!

    • tiredofdreaming

      LOVE
      how the first comment I read(now that I had a chance to read this one)
      is a of a guy calling the article naive before re-redefining racism by
      comparing his experiences to those of PoC because those experiences are similar ONLY on
      the most basic and superficial level thereby completely ignoring structural aspects. Awfully convenient for you white guy. Smdh

      • cerny

        lol, how can you discount everything the guy said. you obviously read closely only when it benefits you.

      • Commentsaredepressing

        My thoughts exactly!

      • WhatIsADictionary

        Except the article was the one that redefined racism. There is no definition of racism, that isn’t made up on the spot, that states you have to be in a “position of power” to be racist.

      • Jasila

        Love how you’re a racist who doesn’t know the definition of racism.

      • qualityrkc

        A dictionary is readily available. You are the one trying to change the definition of racism. Can you explain the structural racism in America?

    • Kieth Crum

      I think you’re conflating racism and prejudice. Racism is the overarching societal system of oppression BASED off of prejudice, whereas prejudice is the bigoted ideology itself (white-nationalism, black-nationalism, whatever-nationalism, anti-semitism…). Those five morons were prejudiced and singled you out, but they didn’t have any power structure backing them up.

      • cerny

        I don’t think there is that much difference though. Being mugged and beaten by 5 people.. who have thousands or millions really… of people who pride themselves on being “G’s, gangsters” as popularized by hip hop music… these people back up a many times racist and hateful ideology… that is soooo much different than cops who do the same. The police screw with everyone. For example I know a white guy who was pepper sprayed 14 times in a week and half because the cops were bored. Also speaking of meanie cops, in jail if you so much as say the “n word” .. you’ll get jumped by multiple black folks. They don’t care about decency and fair fights, other races do to a higher degree when incarcerated. Saying the n word is like saying voldemort in the harry potter universe I swear… only in America can a business woman be crucified for being slightly racist, and a magazine can put the photograph of a mass murderer from a minority on the front cover and be just fine….

        • Chandra Melting Tallow

          “They don’t care about decency and fair fights, other races do to a higher degree when incarcerated.” …not racist at all!!

      • Whitney Ness

        What you’re looking for is the term “institutionalized racism”. It’s a word, with a definition. Made SPECIFICALLY to describe the racism you are talking about. NOWHERE IN ANY DICTIONARY DOES IT SAY “Racism: the societal system of oppression”. There Is not a single dictionary out of a sociological studies class that will list that as the definition. YOU DON’T GET TO REDEFINE WORDS BASED ON PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OR POLITCAL/PERSONAL IDEOLOGIES. How hard is this concept really?

        It’s fucking ridiculous when there exists a well defined word, “Instituionalized racism”, that you refuse to use.

        • Chandra Melting Tallow

          calm down white girl!

      • FatRob

        Power structures exist on many different levels. Within a given building, neighborhood, or city, there can exist race-based power structures that differ greatly from the larger power structures extant within the nation.

        I’m sure you can think of situations where ppl other than Caucasians hold the power, on some level that may not be utterly dominant, but is certainly larger than just indiidualized.

        • digitalruckus

          yea but what about when those people “other than caucasians” are outside those situations where the power is “larger than just individualised” who’s power do you think holds the most strength, its the caucasians…

      • Sean Morris

        I donno about that. In my book, outnumbering someone 5:1 constitutes a significant “power structure”. In fact, Sun Tzu said, if you out number your enemy 3:1 attack. This presumes an awareness of power.

        • Tishauna Starr

          if we’re talking the art of war yes, but this is wholly different.

          • None

            No. It is not. 3 people against one person equally armed will within statistical relevance always come up the victors. Because they are powerful. Powerful means having power. The three have the power. Understood?
            You are letting dictionary definitions define your understanding of his point.
            Stop it.
            All of you, stop it. Dictionary definitions are guidelines. They are meant to describe a word so that someone that doesn’t know a word will understand what it means. The word “racism” can be defined a million times but at the end someone with a working understanding of the human language will see racism as just what the word describes.
            Race-ism. Which should translate to something akin to “the act of only liking your race.”

    • heatherGirl

      Your using common sense…… not exactly something liberals are to into.
      The reality is the accusation of racism is much like the use of hate laws – used to control the speech of anyone whose opinions a liberal does not like.
      Ever see a hate law that defended the speech rights of anyone who isn’t a protected special interest liberal group? Ever see a hate speech law protect a christian? A pro life advocate? A gun owner?
      All these people are loathed by liberals…… and liberals verbally assault them almost daily……. but when they do that we are told its their right to free speech. But let the Christian, the pro life activist or the gun owner respond to those verbal attacks and you will very likely and quickly see the application of “hate speech laws”.
      When a conservative attacks someone liberals prove of, its called hate speech. It’s hate speech if a christian saying something hateful to a gay rights activist
      When a liberal attacks someone liberals don’t pprove it, thats called freedom of speech. Its freedom of speech if the gay rights activist says something hateful to the christian.

      • Aaron Plummer

        Awesome!! Very well said!! You have a good head on your shoulders…here, here!!

      • Davis Kane

        What about the Westboro Baptist Church? Neo-Nazi rallies? Fox News (haha)? Do those not count?

      • Steven

        Yeah… but your argument goes both ways. That’s how politics works.

        Also, I think it’s strange that a “Christian” (as in, a follower of Christ) would have any words of hate towards anybody… I thought that was sort of the whole point of the religion in the first place. You think you’re going to Heaven (which is supposed to be all special-made for you, which I would imagine means it would have no Liberals, Gays, people who have had Abortions, and whomever else you hate), so why do you really care what other people are doing in the world?

        Also, if I’ve said something a Christian doesn’t approve of… (perhaps an I LOVE YOU to my boyfriend) It’s because I’m not Christian. I don’t have to follow your rules. I follow my own rules because I don’t need a book to tell me not to be a terrible person. I follow the laws set in this country, and petition to change the ones I don’t agree with.

        Because I don’t believe in heaven, so I only have one shot to make my life worthy and fulfilling to myself.

    • Jaybee

      Man, I think you have some reading comprehension issues.

    • Sandra

      I couldn’t have said it better myself, I agree with you 100%.

    • Sara s

      Right on, you put my thoughts into words. Ms luckey needs another decade or so of experiences, not just reading forums and web sites, travel the world and get off her high horse. Maybe she should stick to her beauty column because I wouldn’t even want her messing up feminism with her very biased views!!

    • konphidential

      You comment reminds me of a scene from a film entitled “What dreams may come” when Robin Williams character is walking onto the beach of hell. He stumbls upon the heads of people buried up to their necks in sand, and still in denial about their past life.

    • proud Anishnawbeikwe

      I’m a First Nations woman married to a white man…and the racism that he’s felt is real. I don’t think there’s such a thing as “reverse racism.” Racism is generalizing and denigrating someone with no more information than their race. It knows no colour, race or creed. I found this article insulting, because denying that PEOPLE have faults no matter their race makes us into children that cry WAH! WAH! It’s not equality.

      • Ryan

        You’re a nigger whore is what you are.

        • Disgraced

          Ryan – that is a rude and disgusting comment. If you’re going to be nasty towards people with insightful comments, get off the internet.

          • Peter

            but this is the internet, remember.

        • Lucid

          You’ve got to be kidding me. You would never say that in person you scared bitch! Using the internet as a shield. Someone should whip the shit out of you with cowhide then poor salt in the wounds!

      • Legally White

        You’re awesome.

        • xxxx

          She’s awesome because she’s a PoC agreeing with your white person bullshit? There is such a thing as white privilege as that is reason on its own for the no such thing as reverse racism deal.

          • Oh, please.

            She never said that there wasn’t such a thing as white privilege. Maybe you should reread what she and the person before her said before skimming to the bottom and jumping in head-first with the whole “it’s racism if it’s against anyone but whites” hypocrisy.

          • starlightsynesthesia

            That makes no god damned sense. You’re saying, because “white people” (You People, etc.) are the majority in predominately white, democratic societies such as in the West, in which they’ve allowed people of outsider ethnic minorities to immigrate into and vote and be represented and have a voice within said democratic societies (where a majority vote/agreement is required to make changes), and that these “white people” have made a global influence through the societies they built in the Western world that is a result of generations and generations prior to our present ones, that it’s somehow impossible to racially discriminate against “white people”, i.e., calling them inherently evil, or inherently racist, or inherently ANYTHING, including being unable to be a victim of racist remarks, assault, or political persecution by minorities forming a majority against them, as if the fact that one has perceived oneself as a PoC persecuted, offended, and marginalized, makes it okay to outright persecute, offend, and marginalize “white people” and pretend it’s not the same thing because “they” did it first. See, once again, SJWs like you are not about sharing the table, equality, and the bettering of all society, etc. They want the tables turned altogether. To culturally eradicate “white people” in every form until the society they built, their culture, is no longer recognizable or preserved in any form outside of a “racist” light. “White people” are literally being made to feel guilty for being attracted to “white people” and lighter skin tones, as if that’s inherently racist. Yes, I understand that media in predominately white societies portrays white people as the standard of beauty. That’s because to white people, our own race is typically most familiar, and apparently to white people such as myself, we actually do think lighter skin is more beautiful. Not to say darker skin is ugly. It’s just that, white people like I, we’re not biologically attracted to really dark skin, skin being a prominent physical feature that makes up like 98% of the visual body. Attraction is largely visual, and yes, cultural. Believe it or not, people are generally attracted to people of their own culture. “That’s just something you’re going to have to let go.” The world is becoming a global culture melting pot insane asylum, unfortunately, where no culture is respecting any others’ boundaries anymore, so everyone thinks they can go into another ethnic majority’s culture and make changes to it on the basis of “equality and justice”, but honestly… if you care so much about having a sane, just culture that caters to your needs, why don’t you go fucking develop your own culture. If you don’t like predominately white societies and are worried about “white privilege”, maybe don’t fucking immigrate to one? I understand America is a different story, we adapted the whole “we’re the world’s melting pot” idea, which was slippery slope suicide in my opinion, and “we” (my dumbass ancestors, British people) decided it would be a good idea to dislocate and import a bunch of slaves, make them out to be in the societal hivemind of that time as subhuman and lower class, and then unleash them on society without any proper education or wealth, or plans of transition toward leveling the playing field (shitty that it’s even considered a “playing field”, growth economy worship, capitalism and corporatism and neoliberal globalization and industrial civilization and technology and *domestication* and division of labor are the REAL culprits behind ever-massing oppression), as if making them into citizens after generations of slavery is going to fucking work out in a foreseeable future, rather than just create this “us vs. them” diametric opposites fuckfest reflected perfectly by Left vs. Right propaganda of falsely dividing everything into extremes that just evolved and evolved into what we now know to be Politically Correct disenfranchised and disempowered PoC vs. White Privilege that must end in all forms (i.e. cultural genocide, but it’s okay because they’re white), and everything we can do to accommodate the former while demonizing and guilt tripping the latter. Will white people ever be made equal with people of color? Probably not for a long time. For a long time, we’ll end up and remain the most persecuted, marginalized race on the planet, until perhaps we’re completely weeded out, or at least made into a stark minority. Only then will we be allowed to be truly considered equal amid the equality and justice that people of color get to talk about, and we’ll finally be welcome to the club, to the table. White people are (+) in power, so PoC must create a (-) battle against white people, rather than just try to neutralize the whole thing with a fair, nonhypocritical, genuine discussion of meeting each other half way, i.e., ACTUAL equality, in this age where talk of equality and justice are on the table and most everyone wants it, theoretically. You just have to realize what it actually implies, and look further into the future than just right now. You are essentially evaporating individual cultures and mixing them all together as one massive, global, homogeneous soup, because if people of all ethnicities can flood into predominately white societies, then what’s to stop them from flooding into predominately Asian societies (Japanese privilege, etc.), or predominately Latino societies, or predominately African societies. Why would it only be expected of predominately white cultures? I’ll tell you why, really, and here’s the kicker: because white people were the only ones “reasonable” enough to even let PoC in, in such numbers, and let this whole issue begin, when we could have just stuck to our own fucking cultures. But no, they can’t stop at being allowed in. They want power, they want to evaporate all traces of white influence. Fuck white people, right? But that’s not racist!! Reverse racism doesn’t exist. Fuck you. I agree, white people have historically done way too much world conquest and we’re now ultimately reaping what we’ve sowed, by having introduced PoC to our culture that they so obviously have an envy/hate relationship with, that they must gain power of it and eradicate any traces of anything distinctly or uniquely or even dare I say declaratively “white”. But let’s be honest. Equality and justice for all: This involves (1) acknowledging that in order to have equality, as things stand, white culture must effectively be lost beyond recognition, effective cultural genocide. (2) White people acknowledging white privilege exists. And (3) PoC ACKNOWLEDGING that yes, you CAN be racist toward white people. I mean, if we’re talking real equality here, I just think it’s fair they pay us the same respect we pay them, and vise versa. Equality means equal for a reason. How fucking absurd is it that you’re masquerading equality and justice for all, while stating such hypocritical, cognitively dissonant, doublethink nonsense bullshit as “white privilege is reason on its own for there being no such thing as reverse racism”. How pitiful. Like I said, either play it fair and be respectful of our (white) culture, or go back to wherever the fuck your own ethnic homeland is. Just because you’re a PoC doesn’t give you the right to exploit white people for every privilege they grant you in THEIR fucking societies until you can finally turn the tables and revoke white people of their privileges and grant them all to yourself AND create propaganda that it’s impossible to be racist toward a white person, as if they’re not fucking human beings. I mean you have to be evil to think that way. The idea is to share on the same level, be equal, and respectful of each others’ differences, boundaries, needs, etc. Currently, extreme feminists, SJWs, etc., are not at all on the same page here. All they perceive is “us (PoC, xgenders, what have you) vs. them (cis white male scum)”, refusing to operate on a “we” basis, further reinforcing “us vs. them” in conservative whites, making what once were irrational fears into very rational concerns. It baffles me how blind people are to the very circular causation they create.

          • Emily

            Almost the entirety of your comment is laughable. I don’t even think it’s possible to save you from your head which is lodged so deeply in your ass. I hope one day you Reread this comment you wrote and feel stupid. Telling people to go back to their ethnic countries if they don’t like the way things are set up? Really? Your vocabulary ALMOST masked your ignorance and stupidity. Good luck to you.

          • dakota

            jesus christ thats long but i agree fully. minus towards the end where i think you where abit to heated but your hearts really in the right place. i respect that.

          • changli93

            Again, liberals/SJW ignores arguments simply because “WHITES CONTROL EVERYTHING HURR” and shit like that. She provided arguments and you come with shit like this.

          • ghanderman

            of course.

            racist white people ALWAYS adore the people of color who vindicate their racism for them.

      • Alizabeth Szilagyi

        While I agree that anyone, regardless of color, can be and act racist, I also agree with the author’s main point, that is to say that the institutionalization of racism is so deeply woven into our society fabric that a white person can never experience true racism. I have lived for over a year in a place where I was the color minority, and though individual people (racists) were unkind to me simply because I was white, I was still very aware of the fact that institutionalized racism was on my side. A few people were mean, but the large majority still regarded me highly, simply because I was white. That is what institutional racism has created. White privilege the whole world over, because of that I can will never understand racism through the same lens of PoC (to borrow a term from the author).

        • Ldog

          Again you are wrong. I am a black man my mom is white and my dad is black. I have witnessed people being racist to my mother. How dare you say it cant be felt by one race. Yes as a black man in the US it is there i feel it from time to time. I felt it more in other places i have visited outside the US though and it wasn’t just what i dealt with i have seen it first hand with others. You have no right to say what anyone of any race feels or experiences it is owned by the individual not the color of skin. I find it offensive that you have such a narrow view of all human races and post this as it has relevance to all.

          • Alizabeth Szilagyi

            Well thank you, your bluntness and openness to opinions other than your own cleared up everything. I now fully agree with what you have said and will consult you in the future before I post anything on the internet. *Sarcasm off*

            Please re-read my comments and see that I agree that anyone can experience racism and/or be racist. I also believe that institutional racism exists, or white privilege.

            You do not have to agree with my opinion, that is fine. But you clearly misunderstood it. I clearly said people of any race can feel racism. I simply drew a line between racism and institutional racism, which I believe is the larger point in this article is addressing.

          • FeistyF

            I’m sorry you’ve witnessed your mum being abused because she is white. And although it was undoubtedly nasty, bigoted & prejudiced, it was not racist. Racism doesn’t exist in a vacuum, it needs the history of oppression & the current biased institutions that see White as the default and Black as Other.

      • haygis

        im omuskego, born and raised in one of the most racist provinces in
        canada (manitoba) and currently a sociology/indigenous studies MA grad at one of the most racist cities in canada. the point of this article is that racism is not an individual event. its a social event, meaning that its systemic. think about this: are there men who are sexist who are married to women? of course there are. just because someone is white and marries an indigenous person does not mean they are not racist. and racism isnt JUST about burning crosses on someone’s front yard and it isnt JUST about someone’s skin color. racism is having the power to define wholesale at every level what the social reality of indigenous people will look like because they are indigenous. in canada as it is in very other british-colonized indigenous tribal homeland across the world, the system is racist from the roots up…i mean think about it. whose language do indigenous people speak most fluently in canada and why? whose customs are we required to learn just to survive? whose entire cultural value system is used as a weapon against our communities to force us to abandon our own socio-cultural realities in favor of a foreign (and deeply destructive) way of life? of course people have faults, its not the point of the article to deny it. the point of the article is that canada and canadians are ignorant about racism and do not understand what it really means because if they did, then they would see how ridiculous the notion of “reverse racism” really is….for “reverse racism” to be a reality, indigenous people in canada would have to own the justice system, child welfare system, business sector, political sector, and then have the inclination to start oppressing white people by buying into the notion of “race” in the first place, then legalizing their genocide, kidnapping their children, not hiring them for jobs, racially profiling them through the police services, etc etc etc i studied in the us for 11 years where the discourse around racism is more logical, rational, in depth, informed and engaged than in canada. and yes, every white person in canada is, by default, racist, unless those white people are actively engaged in breaking down the colonial system, a system entirely premised in racist logics, then they are racist period because they continue to benefit from the racist system called “canada” that was built in their name, looks like them, and privileges their language, their histories, cultures, architectural styles, etc etc etc. and no person of color in a white dominated society where whites hold the balance of oppressive social power can be, by definition, racist.

        • Alizabeth Szilagyi

          Thank you, for so clearly explaining that society would have to be completely reversed in order for reverse racism to be a “thing.”

          • DiscriminatedHighschooler

            Why because the government isn’t part of society?
            Have you forgot all the quotas set by the government that create racism against whites?

          • ansa

            Actually, no, the quotas set by the government are a static system that try to move against the statistical realities of racism, but still perpetuate racist systems. For instance, if a college has to have 10% of its population be students of color, that is an oddity. To think that those 10% are taking away education from students that ‘don’t deserve it as much as white students is racism’. Those systems try to give opportunities to those who have been systematically denied access to higher education. Quotas set by the government don’t create racism against whites, they perpetuate white supremacy. Just because they help PoC get an education or jobs, doesn’t mean they continue to exalt white privilege.

          • eilismaura

            when race replaces true qualifications then it is all still just racism

            giving a spot to someone who does not make the proverbial grade based on race over a qualified candidate is still racism

            than an organization (be it a school, a union or a business” gets some kind of perk for meeting said racial quotas is also racist

          • Julie Corrales

            that’s the THING! its not about qualifications! these kids ARENT getting in because they ARENT white. So these quotas are set in place so that at least SOME get in…

          • mattman

            If the 10% doesn’t deserve it, they shouldn’t get it. Not 1% should get something they didn’t earn.

            The number of qualified African Americans is sharply lower by percentage than that of Whites. And if you want to call that racist, the number of Asians is WAY higher than the number of qualified Whites. This is not just education, but for financial loans as well. Do your research before posting such stupid comments… Because quotas by the government does cause racism. By agnologing race in the first place, it is being racist. Race needs to be completely removed from EVERYTHING to be fair. I want to come second to a more qualified candidate. Not just someone who makes the number look better but is less qualified than I am.

          • Dr Melade

            I’m pretty sure you’d have to “agnolog” your own inabilities to appreciate how a candidate of color may have risen higher than you but still landed on the same plane, because of having more obstacles to overcome. Ignorance is bliss if you are a white guy, apparently.

          • Jain Hayles

            Yes, once racism is ‘dead’ in the US (I won’t hold my breath), then the playing field will be level. Until then, while people such as you exist, racism is alive and well here.

          • Jihan McDonald

            if that’s the case then why aren’t asians the most statistically represented group of people in positions of societal power? and what you’re ignoring in your analysis is centuries of policy put in place to deny african americans equal and equitable education opportunities, not to mention the current policies in place to do the same thing. when red lining starts resulting in large swaths of communities of white folks ending up in schools without adequate resources, like books for example, you will begin, and only just begin, to have a point. until then you’re just playing with your cognitive dissonance, have fun

          • Julie Corrales

            WHY are the qualifications so much lower? because they are subjected to poverty, horrible schools, food shortages, violence – all types of oppressive scenarios that lessen their chances of success.

          • Will_I_am

            They may “TRY:” to move against the realities of racism, but by “TRYING” they are only being racist towards whites.

            What would you call it if you moved to a country and the federal government FORCED you to hire a certain race in your business?

          • eilismaura

            Reverse racism is a thing so long as there are programs to “combat” one set of racist behaviors with another

            affirmative action and quotas are examples

            qualifications and skills are removed and racial or gender characteristics put in their place

          • gole

            yep! exactly man! thanks for bringing that up!

          • Chel

            Actually no, Affirmative Action is about giving opportunities to people who would have never even been considered. PoC are qualified and sometimes even more qualified for the position but would not have gotten the job because they were not white. Also white women are actually the biggest recipient of Affirmative Action… Reverse racism is not a thing, there is no system that is oppressing whites. Hundreds of countries was built on the oppression of non-whites, history plays a key role in the structure of societies.

          • eilismaura

            reverse racism does exist

            swapping who is on the bottom does not change that there is racist behavior going on

            affirmative action – like unions – does NOT make sure the best and most qualified get the jobs – just those who fit the description (gender, race, whatever) are in place and counted

          • Chel

            You do realize that saying “reverse racism” is real you are saying that whites invented this racist institution. So since they invented it how could it reverse and oppress them? They have always been benefiting from it. Affirmative Action IS about helping people who are qualified for the job, but would not have been selected because of systematic disadvantages. If employers are hiring just based on race, then they are the problem not Affirmative Action as a whole. A white man with a criminal record is more likely to get a interview callback than a black man with a clean record and same credentials. Whites are not being discriminated against, they are still doing just fine.

          • eilismaura

            HUMANS created racism. It is not something only created or used by “whites”.

            When a hiring decision is based on race it pretty much negates qualifications.

            So long as there are folks counting if a firm or profession has “enough” of whatever and calls for folks being hired as “affirmative action” then it negates making the choices based on qualifications.

            It is this forcing a choice based on race that creates reverse racism. And it has become as systemic as what came before.

          • Chel

            No not exactly. Whites were the ones that went around colonizing the world. Then enforced laws discriminating against nonwhites on the basis of color. Unlike the other people that did colonize, the other groups discriminated on the basis of religion. Which is a lot different because any race can be part of a religion. Whites have white privilege, so no matter what they will benefit from the racist institution that whites created. It has not become systematic because whites are still more likely to get the job any way.

            Again, by saying “reverse racism” you are saying that whites created the institution. You are also saying that whites are basically entitled to the job, if Affirmative Action is racist for giving PoC a chance. Unlike whites, PoC have dealt with a lot of systematic disadvantages.

          • eilismaura

            anytime a group is favored based on race you have racism

            basic definition of things

            reverse racism is going against what had happened

            Affirmative Action is racist – form of reverse racism in many cases – because it implies that a non white individual is basically entitled to a job simply for not being white

            skin color and race are NOT job skills, not training, not anything that should be used to determine who gets a job

          • Chel

            Yeah and Richard Henry Pratt who apparently used the word first was a white guy and his motto was Kill the Indian and Save the Man… Whites have ALWAYS been favored, so they have nothing to worry about. They have always have basic rights.

            “Reverse racism is going against what had happen”
            What had happen is that whites were the ones getting jobs while nonwhites suffered. What had happen is that many of those whites guys that are so powerful got so high up because of their daddy’s connections. What had happen is that many of whites get accepted from legacies but no one says anything about that. What had happen is that many whites who probably weren’t qualified for the job at all, still got it because companies didn’t want to hire someone who wasn’t white.

            So going against all of that and trying to even the playing field is wrong?

            Affirmative Action does not imply that nonwhites are entitled to a job. Its about helping QUALIFIED individuals get a job, but would have not even been considered because they were not white. Besides WHITE WOMEN are the biggest recipient of Affirmative Action so why are you mad?

          • eilismaura

            it has IN PRACTICE meant EXACTLY that

            so long as there are folks keeping count and things like race are considered at all there is racism – one side then thrown into reverse and it benefits the other

            and as long as folks are keeping count based on race/skin color true skill/abilities have been negated
            affirmative action has a documented history of putting folks in jobs they did not qualify for based on skill – and did not stay in based on performance – but were in place to keep the numbers right

          • Chel

            It does have history of that but that wasn’t the purpose of Affirmative Action. Women and PoC have always had disadvantages. White men are still doing just fine, they are still more likely to get jobs, they still make more money. People should keep count of things like race and gender, because if not white men or men in general would be in even more control.

            One side is not thrown into reverse because that side is still doing better. Many colleges admit legacies, or child of a big donor but yet people complain about the black or latino kid that got admitted. Many CEOs and politicians got to where they are from their families money or daddy’s connection. Since whites have always been at the top they are constantly being favored, so why aren’t people mad at them?

          • eilismaura

            you can play word games and take all the fake better than you positions you want

            fact remains – racism is racism – no matter the direction

            changing who is on “top” does not make it anything other than racism

            and basing things like who gets a job based on race – even under the banner of “affirmative action” is STILL RACISM

            and it negates the things that truly matter

            decisions based on race leads to racism

          • Chel

            “Racism is racism- no matter the direction” Um no. PoC can’t be racist toward whites. Racism is an institutionalized structure when which only whites benefit from. This is because of the fact that they colonized the world. They set this system up by creating laws against PoC, the genocide, the enslavement of PoC. All of that didn’t just happen in America. Whites have always been at the top, does it really hurt you that much to see nonwhites succeed?

            Changing who is on top doesn’t not make it racism. Whites are not oppressed, they were never oppressed. Just because a white guy didn’t get a job doesn’t mean people can throw PoC under the bus. That white WILL find a job, because he is already more likely to be hired.

            Again, you do realize that WHITE WOMEN are the biggest recipient? Why are you complaining? Whites are still at the top.

          • FeistyF

            You do know that saying ‘racism is racism’ doesn’t actually prove your point? What you’re in fact saying is ‘thing I don’t fully understand the definition of is thing I don’t fully understand the definition of’.
            It is not ‘decisions based on race [that] lead to racism’, it’s ‘decisions based on race [plus the power to enforce & normalise these decisions] lead to racism’.

          • eilismaura

            two wrongs do not make a right

            racism is racism is racism

            who benefits does not magically change it into “not” racism

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            “Unlike whites, PoC have dealt with a lot of systematic disadvantages.”

            This argument is only true in white-dominated countries.

          • Chel

            No, actually this argument can be said about countries where PoC dominated because whites basically colonized the WORLD. I mean the British invaded all but 22 countries… Having white privilege isn’t just an American thing.

          • Melissa

            Chel you’re magnificent. I followed along the threads a little after that one James guy left. TALK ABOUT AN ASSHOLE. You explained everything well and continued through everyone’s bullshit. I’m sorry to say, people are not getting the bigger picture. I always feel that at the end of their arguments they have to finish with ‘WELL YOU’RE RACIST’. Like this whole debate just went over their heads. Again you are just fabulous.

          • Vanessa Muzondi

            Actually even in South Africa the one percent that is wealthy is a majority of the whites. Yes people may have claimed to received prejudice and discrimination from the Africans, but don’t you understand what you have done to their people? I would be mad as well. I’m not saying it’s justice or ethical, but what the whites did to their people was inhumane. So many Africans are also resulting to bleaching their skin just so that they can fit the Eurocentric beauty ideal. And the problem with white people is they think when the blacks who originally owned the land want a share of the wealth and resources, suddenly their being racist. I call bs. You as a white person have the money and resources to move out. Now when black people are being targeted by systematic racism they don’t have the ability to move. All they can do is pray that they don’t get killed and face worse days. I am all for black people taking back what was theirs because unlike the millions of natives who got that right taken away, they can actually do it.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            Yeah, i don’t think you know what’s happening in South Africa.

            To start off, yes, most of the rich are white. But many whites there live poorly (the cannot move out) as farmers. If anything, these people should be angry at the WEALTHY, considering how most white people there have do nothing wrong and cannot do anything about it.

          • Nyah

            Really, is India not an extremely poor country for our modern world that was used and is still used by the ex-colonizers people… to their benefit and not Indians? What about all the resources taken from Africa, Sth America? How can you be systematically be disadvantaged in these non-white dominated countries if you come from a white dominated country and are travelling/settling down when youve got more money or a stronger currency when often the dollar is what gives you advantages in 3rd world countries? Taking into account that people from the white dominated countries (dominant population wise) often have the greatest disposable incomes much higher than the PoC in their country…. how can white be disadvantaged especially when they go to other countries that are not ‘white dominated’. ? Do you understand the full spectrum of what it is to be dominant?

          • Aud Karina

            The problem with the arguments you all are having is that they are considering entirely different sets of information, statistical or otherwise. You are considering the matter from an informed historical perspective and others are responding based on personal, individual experiences and interpretations of current events without an understanding of the history of human rights and social justice. It’s like trying to put together one picture with pieces from two different puzzles.

          • disqus_uY0NzEnDey

            People are using the term reverse racism because that’s the term everyone here is using for when whites face discrimination. Pretty sure no one here made that term up lol. It’s comical the way that you try to avoid actual points made by intelligent people and instead try to focus on some mundane, irrelevant term or detail.

          • SHSguy

            O please Chel I would love to see the peer based academic data your reply is based on. Go to South Africa. Live there for a bit and see what it’s like living in a country where your family has to starve because of what your fore fathers did. We were victims of the British for longer than the Blacks where of whites and we don’t keep it against them in a way to get whatever we want without working for it.

          • Chel

            Um you can google the study that was done which found that whites WITH a criminal record are more likely to get a interview callback than blacks with a CLEAN record and SAME credentials.

            Also I’m talking about AMERICA so South Africa is irrelevant. Are you a white person talking about what whites have done? If you are then what whites did to other whites isn’t a form of racism. Also you do realize that even after slavery, laws were made that still gave black no rights. It wasn’t until 1965 that blacks were able to vote. It was basically legal to kill a black person till like the 70s. No one is keeping it against them, but ignoring history that explain why society is like this is wrong.

          • SHSguy

            No what blacks are doing to whites and what blacks are doing to blacks. You have no idea how much acadmic research has been done on the matter, but can’t be published because the researchers are afraid they will be viewed as racist.

          • Chel

            I know whats going on in South Africa. The media isn’t showing the whole truth, if we’re going to be honest here. For one thing the idea of a “white genocide” that seems to be thrown around isn’t true. Now, yes whites are getting killed but more black are actually getting killed. Majority of the acts are motivated by robbery, its not because they have planned to kill all the white farmers. The farmers are rich, which is the main reason that they are being targeted.

            Many academic research has been done that have debunked the claim of “white genocide” and have shown that the killings aren’t actually motivated by race. Both races are being affected, its just one race that is getting media attention and empathy.

          • SHSguy

            “Its like playing chess with a pigeon. No matter how good your moves are the pigeon is just going to cr@p on the board and strut around like it won.”

            If that is true Chel, move to Africa where everything is rosey for blacks and let me know in a year’s time what real life experience taught you.

            Having lived there (SA) for most of my life and had been a part of the University of the Free State’s political science department, I might know the researchers you are referring to. Although I must admit none that I know would be as callous to purger their careers with false data like that.

            Since Im living in Perth now please post the links,doe’s or titles for these academic journals you are referring to. As Im currently working for a University I can access them very easily, and after I read them I can come back to you. Just using the term academic research in an argument is not enough, as you will agree.

          • Chel

            I don’t need to move to South Africa to know that people are suffering. I can also get a pretty good idea about what blacks are experiencing in South Africa just from knowing the history of Africa and what the blacks in Africa have had to deal with.

            Well just from looking about the facts about murder in South Africa, whites aren’t going through a “genocide”. I mean for one thing that “70,000 killed” that seems to be thrown around is just wrong. Now I’m not denying that whats going on there is okay, but I would say its a bit exaggerated. Majority of farmers are white, and are in isolated areas thats tons of opportunity. If the farmers were black this wouldn’t even be getting attention.

            http://www.npconline.co.za/MediaLib/Downloads/Home/Tabs/NDP%202030-CH12-Building%20safer%20communities.pdf

            http://www.mrc.ac.za/crime/cvi_second_review_ch7.pdf

            http://www.issafrica.org/uploads/CQ7Thomson.pdf

          • dame

            yes and Rwanda never happened either yes it was tribal but can be defined as racial look you are trying 2 basically excuse anyone who is not white of been racist against whites, its obvious you have been 2 all the right schools and had the right education!! am not well educated myself as you can tell but have a lot of common sense something which you people that spend your life with your head in a book seem 2 lack 2 me if you attack some one or a group of people acting as another group of people of a different race simply because they are of a different race or ethnicity then you are a racist does not mater if its a group of whites doing it a group of black or Asians or any other race nor does it matter how much money power or social status you have its about race skin colour and ethic group and the fact that you think they need 2 die because of it!!

          • Chel

            I never said anyone needs to die. So you’re either making things up or you misunderstood something. I also never said PoC couldn’t be racist to other Poc. Whites basically colonized the world, white supremacy and white privilege have put them at the top.

          • Adrian

            You are saying that PoC can’t be racist to white people??? Don’t PoC have slurs against white people? I would see that as racist as it is because of their skin colour that they use those insults

          • Chel

            LOL cracker isn’t racist. The word was invented by whites! Some were called cracker because if they were whipping the slaves, the sound the whip made when cracked on the slaves. The overseer or person whipping the slaves could have been black or white. Or some say the word came from the “cracker cowboys”. These cowboys didn’t use lassos they used cow whips. There was even a baseball team in Atlanta named Atlanta Crackers. Even the Negro league had a team named Atlanta Black Crackers. The word isn’t racist.

            The N-word was made by whites to dehumanize blacks. Cracker was not made by blacks to dehumanize whites.
            Every other race has a racial slur dehumanizing them, whites do not.

          • workingclass888

            look up Rwanda I think it blacks just killing everybody

          • Mate

            Where did you get this information?

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            so all this magical research is hidden, but somehow YOU have it, why dont YOU just blow the whistle n tell the “truth”?..oh yea, cuz its false.. there goes that

          • Causette

            “What whites did to other whites isn’t a form of racism”

            I would LOVE for you to go to Ireland, and tell Irish kids that what Great Britain did to their nation is not racism.

            Also what do you make of racist prejudice that say an Asian would feel against an Arab or an Arab against South East Asian? Would you rank it in terms of skin color? Whoever is darker is the most victimized?

            Racism is much more complex than individual vs systemic and whites vs nonwhites. I’m white, I’m French, I’m an Arab. I live in a society crippled with racism. I equally despise an employer that would refuse to employ me on the basis of my middle name and a colleague that would say “**** this country”. You’re free to go wherever you think life might be better, or you can actually help make the grass greener for the whole society.

          • Chel

            I would have no problem telling Irish kids that. Call me heartless or whatever I don’t care. What they experienced was whites being evil to other whites. They are different nationalities, but the Irish were not being slaughtered because of their race, and were not being perceived as inferior because of their race.

            Well you said it prejudice, what power does an Arab have to oppress an South East Asian and vise versa? I think they can be prejudice and discriminate against one another. It also depends on what country. Darker skin is victimized more because of colorism and how being light or closer to white is better.

            Where could I possibly go? Racism, and anti-blackness isn’t just an American thing. Its taught around the world. Making the grass greener requires people to actually talk about race instead of ignoring it. I have no problem with talking about race. Dismantling white supremacy would make the grass greener. Teaching true history that hasn’t been white washed would make the grass greener.

            Now if you are wanting me to “make the grass greener for the whole society” by ignoring the role race plays, then no I won’t make the help.

          • Andre

            Okay. You’re heartless.

          • James Gammell

            YO. Hi i’m irish and i’m here to tell you that you are inaccurate. You see, the British DID consider the irish a separate and sub human race, as they did the blacks. They classified us as ibernians that came from africa.
            http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Scientific_racism_irish.jpg

            Have some more! http://www.eirefirst.com/archive/unit_2.html

            While black slaves went for 50 coin to the sugar plantations, we went for 5. Where a black slave would be whipped , we would simply be killed horribly, because we were cheap.

            So when you say we were not perceived as inferior because of our race, and slaughtered because of our race, you are speaking out of your ignorance of history.

            As for this whole bucket of crap in the article and your posts about racism requiring a systemic level component. This is an idea which has spread like wildfire recently, and it is profound how little people question just how stupid it is.

            Firstly, the entire article is based on the initial moment of presenting the definition of racism as ‘Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs’.

            But that’s not the definition of racism, and never has been. Not in a dictionary, and thank goodness not legally. And with very good reason. It’s absurd. I can step off a plane in gambia, walk up to a black man and tell him to shine my shoes and pick my cotton, and definition-ally not be a racist, because in that country my race is neither dominant or in social control. I can step off the plane in tokyo, go to a club and be shown a sign that says no whites/blacks , asians only and be told that’s not racism.

            Even better, you can take the eventual ideal society where all races and genders hold equal social power and run some thought experiments in that.

            In that world , under that definition of racism , in time square i can roll the most racist shit in the universe off my tongue to a black guy and hit him with a slander charge if he calls me a racist for it, because in that world where there is no race with a distinct power/privilege, your definition of racism cannot exist. That is how profoundly unusable that definition of racism is.

            How did this clearly ridiculous idea come to be so prominent. Where did it come from?

            It’s quote mining.

            In Portraits of White Racism, David Wellman has defined racism as “culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities”

            Except….. the problem is. If you even read the prefaces of that book, and by all means please do. Here it is.

            http://www.amazon.com/Portraits-White-Racism-David-Wellman/dp/0521458102

            The stated purpose of the book is not to redefine the existing definition of racism, it is TO EXPAND IT to include a subtler form of racism characterized not by overt acts of aggression but rather by a resistance to social/power existing structures which create racial privilege. To expand the definition. What this articles magicial definition of racism does is shrink the definition of racism.

            More incredibly, if you break it down, defining racism against whites as impossible. Taking the same act perpetrated against a person who is black being racist, but against a white being just prejudice, creates a tiered system of offense based on the race of the victim. In other words, this new definition of racism is by definition racist. And by definition i mean the ACTUAL definition.

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            and WHERE did the british and EVERY OTHER culture come from, if not africa?

          • LardMasterFlashForReal

            You folks are getting lost in the weeds. The point is that you can’t change the definition of words for political convenience. Some professor in the mid-70s deciding to redefine what racism means is just that: one person changing the rules for no good reason. I reject it. We were doing just fine with the original definition.

            Racism is judgment based on perception of racial traits. We do not need to move the goal post by claiming it’s about systems and power. That is fiction. If I get beat up because my skin is a particular color, that is racism. I don’t care who owns the nearest bank. And of course the Irish have been discriminated against because of their genetic heritage. Open a history book.

            This whole blog post – and your apologetics – represents an ongoing exercise in anti-intellectualism. Indeed, redefining reality like this is the sea young, emotional leftists swim in. The correct answer is to call bad ideas what they are: bad concepts, held for bad reasons. Judging someone on perceived race is just very bad thinking; institutions don’t enter into it.

          • Chel

            What would be better? Perhaps a more important question than “who can be racist” is “who benefits from racism?” In the US, I suggest 99% of the time the answer is white people. I’ve noticed that many white people in discussions on racism are so obsessed with rejecting the notion that they are racist. They refuse to talk about the actual implications and repercussions of racism. Racism still overwhelmingly most negatively affects people of color, so much that it has destroyed and continues to destroy the lives of billions of people of color worldwide. So an attack on racism in order to end it would necessitate focusing on white racism against people of color (i.e. white supremacy).

            Also I never said the Irish didn’t go through anything.

          • workingclass888

            so blacks can’t be racist maybe you should research how many black slave owners there were but I guess the black slave owners treated their slaves more equally

          • Chel

            I didn’t say they couldn’t, I’ve been saying that whites aren’t victims of racism. Reverse Racism isn’t real. I know there were black slave owners, but I doubt they were cutting off certain mens body parts, or doing things that were just downright evil. If that slave owner had any ties to Africa, I bet they would have treated their slaves a little better. Since slavery was more servitude, and people were actually able to contribute and benefit from the community they were enslaved in.

          • palerider

            lol Arabs were slave owners so were blacks and as for what they used 2 do well suppose boiling people alive burning them alive amputating limbs if they ran away or killing members of their family is great treatment yes?? black slave owners Arab slave owners used 2 be just as brutal if not more you are really stupid and as for whites not been the victims of racism so what you are saying that if a bunch of black people were 2 walk into a school and slaughter a 100 children and when caught and asked why they did it said its because they are white those children are not the victims of racism!!! would like 2 see you say that 2 their parents!!! as for saying reverse racism does not exist you should look up the definition of racism it states nothing about economic status or power you are trying 2 change it 2 suite you neo liberal progressive BS !! this comment is just the start have not finished with the writer of this article yet, am looking forward 2 completely destroying your arguments just found this have 2 go 2 work

          • Chel

            You do realize I was talking about black slave owners in America, right? There weren’t a lot of black slave owners anyway. I know Arab slave owners were brutal too, I never said they weren’t. I also never said PoC couldn’t be racist towards other PoC. Reverse racism does not exist, since whites basically colonized the world, white supremacy has impacted the world, and has given whites white privilege.

          • Emma

            all this talk, can’t help but feel guilty for something I was never alive for.
            its quite a simple way of looking at it, so many things give you privileges or lack of, putting it down to the colour of skin is a bit too simple.
            you are clumping together superiority and inferiority of the world based on skin colour.
            racism by its definition makes it also possible for white people, whether its treated as seriously is another matter, because like you say the amount of terrible history concerning black peoples treatment is obviously going to make it more of a serious offense
            the risk with what your saying is that the kind of thing you are talking about could go the other way, would not surprise me if one day maybe far into the future the roles were reversed.
            I think the Jew’s treatment over history is one example of racism towards white people.

          • Chel

            No one cares about your white guilt. There are simple little privileges but white people DO have racial privilege. Anti-semitism is bad but majority of them are still categorized as white. The Jews mistreatment is an example of white people discriminating against other white people. I wasn’t just talking about what the blacks went through. They aren’t the only group that was affect by colonization.

          • Matthew Horvath

            If you don’t care about her white guilt, then why are you trying so hard into making her (and others) feel so guilty about being white? Don’t bang about slavery, it won’t impress me and neither you or I was alive when that was going on. It seems to me that you a very angry. Is it because of my skin colour or because of your skin colour?

          • Ruby Rutter

            She’s not inferring guilt about being white, it’s attempting to show white people how the effects of colonisation still have an impact on how society runs today- there is no ‘free pass’ being issued because of slavery, it is simply an attempt to show you how historical events affect us today and how we should push against our privilege and allow these conversations to be had. ‘I wasn’t there it’s not my fault’ fine, but acknowledge that most of your social privileges as a white person are due to historical oppression.

          • Matthew Horvath

            Enlighten me on what these privilege’s are so I can correct you.

          • Chel

            I’m pretty sure I already suggested you to educate yourself. You obviously have connection to the internet. So why is it so hard for you to educate yourself instead of demanding someone to educate you? That’s an example of white privilege, and entitlement. Thinking people have to educate you. If you really cared you could educate yourself, then come back to discuss what you learned.

          • Matthew Horvath

            Was that question to you, no, so pipe down you racist. I don’t need to read a book/article written by a racist telling me BS about so-called “white privilege”. I don’t need a racist book/article to try and “tell” me what I do or don’t have in my life because I already know what so-called privileges I have in my life because I live that life (they don’t) and I’m not letting some racist like you or any other idiot with a political agenda tell me what kind of life I have when you know nothing about it. I’m not asking YOU for an education. That would be as stupid as asking a Scientologist (or pretty much any religion) for an education.

            I’m trying to educate you (and racist idiots like you), but you’re an extremist who lets your racist viewpoint cloud your attitude to white people, even though you not been a victim to most of the things you’re crying about, nor are the people you are aggressive with responsible for your “problems”.

          • Chel

            That’s the thing I never said people alive are responsible. That’s just you not being able to comprehend what I am saying. I’ve been saying white supremacy is the root. White people today are not responsible for what happen in the past. BUT, that does not mean they don’t benefit from the system their ancestors put in place. You mentioned how you lived in the UK. News flash! Your government, and social structure was built from the oppression of nonwhites, and people that were not heterosexual, and cisgender.

            You do have privilege.

          • Ruby Rutter

            http://www.blackgirldangerous.org/2014/02/4-ways-push-back-privilege/

            Read that.

          • Nyah

            you did know that guilt is actually a very strong psychological reality in Christianity, which institutionally is a white persons religion?Christian religion goes back institutionally to about 4th CE and guilt is a major feature in the theological/moral code for European society. You will probably deny this…out of guilt, but it is true. A sense of responsibility and bringing justice to injustice with understanding to ones connected group transgressions doesnt have to be driven by guilt. It just means that you could be more revolutionary in proactive solutions to expose the system for what it is…a system that strongly features race in its inequalities in class. It is not personal, it is historical and institutional

          • Will_I_am

            “nobody cares about your white guilt” You my friend, are a racist……and I for one don’t care about you or your problems.

          • OMGREALLYLADY

            99% of the /effects of racism/ are felt by POC, because yes it is institutionalized in our government and encoded into our language; “fair” for beautiful, etc.

            I get that. I recognize that I get a free ride every time I go to a store, rent an apartment, deal with a cop, etc., because of my skin color.

            But none of that gives you the ability to radically redefine a word from the way a billion or more English speakers are already using it.

            You are trying to make the term “racism” shorthand for “institutionalized racism,” and nobody outside very small academic circles will understand what you’re saying.

          • Chel

            If people took the time to learn they could understand. White people can not be victims of the same institution that has given them preference. Learn about the affects of Colonization, and white supremacy.

          • disqus_uY0NzEnDey

            I still don’t understand why it’s fair to lump all white people into one huge category. How many countries/nationalities are considered “white”? A shit load. How many are considered black? Africa plus a couple more. Of course white people are going to appear to be the majority at various workplaces, colleges, etc. -There are like 20x more countries that are considered “white” than black. There’s no sense of pride in the US- too divided. Instead of checking a box to identify “white” or “Hispanic” or whatever, we should be checking a box saying “American”. And if you’re actually from another country (not your mama or your grandma but YOU) THEN check a different box.

          • Will_I_am

            “there weren’t a lot of black slave owners” You seriously need to go read something besides progressive blogs for a change.

            Blacks owned slaves NOT just in the USA genius!

            Go look it up.

            While you’re researching, go find out WHO TOOK THE SLAVES to begin with……yep, black people.

            Whites didn’t TAKE the slaves, they just paid for them.

          • Ruby Rutter

            The fact that people are arguing with you so vehemently just reinforces your argument- white privilege much?! There is no example of mass and worldwide colonisation by PoC- one that still affects society today, so why people are nit picking and bringing up minor examples in the face of a stalwart and renowned fact is just irritating. Your comments are good!

          • Matthew Horvath

            The fact that people are arguing with her is because she’s talking bullshit. So are you.

          • Richard Ragnar Sammartino

            So there wasn’t a Persian Empire? Or Chinese Imperialism?Japanese in WW2?
            There wasn’t in American history, which accounts for about 400 years in one part of the globe. Even the British before their empire were hunted like dogs with the Celts unless they became Christian.

          • Will_I_am

            I agree that most of this is liberal progressive BS, but if you are going to call people stupid then LEARN SOME FREAKING GRAMMAR!

          • Matthew Horvath

            Reverse racism isn’t real, you’re right about that. Racism is, however, and everyone can (and probably are) racist to a degree, no matter what colour they are. You, for instance, are racist. Please explain how I, as a white man, have benefited from racism here in the UK?

          • Nyah

            Matthew Horvath- by your country having fuck all resources and a shitty place to live before your ancestors colonized the world…how in fuck did you get soooo rich as a country you dumby??! You have the benefits of the common wealth, common language, a history that in comparison to most brown people means your white people were the first to receive what is called a relevant education plus all the rest. And most of the multiculturalness in terms of race in your country is a piss ant size of the populations of those races who live in complete shit in the countries of origin… compared to yours truly. If you squandered any of your opportunities to have an easier life it certainly wasnt because you were discriminated against because of your race but because of personal choice….another benefit you have. God help us.

          • Anonymous

            If the UK was always such a shitty place to live, how were they ever able to pay for the colonization efforts?

            China was poised to colonize the world just as Europe actually did. One of its Emperors turned inward and burned the boats, but if they hadn’t, we would’ve been talking about Chinese supremacy. Or maybe we never would’ve even made the distinction between Chinese and Europeans in the first place; facial features aside, their skintones are very similar.

            Regardless, even before the Renaissance hit, Europe had already become rather an incredible place to live. It had developed Holy Roman metallurgy, Italian architecture, and the continental system of trade fairs to exchange ideas. It was playing home to a growing middle class. It had a universal scientific language in the form of Latin that allowed learned men from Poland and Sweden to exchange ideas and publish works fluently between colleagues from Naples and Spain.

            It also had competition between states, which created the social energy needed for more rapid technological advancement, at least relative to centralized China; and relative to Arabia, it had a much more productive climate, allowing much greater industrial and agricultural productivity.

            Adding to that mix Arab medicine, classical philosophies, Egyptian cotton, Incan potatoes and other pan-colonial luxuries, were all just the icing on the cake that allowed one region of the world to conquer the others even before the existence of truly modern technologies. The reason why Europe was able to gain those things in the first place, the cake the icing decorated… that reason was that their land actually wasn’t shitty at all.

          • Jain Hayles

            You’ve benefitted from white privilege. That’s kinda the point.

          • Tom Krager

            Its not white privilege, its cultural privilege. Europe built the western world therefore Europeans are seen as the “norm” culturally. If you have ever noticed.

          • dudders09

            Tom have blacks not benefited from white privilege? If blacks were not sold into slavery, where would they be today? Surely sitting on a mud pile, while clinging to life due to starvation in the middle of the Sahara sounds a lot less desirable than driving around MLK Blvd on 22s slanging rocks and living ghetto fabulous in Detroit right?

          • Jain Hayles

            Europe could not have “built the western world” without the slave labor of people with black skin…if you had a clue.

          • Tom Krager

            that’s not even close to true. Blacks farmed cotton for the most part and work as basic manual laborers. There were many black inventors after slavery but I highly doubt if the few million blacks that were brought here never existed everything in America technology wise would be pretty much exactly the way it is. A few inventions wouldn’t be around but that’s not to say someone else couldn’t have thought it up. Blacks have as much to do with building America and western culture as Native Americans do. Which is not much . . . you guys were victims of western culture more then anything.

          • Jain Hayles

            You are so full of shite…as I said before, get a fecking clue.

          • Tom Krager

            I have a clue. Thank you very much.

          • Will_I_am

            If blacks CAN be racist…then how can whites not be victims?

            Your entire argument is deluded and laughable.

          • Lisa

            If reverse racism isn’t real, then explain to me why my father was called a cracker and shot down by a black man. This man was running out of the convenience store we were entering with a bag of money and pistol. Never seen him before in my life. He had no reason to shoot that gun at my father. Let me guess. You will defend this man? Because reverse racism obviously isn’t real. Because any unfair action against a white person by a black person, even violence because of they’re race isn’t real? Because black people can be as racist as they desire but a white can’t. That notion in itself is racist. So sit down and shut up.

          • Chel

            I’m sorry for your father but “cracker” is not racist or even a racial slur that was made by black people to oppress or dehumanize white people. My gosh, what is so hard for to understand about white supremacy and white privilege? Really, what is so hard to understand? Because of white supremacy, which has taught that whites are superior is the reason why whites are not victims of racism.

          • navkat

            Wow. You just KNOW black slave owners were more ethical because YOU JUST KNOW. Because no one would partake in race-related atrocities against what? Their own kind?

            I see a lot of racial assumptions and separatism that frankly, makes me uncomfortable and embarrassed to be a white intellectual right now. You appear to be patting yourself on the back and saying to American blacks “See? I’m one of the good whites. I’m just trying to help You People get a fair shake!”

            Stop it.

            You, I, nobody has the right to invalidate another human being’s experiences. Is there a systemic problem with white privilege? Hell yes. Does that mean we should respond by denying the existence of other forms of racism? Why? Because we need to be punished? Because you feel guilty?

            Willful ignorance with an emotional agenda. That’s how we whites solve the problem!

            Here’s an idea: why don’t we just call things by their names and then attack each problem as it appears, without getting stuck on hotbutton phrases?

          • Chel

            Here’s an idea: Read more of my comments on this before you make a comment toward me. I’m not white, I’ve even said that nobody cares about people’s white guilt.

            White supremacy which started from colonization is the reason why whites are not victims of racism. What is so hard to understand? White supremacy which has given whites their white privileges and racial preference over nonwhites.

            Also when talking about black slaver owners it is different. Yes, people of color can be oppressed by other PoC and by people of their race but white supremacy is still the kyriarchy. The primary denominator in history about world oppression is white people. They oppressed everybody. Let’s say ethnic group A is oppressing ethnic group B. Ethnic group B is being oppressed by 2 types of power structures. Ethnic group B is being oppressed by ethnic group A and whites. You can supplement different ethnic groups from the different countries in Africa that were colonized to understand.

            There are different levels in oppression and privilege. You can be privileged in one group and oppressed in another. For example you can have privilege for being white, but still face oppression for being gay, lesbian, or transgender. Your privilege doesn’t go away but you still are a part of an oppressed group.

          • Tom Krager

            they’re more than enough examples of white ppl being victims of crime simply because they were white. Do you honestly think no black person has ever hurt a white person out of hate of their race?

          • Chel

            Prejudice on a individual level, whites as a whole are not dealing with racism the way PoC are.

          • Yesmetoo

            Whites aren’t the victims of racism? The idea that a person in power aka a boss, denies a person a raise or even fair equal treatment in the work place is racism, regardless of the race of the boss and employee. I worked in a place where a woman threatened me based on my skin color, when I reported this threat to our manager (who was teh same race as her) I got written up. I didn’t report this co worker for her race and her threat I reported her for threatening physical violence towards me. I GOT WRITTEN UP.

            I’m white and my MANAGER made it a race thing in my memo writing me up. This was a woman who had power above me and believed by her race she was superior as well as my coworker.

            Whites do experience racism. The idea that only non whites can feel racism is absolutely ridiculous. Being told to look around my neighborhood or schools. When I think back to my public schools days I lived in a town that had one high school, it was also a farming community where honestly between the hispanic population and the african american population sure while whites probably still had a bigger percentage over either race separately we might be evenly distributed when compared to all non whites. I grew up not really judging a person by their skin color, I had friends who were into the same music as I was, who hung out with the same other friends as me, and three of us were “white” girls and the rest black. We all came from different economic families, the three of us white girls just as varied as the four black girls. I”m not saying I”m not racist because I had black friends, just showing how where I grew up in my circle of friends we didn’t think about race in regards to each other. We were friends period.

            When I got to my Sr. Year this was the instance I felt racism by another race group. I had asked a boy I liked to prom, I really crushed on this guy for months before getting brave enough to ask about two months before prom. He said yes! I was so excited, I talked to him after asking him a bit more and suddenly three weeks before prom he approached me saying that some of his hispanic friends (the girls) told him if he took me instead of one of them they’d jump me at prom. He said he didn’t want to see my night ruined like that and he also said that as he wasn’t going to go with me, he also wasn’t going to go with any of them. He’s hispanic btw. But this still didn’t stop me from really thinking anything of it.

            Until I moved to teh midwest and the incident above with my boss happened. I lost jobs because I was white and my direct supervisor was black. Whites can be targets of racism, sure its not “reverse” racism, but we still can feel it. Not on the grand scale as the government holding people of a specific race “down”. But it can be felt.

            What is sad is that because of my experiences here in the midwest it has changed me drastically. When I first moved here my now husband at the time boyfriend had friends who would tell holocaust jokes and KKK style black jokes, to the point that when I asked him (the friend not boyfriend) not to repeat such jokes in my presence and he didn’t stop I kicked him out of my house. I was very intolerant of such behavior it was bad and I didn’t want to be around it. But now I get it, you know how much that saddens me to say it, but now I get why the white people I know here are biggots. Because I’ve been the subject of racism in ways I having grown up in very liberal california never experienced before. I get why some of the people I know here are asshats towards other races. I don’t agree and still think it shouldn’t matter, but I’ve learned skin color does, on both sides of the fence. And it saddens me.

            But I repeat, yes a person of ANY race including white can experience racism.

          • Chel

            No, that was prejudice on a individual level. Thank you for the touching story though. Whites as a whole are not being oppressed. Whites have white privilege because of colonization and white supremacy. Learn about those two and how they influence society. Whites can not be victims or oppressed by the same institution that has given them preference. Which is why misandry or sexism towards men isn’t real, this is why there is no such thing as cisphobia or heterphobia.

          • a concerned citizen

            you’re not a black supremacist are you? lol

            and reverse racism is PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT of poc! after all, are straight white men benefitting from affirmative action quotas? aa is reverse racism! that makes thwriter of this post a racist or self-loathing white!

          • Chel

            Black Americans are rarely benefit from Affirmative Action. White women are the biggest recipient of Affirmative Action. Africans immigrants actually benefit more from Affirmative Action than black Americans do though. Plus white men don’t need to fill quotas because they are still preferred by employers, they aren’t suffering. Look at the racial bias and disparity in hiring and employment. White men are doing just fine.

            No, I am not a black supremacist.

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            whites enslaves whites, jews enslaves jews n so on.. your point is? (other than derailing of course)
            slavery is a HUMAN problem, RACISM is a “seperate” issue… btw, P.O.C. dont just mean us BLACK folks.. look up a yellow man named bruce lee, a famous martial artist u probably heard of .. I guess he was just makin it up in his non white mind too, that he was in a racist country

          • A WHITE BOY (SUPREME PACKAGE)

            YEAH IKR COMPARED TO THE FUCKING MILLION WHITE SLAVE OWNERS AND THE BILLIONS OF WHITE PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE RACIST LISTEN CHEL SHOVE YOUR SHIT OF A COMMENT UP YOUR ASS AND THEN REALIZE HOW IGNORANT AND DUMB YOU SOUND! WHO LET YOU ON THE INTERENT PAULA DEEN? AND I’M NOT BEING RACIST TO YOU BECAUSE I’M WHITE THE ONLY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU IS THAT I’M NOT AN ASSHOLE TO KNOW THAT BEING WHITE IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE

          • mosullivan15 .

            I uh. That’s racist. Like reaaaally racist.

            You say that white people benifit from racism 99% of the time, but the only proof you have for that is what? Your prejudice? Even then if white people benifit everytime someone beheaded a Tootsie, why would attacking white supremacy help?

          • Chel

            You’re joking, right? You can’t honestly be asking that ridiculous question. You have a hard time comprehending things you read, don’t you? Be honest it’s okay. The only proof I have is that white do have whites privileges which is how they benefit from racism. I can’t even believe you’re asking me “why would attacking white supremacy help”. Go back and read more of my comments, also read up on colonization that would help as well.

            New flash! White supremacy has given white people their white privilege. White supremacy is the reason why whites are not victims of racism. Well the fact that being black decreases a person chance for getting a loan by 25% is an example of how whites benefit. The fact that whites face less jail time that blacks face even though they committed the same crime is an example. The fact that whites are less likely to get the death penalty than black and hispanics is an example. The fact that a white guy with a criminal record is more likely to get a interview callback than a black guy with a clean record is an example.

          • mosullivan15 .

            The bile that you have just spewed is really meaningless. First off, I’m going to just ignore the ad hominem, and get straight down to the stinking pile of BS you squirted out. I am white, I do not endorse white supremacy, not do I have any white privilege, period. As a matter of fact, the fact that the KKK (the most famous white privilege bowel movement) is all but universally hated might suggest something like, oh I dunno, THAT WHITE SUPREMACY IS WIDELY HATED. I’d rather not read your other point, as I am sure that they are just as badly written as the one I am addressing.

            As for your other “points” well, there are other factors at play. Perhaps there was some other reason those people who couldn’t get loans, faced execution, got a more sever sentence, or didn’t get called back to work. Perhaps , and this is a wild theory, those people just weren’t suitable for a job? Why is it that every time someone doesn’t get what they want they call favoritism? It’s because all people believe they are prefect.

            Now, as I mentioned earlier, if genocides like Rwanda are somehow to the benefit of white people as a whole (sounds paranoid, you might as well blame the Illuminate) then why would going after white supremacy help? It wouldn’t! Read a history book, the reason the Tutsi were killed en mass was due to long standing cultural reasons. White supremacy is just what a group schizophrenics say when something bad happens that they can’t directly trace back to the actual cause. Similar to how Hitler blamed the Jews for all the problems German faced, Social justice warriors like yourself blame white straight men for all your problems. Own up to your faults.

            The comment I replied to had this little bit written “Anyone can see that Eurocentric standards of beauty has shaped people’s views on who’s beautiful and not. The racial disparity is blatant, and white supremacy is blatant. No one had to teach me anything, I’m able to observe and see on my own.” There’s a lot here so replying is going to take a paragraph or two.

            Most people in the United States of America and Canada are of European decent (90% in Canada and 67% in USA). Therefore, most people in these countries would have “Eurocentric” standards of beauty (standards of beauty are considered of to be genetic traits) and to try to change that would be similar to trying to make a gay person straight.

            As for how blatant white privilege is, there are people who say that it is blatant that the Illuminate controls all society. White privilege is just what failed people use to justify their failure.

          • Chel

            Do you research anything before you make a comment?

            Yeah, I’m sorry white supremacy is hard for you to grasp. A lot of white people have a hard time understanding white supremacy. It will take a lot of dismantling and decolonizing for people like you to ever understand… I tired of educating people when they can simply GOOGLE everything I say, but I’ll break it down for you, okay? “Social justice warriors” like myself aren’t blaming whitey. We are blaming the racist system, and institution that has granted you preference. I’m not sure if you realize this but we “social justice warriors” honestly don’t care about you. We do not blame a particular person because we know they are not the cause even though they DO benefit from a racist system.

            You don’t have to be a white supremacist to support white supremacy. There are PoC who support white supremacy. The world and this country were founded on white supremacy. What is so hard to understand? Also you are supporting white supremacy by denying your privilege and then trying to make excused for the injustice that PoC face, which is what white benefit from. Did you honestly think I would share information and not be willing to show evidence to back it up? I only gave 4 “points” but I’ll add more just for the heck of it. Also I hope you realize there your excuses are BS. The first point people of similar history as blacks were ables to get approved. In the second point, blacks and whites are committing the SAME crime. In the third point, blacks and hispanics are more likely to get the death penalty if they killed a white person than killing someone of their race. In the fourth point, these white and black applicants have the EXACT SAME resume.

            1. http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/06/09/3446631/black-mortgage-approval/

            2. http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887324432004578304463789858002

            3. http://www.deathpenalty.org/article.php?id=54

            4. http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2009/11/14/race-criminal-background-and-employment/

            5. A black person is 3.75 times more likely to be arrested for drugs than a white guy even though the white usage rate is higher. http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/quicktables/quickconfig.do?34481-0001_all https://theuncovery.org

            6. More information about the racist War on drugs. http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/DPA_Fact_Sheet_Drug_War_Mass_Incarceration_and_Race_Feb2014.pdf

            Sorry to break it to you but the Rwanda genocide had a lot to do with Belgium. They were literally the cause of it.
            The Belgian colonial rule, which rewarded Tutsis with a Western education, and denied political and economic power to the Hutus. Belgium is responsible for the genocide. http://www.markville.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/history/genocide/genocide_nikita.html

            White supremacy is the cause of EVERYTHING! White supremacy is the reason their is a racial disparity. You are worse. You’re have are the most annoying white person from this form. “Social justice warriors” like myself aren’t blaming whitey. We are blaming the racist system, and institution that has granted you preference. I’m not sure if you realize this but we “social justice warriors” honestly don’t care about you. We do not blame a particular person because we know they are not the cause even though they benefit from a racist system. (Yes, I’m repeating my statement) What faults do I own up to? So the racism I face is all because of me? I face discrimination because I did something?

            Eurocentric standards of beauty isn’t just in countries that are majority white… Omg! Do you ever research anything before you comment? In Countries where the majority is black like Gambia, Nigeria, etc women there bleach their skins to appear whiter. In Asian countries women are bleaching their skin and also getting cosmetic surgery to achieve the “western look”.

            So, again do you research anything before you comment?

          • mosullivan15 .

            You’re “Educating” me is called arguing. Ya’know, like when we exchange various facts and point in a non-psychical conflict to determine who is right and who is wrong? I’m not educating you, nor are you educating me.

            “You don’t have to be a white supremacist to support white supremacy. There are PoC who support white supremacy. The world and this country were founded on white supremacy. What is so hard to understand? Also you are supporting white supremacy by denying your privilege and then trying to make excused for the injustice that PoC face” You, by definition, need to be a white supremacists to support white supremacy, I know you SJWs have trouble with that concept, but I’m sure that it will sink in eventually. Also, to deny my white privilege is like denying that there is a unicorn under my bed. I don’t have any privilege, in fact the only special treatment I get as a white male is the assumption that I get positive treatment because of my demographic. Occasionally, the self proclaimed “progressive minded SJWs” even try to compensate for the perceived difference (and then everyone says “That’s what you get for having white privilege”).

            From a This article epitomizes “Click Bait.” Mortgage approvals have nothing to do with your race, we no longer live in the 1950s. Mortgage approvals are completely objective and approval is based on 4 criteria. Income, assets, credit profile, and property value. That’s IT. So essentially, if you are financially responsible, pay your bills on time, and you don’t buy more than you can afford, you will be approved. If you are financially irresponsible, regardless of your race, your loan will be denied.

            This second one is ominous for several reasons. The resumes had to all be identical, or else there would be instances where things like diction, structure, or writing style would affect the decision process. However, as I’m sure you can figure out, if a company gets 4 or 5 identical resumes they’d probably just accept them on a first come, first serve basis. As such, the tester would have to send the resumes to different companies, and might not even be able to send two fake resumes to any one company. This creates an obvious problem, because there is no way to monitor real applicants. If it just so happened that the “White” resumes where send to companies that simply didn’t have better applicants. This could be luck of the draw just as easily as it could be “White privilege”. That said, people like yourself rush it call it an example of “blatant racism” even though it might well not be.

            Back to Rwanda, the appointed leader during the colonial times was Yuhi the fifth, who allowed the Germans to colonize in his borders. Shortly thereafter he was succeed by his son Mutara the Third. These people led Rwanda during the time between 1896 and 1959. They favored Tutsi over Hutu. It is important to note that all the way back to the foundation of Rwanda, long before becoming a protectorate of European powers, the monarchy consisted of Tutsi ruler. This is what caused the genocide. You can try to pin it on European colonialism, but you’re only deluding yourself with your racist slander.

            As for Eurocentric beauty, there are people who lay in UV emitting tubes for hours, raising their chances of getting cancer massively, just to get a darker shade of skin. This proves Afro-centric standard of beauty, perpetuated by a system that is racist against Caucasian people. That’s ridiculous on purpose, but it’s meant to prove the point that white people also change themselves to be attractive to other people.

            Now, on a serious note, people of far eastern decent are generally considered the most attractive, are the highest paid demographic in the US, are not benefactors of the so called white privilege, and are too small a demographic to list on the sites you listed, except one.

            Sources:
            http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/asianamericans-graphics/

            http://www.aef.com/industry/news/data/2003/2253

            http://unsafeharbour.wordpress.com/2012/02/09/who-is-attracted-to-who/

            Notice in this graph Asian women have the highest response rate,

          • Chel

            You do not have to be a white supremacist to support white supremacy. White supremacy is a system that has put white people at the top. PoC that praise Eurocentric standards of beauty are supporting white supremacy. PoC who believe in respectable politics are supporting white supremacy. Hollywood supports white supremacy by excluding PoC from roles. The judicial systems supports white supremacy by treating white defenders better. The educational system supports white supremacy by ignoring history of nonwhites and making it seem like only white people advanced or made contributions.

            Well let’s check your privilege. Are you cisgender? If you are, then you’re less likely to get murdered. Are you straight? Then you are able to marry the woman you love. You will not have to worry about getting fired from your job for being gay or transgender. Are you white? Yes, so you are already more likely to get a job, get scholarships for schools, get into a college, more likely to get approved for a loan. You are less likely to get pulled over by a cop. You more likely to have people stop for you at a crosswalk. You are less likely to get stopped and frisked. As a male, you are more likely to get a job over a woman. Your odds of being raped are low. Less likely to be sexually harassed on the street. White men have always had their rights in this country and in many other countries. Men didn’t have to fight for the right to vote. White men didn’t have to fight to be treated like a decent human being.

            For the first one, did you even read the link? “But even among applicants with low credit scores who should be equally unlikely to have their loans approved, three-quarters of African American applicants had their applications denied compared to just half of white applicants. These statistics suggest that, despite what should be similar odds, simply being black will decrease your chances of getting a loan approved by 25 percent.”

            For the second one, did you even read the link? “Devah Pager conducted a matched-pair experiment in which she had male testers apply for the same entry-level jobs advertised in Milwaukee newspapers.” These people were applying to the same jobs. The fact that the study showed that the racial disparity of how a black guy with a criminal record had 5% chance while a white guy with a criminal record had 17% chance. Then on the fact that a white guy with a criminal record had a 17% while a black guy with a clean record had 14% is pretty blatant. Plus jobs do NOT do first come first served. Please educate yourself.

            Also I hope you realize there are tons of other social experiments and studies that show there is racial bias in just about every aspect of society. They show that whites ARE favored and that they do benefit and have privilege. If everything was equal and fair the racial disparity wouldn’t be so big. There wouldn’t be that big of a disparity in that interview experiment i brought up if whites didn’t have their privilege. Those experiments wouldn’t even be necessary.

            Europeans knew what was happening and didn’t try to intervene. Also the colonization is what created the ethnic divide of those groups. You can read up on European influences that affect both the groups.

            http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide/g_rwanda.html

            “A wedge was driven between them when the European colonists moved in. It was the practice of colonial administrators to select a group to be privileged and educated ‘intermediaries’ between governor and governed. The Belgians chose the Tutsis: landowners, tall, and to European eyes the more aristocratic in appearance. This thoughtless introduction of class consciousness unsettled the stability of Rwandan society. Some Tutsis began to behave like aristocrats, and the Hutu to feel treated like peasants. An alien political divide was born.”

            http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/world/europe/colonialism-bloodshed-and-blame-for-rwanda.html?_r=0

            “The people who planned and carried out the genocide were Rwandans,” Mr. Kagame told a commemorative ceremony in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. “But the history and root causes go beyond this country.”

            “And no country is powerful enough, even when they think that they are, to change the facts,”

            People tan because looking tan appears healthier than looking white and pasty. I’m sorry but white girls are not getting suspended in school because of their hair. Whites girls are not being told that their natural hair is “unprofessional” whites girls are not be persuaded to relax there hair because “it looks better”. White men and woman are not facing discrimination because they have cornrows. I’m not sure if you’re following along, but black men and women are the ones facing these problems because their natural features are undesired.

            You do realize there are different Asian ethnic groups that aren’t as successful as a whole? You are erasing their suffering by trying to perpetrate the model minority. Also You do realize that Asian women fit more into Eurocentric standards of beauty with their hair. They are also stereotyped of being quiet and submissive, and many men have been open about that being the reason. Particular white men on tinder. Asian women who are also one the most fetishized. Which seems to be a problem among white men wanting to “try them out”.

          • mosullivan15 .

            “You do not have to be a white supremacist to support
            white supremacy.” You do, by definition. “White supremacy is a system that has
            put white people at the top.” Well, then white supremacy isn’t real. There are
            people like Mukesh-Ambani, Carlos Slim Helu, and Donald Thompson are at the
            tippity-top of the world. “PoC that praise Eurocentric standards of beauty are
            supporting white supremacy.” So by saying that European economies are stronger
            than African ones, you’re being a white supremacist? That means you have to
            actively lie to not be a white supremacist. “PoC who believe in respectable
            politics are supporting white supremacy.” Respectable politics? Does that mean
            voting for McCain was a racist thing to do? You’re browbeating people to
            support you unflinchingly, you racists garbage. “Hollywood supports white
            supremacy by excluding PoC from roles.” So people like Uzo Abba and Tracy
            Morgan don’t exist? “The judicial systems supports white supremacy by treating
            white defenders better.” Not a real thing, justice is blind, and there is not a
            single piece of legislation that say whites get better treatment than others. “The
            educational system supports white supremacy by ignoring history of nonwhites
            and making it seem like only white people advanced or made contributions.”
            Well, history in most school is about the nation from whence you hail (A
            Canadian school teaches Canadian history for example) and usually it’s from the
            turn of the 1900 to today. However, white/European inventors have been behind
            most breakthroughs in any given field from the collapse of the Arab Empire to
            the 1950s, so they get more coverage. Don’t believe me? Who invented the phone,
            the steam engine, the computer, the atomic power plant, the internet, the car,
            modern medicine, and plastics? All of
            these come from white people, along with a host of other thing. These are very
            important because we couldn’t have civilization as we know it today without
            these inventions, but yet you say they’re white and therefore bad.

            “Well let’s check your
            privilege. Are you cisgender? If you are, then you’re less likely to get
            murdered” No, not true (http://goo.gl/oc7VAw).
            Ever heard the phrase “Die cis scum”? Well, that seems like a death threat to
            cis people. “Are you straight? Then you
            are able to marry the woman you love.” Bisexual, and if I were gay I could
            marry the man I wanted. “You will not have to worry about getting fired from
            your job for being gay or transgender.” I heard about someone who was fired
            because of their sexuality, he sued. In Canada, anywhere in Europe, and in most
            states, you can’t be fired for being gay, and no one would anyways. “Are you
            white? Yes, so you are already more likely to get a job, get scholarships for
            schools, get into a college, more likely to get approved for a loan.” We
            covered this, and it’s bullshit. “You are less likely to get pulled over by a
            cop.” Nothing to hide, nothing to fear. If you’re and idiot and don’t comply,
            that’s your fault, otherwise that’s just an inconvenience. “You more likely to
            have people stop for you at a crosswalk.” So? If someone doesn’t stop, it won’t
            kill me, I’ll be slowed down by less than 30 second. Is your argument seriously
            so weak you need to use such a mild inconvenience a proof of racism? “You are less likely to get stopped and
            frisked.” Bullshit “As a male, you are more likely to get a job over a woman.”
            I know people who say, just that, and say if they ever own a business, they won’t
            hire men. Sexism? Yes. Cause by you people? Defiantly. “Your odds of being
            raped are low.” Just like everyone’s. Men may only receive 1 in ten rapes, but
            rape against men is a joke, whereas rape against women is a huge issue. Sexism
            against men? Defiantly. People like you cause stuff like this http://goo.gl/LuDeif
            “Less likely to be sexually harassed on the street.” So what? Being catcalled
            is annoying, not damaging. “White men have always had their rights in this
            country and in many other countries. Men didn’t have to fight for the right to
            vote. White men didn’t have to fight to be treated like a decent human being.”
            So because you’re parents, or their parents had to fight for their rights (and
            fought with the oppressive majority) you are better person? Explain why this
            matters.

            For the first one, did you even read the link? “But
            even among applicants with low credit scores who should be equally unlikely to
            have their loans approved, three-quarters of African American applicants had
            their applications denied compared to just half of white applicants. These statistics
            suggest that, despite what should be similar odds, simply being black will
            decrease your chances of getting a loan approved by 25 percent.”

            “For the second one, did
            you even read the link? “Devah Pager conducted a matched-pair experiment
            in which she had male testers apply for the same entry-level jobs advertised in
            Milwaukee newspapers.” These people were applying to the same jobs. The
            fact that the study showed that the racial disparity of how a black guy with a
            criminal record had 5% chance while a white guy with a criminal record had 17%
            chance. Then on the fact that a white guy with a criminal record had a 17%
            while a black guy with a clean record had 14% is pretty blatant. Plus jobs do
            NOT do first come first served. Please educate yourself.” I did. Now, you’re
            going to have to do something very difficult, and not project onto what I am
            saying. Read each word, there is not hidden meaning. He sent applicants to the
            same jobs. For the sake of this argument, I’ll say he sent 10 from each
            demographic. He could have sent White criminals, Whites, Blacks criminals, and
            then Blacks. Why would that affect the outcome? Well, if you’re an employer,
            one of the things you look for is timing, which is why you should always submit
            your application the moment you can. Now, with this in mind, if the resumès
            were all the same, the first applicants would stand a much higher chance of
            getting the job, and in this way one might say the job comes on a first come
            first serve basis. However, I digress, there were lots of other factors. Specifically,
            diction. Diction is how a person speaks, and affects a first impression by a
            lot. So, we can safely say there is a lot of uncontrolled variables, and the
            test is therefore bogus. Please educate yourself.

            “Also I hope you realize
            there are tons of other social experiments and studies that show there is
            racial bias in just about every aspect of society. They show that whites ARE
            favored and that they do benefit and have privilege. If everything was equal and
            fair the racial disparity wouldn’t be so big. There wouldn’t be that big of a
            disparity in that interview experiment i brought up if whites didn’t have their
            privilege. Those experiments wouldn’t even be necessary.” You can twist
            information to show that women engineers cause global warming. This is a very
            silly, stupid thing to say, but it’s true.
            You can also twist information to make it seem that White Privilege is
            real too, and millions of internet users will take it to heart as proof of their

            “Europeans knew what was
            happening and didn’t try to intervene. Also the colonization is what created
            the ethnic divide of those groups. You can read up on European influences that
            affect both the groups.” Canada France, Belgium and the USA all intervened,
            have you read a history book?

            http://www.ppu.org.uk/genocide…

            “A wedge was driven
            between them when the European colonists moved in. It was the practice of
            colonial administrators to select a group to be privileged and educated
            ‘intermediaries’ between governor and governed. The Belgians chose the Tutsis:
            landowners, tall, and to European eyes the more aristocratic in appearance.
            This thoughtless introduction of class consciousness unsettled the stability of
            Rwandan society. Some Tutsis began to behave like aristocrats, and the Hutu to
            feel treated like peasants. An alien political divide was born.”

            http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04…

            “The people who planned
            and carried out the genocide were Rwandans,” Mr. Kagame told a commemorative
            ceremony in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. “But the history and root causes go
            beyond this country.”

            “And no country is
            powerful enough, even when they think that they are, to change the facts,”

            That’s
            BS At 8:30 p.m.
            on April 6, 1994, President Juvénal Habyarimana of Rwanda was returning from a
            summit in Tanzania when a surface-to-air missile shot his plane out of the sky
            over Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. All on board were killed in the crash.

            Since 1973, President Habyarimana, a
            Hutu, had run a totalitarian regime in Rwanda, which had excluded all Tutsis
            from participating. That changed on August 3, 1993 when Habyarimana signed the
            Arusha Accords, which weakened the Hutu hold on Rwanda and allowed Tutsis to
            participate in the government. This greatly upset Hutu extremists.

            Although it has never been determined
            who was truly responsible for the assassination, Hutu extremists profited the
            most from Habyarimana’s death. Within 24 hours after the crash, Hutu extremists
            had taken over the government, blamed the Tutsis for the assassination, and
            begun the slaughter.
            That’s why the genocide happened, not the whites, not the colonists.

            “People tan because looking tan appears healthier than
            looking white and pasty.” Not really “I’m sorry but white girls are not getting suspended in school because of their hair.” Yeah, my friend was actually, and she was white.
            So, are you a lire or just stupid? “Whites girls are not being told that their natural hair is “unprofessional”’ Yes they are, short hair or tie it up, everything else look unprofessional. Did you ever have a careers class? “whites girls are not be persuaded to relax there hair because “it looks better”. White men and woman are not facing discrimination because they have cornrows.” Then don’t have cornrows. “I’m not sure if you’re following
            along, but black men and women are the ones facing these problems because their natural features are undesired.” No, they’re not you’re simply perceiving that,
            there are people who like African traits, and people who don’t, that’s how it is. In fact, I have been rejected several times because “Sorry, I only do black dudes”. You’re like SCHRÖDINGER’S feminist. You’d get that if you had been to school.

            “You do realize there are different Asian ethnic groups that
            aren’t as successful as a whole? You are erasing their suffering by trying to
            perpetrate the model minority.” No I am not, again you’re projecting. They don’t
            suffer, and more than often they are successful. Regardless, Asian means from the
            continent of Asia, and these people are by far the most successful in North
            America. “Also You do realize that Asian women fit more into Eurocentric
            standards of beauty with their hair.” They have straight hair, but that’s the
            only European feature they have. They don’t have white skin, light hair, light
            eyes, they aren’t tall, they have smaller noses, and the list goes on. “They
            are also stereotyped of being quiet and submissive, and many men have been open
            about that being the reason. Particular white men on tinder.” Racist, site a
            source. “Asian women who are also one the most fetishized.” Is this English? “Which
            seems to be a problem among white men wanting to “try them out”.” My
            girlfriend is white, and people call me racist because of that. Why? Because of
            people like you.

            All hostilities aside, I’m not sure if you’re a fan of Orwellian
            literature, but he wrote a book called 1984 that is fairly well respected. In
            this book he describes an authoritarian police state dystopian future. The
            nation is run under the foot of the mysterious Big Brother. The book is famous
            for what are called the thought police, who essentially have the power to make
            anyone who says anything against the government to disappear. The main
            character is arrested for writing in his journal and told “Confess, or we’ll
            know you’re guilty”. Winston confesses, to doing a whole bunch of acts of
            terrorism, even though he wasn’t involved, and the government uses him as an
            example of why they need such massive amounts of security. This makes a great
            analogy to feminism because this is what feminists do, and indeed what you have
            done. You said “Unless you recognize your privilege, you’re supporting white supremacy”.
            The person is forced to confess, and is then used as “proof” of white privilege.
            This is a system that builds itself.

          • Chel

            There’s no point in arguing with you because when ever you try to come back you use illogical fallacies. What’s so pathetic about you is that you think you’ve actually made a valid argument. You try to equate things that aren’t even related to each other. For instance when you talk about whites girls hair being “unprofessional”. When are white girls being told their natural hair is unprofessional? “Site a source”. Jobs do not police white women’s hair the way the police black women and black men. The media tells women that having relaxed hair is better. No one is “perceiving” anything that the media is literally telling them that. Jobs aren’t creating rules that are forcing white women to change and assimilate. Just like how the media and cosmetic companies tell WoC that being lighter is better.

            http://www.vocativ.com/world/india/indias-5-worst-ads-skin-whitening-cream/

            http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/04/20134514845907984.html

            http://www.academia.edu/899743/Skin_Bleaching_The_Complexion_of_Identity_Beauty_and_Fashion

            http://www.mnsu.edu/urc/journal/2013/kingniabaly.pdf

            http://www.ebony.com/style/fighting-for-our-hair-in-corporate-america-032#axzz34uhbq3QJ

            http://college.usatoday.com/2013/07/01/viewpoint-how-is-natural-african-american-hair-viewed-in-the-workplace/

            By lumping all Asians together you are erasing their suffrage and history. Not all Asians follow the “model minority” trope. There are different ethnic groups that do not have the same success as others. http://www.education.com/reference/article/unraveling-minority-myth-asian-students/

            Asian women are being fetishized, you can do a simple google search to see articles talking about. But, since you are a ignorant asshole, I wouldn’t expect you to actually try to learn anything. http://www.xojane.com/issues/asian-fetish

            http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2013/05/11/181954825/seeking-asian-female-takes-a-close-look-at-a-fetish

            http://www.asianfortunenews.com/2014/03/my-asian-fetish-test/

            http://tattooedheroine.com/2014/02/08/fetishization-of-asian-women/

            The Rwanda genocide did start because of the affects of colonization. Colonization and European influences did create a bigger wedge between the ethnic groups.

            There’s no information that would show women engineers are causing global warming. For one thing, there aren’t many women engineers compared to men engineers. Also the studies aren’t twisting any information, most of them are just gathering information that is public or the government collects and finds the racial disparity. Anyone can look at death penalties information can see a gap. Looking at employment of people who have similar backgrounds. Looking at history is another BIG hint, I’m guessing you wouldn’t know much about that. If white people showed biased views 20, 30, 40, 50 years ago, what make you think everything would be equal and fair game now? Jobs do NOT do first come first served. Have you talked with someone or even work in the human resources department? Even IF they did send the application at different times the gap still would NOT be that big. All they did was send in an application, the white criminals and white noncriminals were the ones that got calls for callbacks. It had nothing to do with someones voice. For the sake of the argument you could have easily just read the link provided since it does explain everything…

            Having one person of a certain race does not mean anything thing. White supremacy is a system, an institution that has granted whites their white privilege. ” So by saying that European economies are stronger
            than African ones, you’re being a white supremacist”
            That has NOTHING to do with Eurocentric standards of beauty… There is a racial bias at crosswalks. http://www.pdx.edu/clas/news/study-examines-racial-bias-crosswalks

            Learn about what respectable politics is before you try to belittle it. Learn about the racism in Hollywood. Everything I stated about people supporting white supremacy makes sense if you knew anything about the topics I mentioned. But, from your responses it obvious you don’t know anything about the topics.

            The judicial system which is about courts does support white supremacy. There doesn’t have to be legislation to show that. Anyone looking at cases can see the racial disparity. Educational is supporting because white people are NOT the only group of people in America that have made contributions to this country. Before white people came and slaughtered Native Americans are the real Americans and their history should not be ignored. Schools barely teach history about Native Americans, Blacks. When they do talk about those groups it’s little stuff and the bigger parts of history are ignored. They were even trying to ban Mexican-American studies which still involves America but because they weren’t white people they were trying to ban it. Asians have big contributions to America in the west coast, and Civil Rights movement, but schools don’t teach about them.

            In 29 states you can be fired for your sexuality because they do not have laws against it. http://www.policymic.com/articles/66751/this-map-shows-the-29-states-where-you-can-be-legally-fired-for-being-gay

            You can be fired for being transgender in 33 states because those states do not have laws against it.http://www.wegiveadamn.org/issues/workplace-discrimination/

            I realize you as a white guy do not know anything about social issues or know anything about critical race theories. So you might want to just stop trying to act like you do. Don’t let your bigotry define you.

          • Data KING

            You severely fail to see that there are not 1 billion United States Citizens. Seeing as though the majority of Americans are WHITE and this article is geared toward American problems, your uneducated guess is wrong. Cross out billions.

            Oh look, racism has caused this individual to have 1st World Problems! Damn you racism. Damn you…

          • Chel

            I never said there were 1 billion people in the United States… Seeing as though whites are still not the majority in the world population but white supremacy still affects people. White supremacy and the affects of colonization is not just an American thing. Since Whites colonized majority of the world what they did is still affecting people today. Whites can not be oppressed by the same institution that has given them preference over PoC. Seeing as though because of colonization which as given them their privilege and power, it can be applied to the world.

          • Tom Krager

            like how 91% of black s voted for Obama because . .. he was black?

          • Chel

            Well the fact that majority of blacks are Democrats… Obama is a democrat as well, it could be that they voted because he is from their same party. That same thing can be said about white not wanting to vote for him because he’s black. Or the fact that Obama has had more obstruction than any other president is kinda interesting… Him being the first black president and all. Many people thought he would help America with race since the past white presidents did nothing. Also he won both elections by a landslide. People didn’t have to vote for him again but they did.

          • Nyah

            LordMasterFlashForReal….Are you for real??? Why do you think white people colonized the west???….just to go somewhere new and have PoC to pick on and call names?? Dude, wake up, white people benefited materially…big time… and were the first in line out of all the races to get the benefits. Institutions ARE the means that benefits are doled out. Its pretty basic maths really.
            You know, racial prejudice is not a new thing but whole systems, nations and empires built on the economic subjugation and exploitation of other races IS fairly new and if not generally new…is on a massive scale new.
            Intellectualism…listen the word racism is an English word…ok…who do you think defined the word back in the day? And if you think some black person came up with the word and definition then I think you might be a bit off track. So if you are talking concepts then deal with the concepts presented (regardless of whether you think the correct word had been applied).
            I would say that because many white people have not really experienced the full picture of what racism has (both past and present) their definition seems to be quite different. It also is pretty apparent that white people are still trying to tell most other races what racism ‘really is’. The western worlds ear has not been listening to black people or indigenous people for a long time….that was the idea of racism…to dominate and suppress other peoples, their approaches, culture, ideas or individuality to the point where it doesnt seem like they have anything different to offer. Now many white people and other converts talk about fairness, justice and what racism is and try to dominate that field of reality and you’ll find that most times it benefits them to do this both psychologically and materially.

          • schrodiscat

            You’re wrong Chel. The great Irish potato famine. It cost 1 million people their lives. A main cause of it was discriminatory laws passed by the English Parliament. Irish Catholics weren’t allowed to own land. They had to rent land form Protestant landlord who divided their holdings into tiny plots in order to maximise the amount of rent collected. Holdings were so small that no crop other than potatoes would suffice to feed a family. This created a potato dependency and when the potato parasite hit the results were devastating. The response of the British government to the famine was inadequate at best! One million people died!

            Finally, there’s a whole genre of racist Irish literature produced and propagated in England depicting the Irish as stupid drunks. I believe the term for anti-Irish sentiment is Hibernophobia. See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Irish_racism

            Also half a million Bosnians got ethnically cleansed by Serbs just 20 years ago.

            I don’t see how owning up to the fact that any colour or creed can discriminate against another lessens from the plight of PoC in American or elsewhere!! These things are not so black and white! Only white people can be racist towards PoC! Come on!

            In the end, I think in our post-modern we’re all being oppressed by the 1% – all of us – black, white, green or purple.

          • Chel

            I never said the Irish didn’t suffer, I know about the potato famine. Again, it was white racializing other whites, Irish still looked more like them than a PoC so the Irish could blend in.

            Although what happen there was terrible I’m pretty sure the Bosnians and Serbs are of the same race, so it isn’t a form of racism. I do realize that any color can discriminate but whites aren’t victims of racism.

            Maybe a more important question than “who can be racist” is “who benefits from racism?” Now in the US I suggest 99% of the time the answer is white people, but with white supremacy and white privilege around the world it could vary. I’ve noticed that many white people in discussions on racism are so obsessed with rejecting the notion that they are racist. They refuse to talk about the actual implications and repercussions of racism. Racism still overwhelmingly most negatively affects people of color, so much that it has destroyed and continues to destroy the lives of billions of people of color worldwide. So an attack on racism in order to end it would necessitate focusing on white racism against people of color (i.e. white supremacy).

          • Freddie

            again to throw a spanner there, the Irish were attacked because they were Irish. Oliver Cromwell was a pretty sadistic tyrant to the Irish because they were catholic and Irish. If we were to have a discussion about race then lets gallivant to South Africa, Nigeria, Yemen, Somalia, Sierra Leonne, and see how institutionally racist these places are against ethnic minorities.
            White supremacy is stocked up by neo nazi nut jobs and politically correct people who have have a chip on their shoulders or white guilt. To remove what you call white supremacy is actually to remove inequality.

          • Chel

            People who know nothing about institutional racism are still helping white supremacy, and it doesn’t even matter their race. Removing white supremacy isn’t just about removing inequality. There’s still colorism, respectable politics, the educational system, the perception of womanhood. There’s a lot that needs to be taken in account for removing white supremacy. We would have to decolonize to remove white supremacy. Decolonize isn’t about separating the country or anything like that, but changing the viewpoint on race.

          • Will_I_am

            No not heartless….you’re just racist.

          • Freddie

            sorry to be pedantic but the Irish situation was pretty damn complex, lumping all the problems of the worlds punching bag, the UK, is very simple minded.
            Also to be pedantic race is referring to the sub species of our species, i.e. Caucasian, mongoloid etc. So with regards to the Irish it was not racism per say.

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            no such thing as a sub species.. using nonsense only creates more nonsense smh.. ur either human or not

          • Eman

            I do apologise however It would appear what you’re referring to there is tribalism rather than racism.

          • Will_I_am

            Can you link that study? I guarantee I can find some statistics that prove it wrong.

            Statistics are funny that way.

          • Anonymous

            “What whites did to other whites isn’t a form of racism.”

            Holocaust.

          • Chel

            Again, whites being evil to other whites…

          • Anonymous

            “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching…”

            During the Holocaust, prejudice and power combined to form social constructs, legislation, and widespread media bias that contributed to the oppression of the rights and liberties of the Jewish, Polish, and Romani peoples. The Holocaust was systemic, institutional, and far reaching. It was allowed to run rampant in German society at that time by the implicit and explicit endorsement by favored German people.

            Most importantly, Nazi propaganda literally conceptualized the Jews as a separate race in the collective German psyche; their propaganda machine was dedicated to the belief that Jews were not of the same race as other Germans. It even went so far as to lampoon stereotypically-Jewish facial features like a big hooked nose.

            Taking a step back, I have a cousin (he’s white) who is now a Jamaican citizen. He fell in love with a Jamaican woman (she’s black). Their child is considered black in America; and in Jamaica, considered white. The same would be true if that child visited Senegal; the Senegalese consider someone who is half-white and half-black to be white. (The French, sensibly, would consider the child mixed.)

            Since racial categories are constructed artificially by each individual culture, since our perceptions of race can be so flexible, and since the Nazi racial category for Judaism hinged upon actual distinguishable physical features, how can you really define the Holocaust as something other than racism?

          • Chel

            It was still whites racializing people again though. I do think anti-semitism is real and that something only Jewish people face no matter their race, but the thing is the average Jewish person who people think of can still pass as white most of the time. They still benefit from white privilege if they pass.

          • Anonymous

            The Nazis would’ve still been racist even if Hitler had been black.

            And Jews don’t have to pass for white. They are white. In America, at least; but they weren’t in Nazi Germany.

            Because race is nothing but a social construct, and racism nothing but a psychological disease, catchable by anyone, of any race, ever, and always.

          • Chel

            “If Hitler had been black” well from one thing blacks did not and still don’t have any institutionalized power to do any of that. If black people had insituionalized power then yeah, it would be, but they don’t have that power. Not all Jews are whites which is why I said passing as white. Some Jews are of color. Just because race is a social construct doesn’t deny the fact because of it people are still treated differently. PoC can not be racist towards whites, you would need to learn more about colonization, white supremacy and white privilege to understand that.

          • Negrakitty

            You need to stop smoking that crack pipe and get some fresh air with all that crapola you’re spouting you might actually start to believe it.

          • Josh

            Chel- You say Affirmative action is about giving opportunities to people who would have never even been considered, but what about a White person who is economically disadvantaged? We have the exact same roadblocks a PoC might have but just because we are white we do not receive that same opportunity? If school A must have 30% PoC and say 70% white of their incoming freshman class of a 1,000 yet the school has 10,000 White’s apply for admission and only 500 PoC apply the advantages then sharply turn in the PoC favor. (These stats would go with basic American/ Canadian percentages based on proportion) So therefore your AA creates a huge disadvantage towards lower income Whites and creates discrimination in it’s own right. I went to school with PoC and most of them came from more stable homes both in financial and family matters yet they had an easier route to college because of their color? We took the same classes, same bus, but I was white and I had to bust my tail so much more to make college than them and they were much more privileged than I was. That is a messed up and broken system. If anything AA needs to be completely financially based without any thought of color, so disadvantaged students regardless of skin color can be helped.

          • Chel

            You do realize that all schools except HBCUs are still predominantly white? AA hasn’t made any drastic changes to schools. Also schools that are in states that banned race based admission have enrolled fewer PoC. While you are mad at PoC getting into schools because of race you need to also be getting mad at legacies. The legacy system is just like AA, legacies have advantages.

            I do think it should be more financially based though. Some schools are getting on that too, and trying to help people who aren’t well off.

          • Will_I_am

            Giving opportunity? GET QUALIFIED! You are not listening to any of this are you?

            If a black guy is qualified for ajob, more so than white person, THEY WILL GET THE JOB!

            Opportunity already exists, you are not GIVING someone opportunity, you are GIVING them a job that they did not earn.

            Show me ONE shred of evidence that suggests blacks don’t have opportunity…..are they not allowed to go to college?

            Oh that’s right, they have special colleges that only blacks are allowed and no whites……sounds racist to me. Do whites have any white only colleges?

          • Anonymous

            The question is, why have they never been considered?

            If, at the university level, a person has never been considered because they are unqualified, then their skin color is irrelevant.

            If, at the university level, a person has never been considered because of their skin color, then we should end that racism.

            But if, by the time they reach the university level, people of certain skin colors tend to be underqualified relative to people of other skin colors, then efforts should be made to discover why the underqualified groups are underqualified, so that efforts can be made to fix that problem before they even get to university. And if race is not a causative factor in that problem, then race should not be taken into account when fixing it, only the relevant factors should be done so.

            This is critical, because what happens between birth and high school graduation is extremely important to a child’s life; it’s the part where any disparity in the system is magnified by just how important it is for a lower-income and/or minority family to have solid access to early education programs and high-quality mainline educational environments. Racism at the university level would melt away naturally if it were usual for minority and low-income children to arrive having received an education comparable to that of high-income and white families.

            By refusing to fix the systemic injustice by which people of color get born into crappy situations, we ultimately only perpetuate racism.

            …and university quotas do absolutely nothing to fix the disparity between low-income and high-income access to mainline childhood education. It’s like putting a band-aid on a broken arm: useless.

            University quotas have become a distraction, to allow people to feel like they’re doing something, without actually doing the more real, difficult thing that would actually solve the problem of systemic racism in education, namely to better-fund and better-support schools that serve populations with high levels of minority and low-income students.

          • Chel

            I agree with everything you said. I think we need to get to the root. With schools becoming increasingly segregated again comes lack of funding in majority-minority schools. I think schools should be seen as important. With all the schools closing in Chicago, and the fact that in Philadelphia they closed 23 schools, but are in the process of building a $400 million prison says something. The poor, and minority students can see that their education isn’t seen as important. One of the reasons in the Brown vs Board case is that the separation was making the black students feel inferior. I think if we fix the disparity in schools, that would help.

          • Dock Drumming

            I think affirmative action can be repaired if it were based on something other than race, such as class or socioeconomic status. The way it stands, I think affirmative action now does more harm than good for everyone.

        • steve jobs

          “racism is having the power to define wholesale at every level what the social reality of indigenous people will look like because they are indigenous”

          You’re wrong. That’s institutional racism. Me coming into your home, murdering you and your family simply because I don’t like the fact that you’re indigenous is racism, although your definition would imply that it’s not. While you’re clearly and understandably angry that the “system” is racist, your definition of racism only serves to tell victims of other types of racism that they’re not victims at all. It’s simply one-upsmanship, asserting that the racism that’s been leveraged against you is the worst and only type of racism.

        • Joke_Insurance

          So do you not believe in semantic change?

        • ElTicoSucio

          Ok. Only white people are racist. You are correct. I’m a Costa Rican man, and we do not tolerate racism, except of course when white people are targeted, abused and denied service and get no government help or attention. That’s not racism, that’s social justice. Much like Adam and Eve, the actions of a small group of our ancestors can and will condemn their descendants, or even people who look like their descendants forever. The only way white people can ever be redeemed in my eyes, for all the senseless murder and enslavement that they ALL are responsible for even if they have done nothing wrong, is for all white people, including women and children, is to be horrifically tortured for at least 3-4 generations, like the poor, downtrodden negro. All white people must suffer for the crimes that people who look similar to them committed long ago, when it wasn’t considered a crime due to social ignorance. When we commit the genocide of an entire race of mostly innocent people, the world will be a much better place, once we get rid of the bodies. God smite America.

        • mosullivan15 .

          Absoulty ridiculous. I’d like to start with your point. You say a sexist marring someone of the opposite gender proves racism? Sexism and racism are both types of discrimination, but they are different beasts altogether. I bet you can find one klans man who would marry an African woman.

          You then go on to say that natives often speak English better than the tongue of the tribe/group they were born into. Well I am of German decent, yet I speak better English than German. Why? BECAUSE I LIVE IN AN ENGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRY.

          You continue to say “who’s culture do we have to learn just to survive?”. Well, as you might know, here in Canada we have a system to support native culture. If you are a status Indian, you may live on a reserve, which are maintained by the Canadian Government, and therefore paid for by the Canadian people. If you are convicted of a crime, you may choose between using your tribe’s legal system, or the Canadian legal system. These are rights only status natives get. You get free stuff simply for being a native american, and you say that you’re oppressed?

          You move on to say that for reverse racism to be real, the aboriginal people would need to take control of the welfare system, justice system, business, and political system, then buy into their whole notion of race and then commit genocides, kidnap children, and not hire people for racial reasons.

          Well let’s sta with the beginning of this, wherein you say reverse racism would require natives to own the federal government and buy into the concept of race. That’s wrong, given the litteral definition of racism, but I’ll entertain. Well, first off, does it have to be natives? Second, don’t natives already believe in race? I mean to say they didn’t would be pretty racist. Second you say that there would need to be genocide and kidnappings. Why? Have you experienced any? No. Have your parents? No. Your grand parents? Nope. The genocides and kidnappings were in the 1700, so how do they affect you? Finally, what makes you believe that natives are not hired because of their race? In my experience people usually say that kinda thing because of personal experience. How do you know you just weren’t employable? There’s so many factors at play, so why do ypu think racism affects you?

          Finally “the racist system called ‘canada’ was built in their name, looks like them, privileges their history, cultures, and architecture styles ect ect extra”.

          Okay, well let’s start at the first line, where you say “the racist system called canada”. That is immediately destroyed by the intellectual artillery peice that is Pierre Elliot Trudeau. That’s the Guy who gave Canada a blind charter, based on what he called a just and rational society. That Charter of Rights and Freedoms that governs this land gives the same privileges to ALL people, regardless of race.

          You say “It [Canada] was built in their name, looks like them…” well I don’t know about you but I don’t know anyone who’s named The Crown, after all, Canada was in the name of the British Monarchy. As for looking like “us”, you might expect that considering “we” make up over 85% of the population, whereas natives make up 4.48%.

          “It [Canada] privileges ‘their’ history cultures and architecture styles” well considering that ‘we’ make up north of 85% of the population, one might expect there to be more attention paid to our history, because ‘we’ want to know our history, and there is lots to learn about in European history (natives had an oral tradition, and not much history is know about several tribes) and there are more of ‘us’ to practice ‘our’ culture, therefore it is more prevalent. There are more of ‘us’ to build ‘our’ buildings, therefore ‘our’ architecture is more common.

          Just as a coùp de gras here, you say that it is by definition impossible for white people to be victims of racism. Look up the definition, and you’ll see how hilarious wrong you are.

          To summarize, you’re biggoted, and the reason you feel like there is racism against you is because there are just are more white people than there are any other race in Canada.

          -Cheers

        • DallyD

          haygis, As a white person living in Winnipeg, I would like to thank you for your comment. This city is painfully racist (and I recognize that I am not exempt from this), and at times I have had much difficulty explaining this to white friends and family. Your comment, as well as the article, have given me tools to help me open a healthy discussion with those around me who are ignorant of the rampant racism we perpetuate and benefit from. I am sorry for the racism you have surely faced throughout your life, and I hope to do my part to educate the whites around me of the system of racism alive and thriving in Canada today.

      • robynbuckins

        you truly fail to see the main POINT of the author’s argument

      • redeemer

        what your husband has experienced IS reverse racism. As a white boy, I’ve experienced it to. The REVERSE part is basically minorities being hateful of whites, like me and your husband.

        I agree with you that racism overall is bad, and that the article was offensive.

        • ghanderman

          no, “reverse racism” is a fallacy.

          it was created to make whites feel better about their racism especially when its called out by the people of color who are the actual targets of real racism in countries like canada and the usa.

          • Chuck U Farley

            you know what else is a fallacy? surrounding yourself and living with a group of people that you despise.

        • joe

          She is probably some fat ugly self hating native with a ugly loser white boyfriend who is racist and tries to “convert” non-white women into white supremacist since white girls don’t seem to like small penis white guys

      • Unreal

        I feel disheartened that as a First Nations woman, you cannot recognize the injustices and systematic racism that face communities of First Nations peoples at large. Because racism DOES know race. Lucky you that you have not experienced it in this way. And your white man’s experience of individual instances of racism? Bummer. Not to play the suffering olympics but his individual instances pale in comparison to the the systematic suffering and neo/colonial history of an entire, massive community of PoC.

      • Mohammed

        You’re husband is more likely to have suffered positive discrimination not only in ‘white’ countries, but also in Saudi Arabia and Gulf States.

      • workingclass888

        well said

      • Will_I_am

        Generalizing is generalizing….it’s not even CLOSE to being a form of racist.

        Racism is the belief that your race is better than others, plain and simple. If I say white people for the most part are not good at basketball I am generalizing, but I am white so it’s hardly a racist statement.

        In fact, racism can ONLY come from the meaning behind what we say, and not the words that we speak.

      • Jesica McNabb

        What people who disagree with this article don’t understand is that racism and prejudice/bigotry are not the same thing. Any person of any race can experience individualized bigotry. BUT THATS NOT RACISM.
        They are different, and just because most of the time people never bother to understand English beyond colloquial use doesn’t make that any less true.

    • Mothr Nght

      I love it when the top comment justifies the article.

    • Riki

      I’m white and found this article offensive as well and also agree there is no such thing as “reverse racism”. Thank you for fighting the ignorance.

    • apennyforathought

      I think the point of the article that you are missing here is that Sara is trying to break down the definition of racism and that although, unfortunate situations have occurred between races for you and many others, the situation was individual and not of mass quantity.

    • Justus Jessen

      I agree that you as a commenter are, as you rightly claim “a naive article” Beyond that, I no longer agree with you. Racism is a system, offering paths of least resistance for us to follow. It generally does not boil down to individuals. Saying that someone is a racist, is merely saying that they are a participant in the larger problem of societal racism. I am a white male, and having grown up in a less than affluent neighborhood, I was often approached, called whitey, and even pushed around a bit, but never did it even occur to me to call this racism. This was bullying, and that is all it ever will be. I don’t even hold it against them. If i had grown up in a system where I was constantly told I was less, inferior, ugly by the media in ALL FORMS, i might be a bit miffed. Taking that anger out on individuals participating in system is wrong, but it is not racism. It is lashing out against racism. A cornered, beaten dog will bite, and I expect it to. I would bite as well. The mass cultural oppression that PoC experience in the United States (not to mention the rest of the world) is disgusting, but just by accepting my privileged position in life (education, organic food, heat, running water, safety) I am actively participating in that systemic racism. the LEAST I can do is shut up when someone is talking about real racism. Maybe if we listen, we have a chance at fixing the system? For without racism, there is no retaliation to racism. Just my two cents

      • The Merovingian

        Wonderful post!

    • littletiger

      I agree with you!!! I wasn’t sure how to put it but you said it very clearly. I haven’t traveled the world so I don’t have any knowledge other than what I see or hear from the media. Sara seems ok enough but definitely not open minded about racism. My friend’s daughter, who is half black and half white, actually posted this article. She is in college and ‘finding’ herself so I was interested in reading this one. She looks black but seems to forget she is half white. She didn’t have her dad’s influence growing up but definitely seems to be gravitating towards the negativity of the black race. I was just shocked to find out it was a white person who wrote this article. And actually disappointed by it. The way she seems to perpetuate the negativity of the plight of people of color is astonishing. We shouldn’t be encouraging it, we should be ignoring it. Slavery ended over a hundred years ago. If you want to make something of your life, you will. If you don’t want to, then you won’t. I don’t understand why people of color always feel the need to FEEL oppressed. Sara needs to do a little more research on what and who racism truly is and how it affects people of all colors, including whites.

      • Race Traitoress

        I have no words to describe how utterly messed up your thinking is. When that young woman reads your remarks she will know you. I dare say she will judge you and find you wanting in compassion and humility.

    • Lix Velvet

      Thank you for writing this response. I get tired of white liberal guilt – and being told that I am supposed to feel it or I am racist.

      As a person who is ethnically white but is perceived as every color under the rainbow depending on who’s looking, what zip code we’re in and what time of day it is, I’ve experienced racism from just about every angle. (My definition of racism equals hate and violence based on skin color). The most violent, personally threatening racism and the closest I’ve come to actually losing my life over my “race” has been the times that black people have been mad at me for “being ‘white’ while riding the subway or walking down the street”. Truth.

      Also, I’ve been denied proper health care by a black system “for being white” and one of the doctors even tried to solicit me to exchange sex for money.
      Yes, white power exists in America and is built into our institutions, I don’t think anyone denies that. But hatred and oppression can come from anyone to anyone.

      Without an honest look at how we ALL do and don’t get along we will never be able to forge bridges with each other.

      It is ignorant to think/believe/assert that no white person has ever been targeted for violence based on their race. It happens every day. It is also disrespectful to assert that if you’re white and you’ve experienced violence against you because of your race that you have no right to discuss it. Doing so does not deny the power structures built into our country. Doing so can help us to better understand each other, better see each others humanity and hopefully to expand peace, love, and understanding.

      I once worked at a “feminist” organization and a woman there was raped by a man she knew who was black. The other women held her up as a saint when she refused to press charges against her attacker because “she knew he was black and the system was against him”. I wonder how many other women he went on to rape? I wonder how those women felt about her choice to “protect him because of his race”. I think she and all of her supporters are damn fools!

      Also, flipping the cast of characters but keeping the same script is not the solution! (I like the example you gave of women running a corporation). In my attempt to seek out some form of communal peace while living in 10030 where I was targeted daily for harassment and violence in a multitude of forms I attended a local church (because I believe in the holy spirit and believe that love resides in shim) I was told by the preacher that peace would come when black people smashed white people and made us “their footstool”. This is NOT the solution. And a bunch of liberal white “educated” people telling other white people not to talk about real hatred they’ve experienced is NOT part of the solution.

      Derailing the system and eliminating the binary ideas about not only race but also gender and orientation are the building blocks of the solution. Seeking economic systems that empower the disempowered are building blocks of the solution. Real, honest, painful discussions about the rifts between races are the building blocks of the solution.

      • wes

        How can you seriously believe there is a white power system when you type this stuff and not only is nothing ever done about it, but white people are told they are racists for daring to hog the victim spotlight from ‘people of color’. The concept of “white privilege” is joke, not the idea of systematic racism against white people.

    • Lix Velvet

      In addition to my previous comments, I’d like to point out to those who talk about power being part of the equation – they are half right. They seem to assume that if you are “white” you are automatically in power. Is this true when one “white” woman is surrounded by a group of black MEN and they are threatening her? I feel (unfortunately) that the men have the power in this situation. Also: Is this true when one is simply riding a train car and threatened inside the car by a group of black men with guns (this happened to me – on the train and in the street – more than once). Sadly, as much as I like to envision myself as Wonder Woman and Muhammad Ali all at once I am smart enough to recognize that THEY have the power in the aforementioned situation………so don’t make the ridiculous statement and assumption that “white” people are automatically in power…….that’s ignorant. Men threatening women and men threatening women with guns definitely have the power……..you have to be really dull not to recognize that – and you call yourself a feminist?

    • kaki

      lost count of how many times i go off about racism to white ppl and theyre like “but it goes both ways!!” “i went to a dominantly-____ school so i know what that’s like!!” like uhhh come back to me when these ppl’s non-appreciation for ur skin color denies you jobs, representation, fair trials, healthcare, police protection, etc… ’til that day we are NOT talking about the same thing!!

      • wes

        Obviously if a white person goes to a mostly non white school then the rest of the community reflects that and their boss, local politicians, local police will not exactly be looking out for them…

      • tj

        so if I was asking for assistance, have a child just lost my job and was told I wasn’t the right color. then it would be considered racism right. cause it’s a government building?

    • Dana

      What the writer is trying to say is that racism and bigotry are two different things. Racism is always bigotry, but bigotry is not always racism. Like all Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics.

      No one’s saying that you’ve never been hurt by bigotry. They’re saying the system is still stacked to benefit you and represent you more than people of any other skin color. Are you really going to sit here and deny that? I hope not.

      • wes

        Plenty of people deny that, but you are too cowardly to debate them on it and would rather just call them a racist.

    • superbsubpar

      Did you even read the article? This comment seems more like a “knee-jerk”reaction than anything in that article suggested. And these are not her ideas. This is a common definition of racism that I’ve heard probably for the last 20 years at least.

      “If you experience discrimination, prejudice, or bigotry, it’s valid to be upset about it and want to talk about it. It is not valid to claim that it is reverse racism, and certainly not valid to claim that it is racism on par with anything like the institutionalized racism that PoC will come into contact with. When a white person starts talking about reverse racism, what they’re really doing is derailing a conversation to make it about them.”

      • Lifthrasir

        Check out the definition of racism by the UN and then reflect some more on that. You can not know the personal history of someone, thus you cannot know how racist comments about all white people, all europeans, which are not always white, even those who never set foot on wall in the america’s etc not their ancestors, affects them. It is ignorant not to debate statements like that and threats like soon we will be the majority and you will adapt to our rules, strongly resembling ideologies of fascism/nazism . It takes about 10 % of people in any group to adopt a certain view and then the whole collective of that group will adopt the view. The scary thing is that one individual, even possibly a troll or a spy, can seed these ideologies, which then will spread to the 10 % and then etc. It is ignorant to be blind as to who really owns the power in this world and the stooges of all colours they make use of.

    • ariel

      This article is about the experience of racism specifically in the United States.

      • Lifthrasir

        With social media all discussion have become international. Moreover statements as all Whites, all europeans are responsible for all massacres, holocausts in the americas/ in the world, this debate is everyone’s concern. And as a victimised, abused woman, denied every right of existence since the moment of conception, i take offense on this blaming of me, because of skincolour and because the Netherlands meanwhile belongs to the European Union, for all crimes ever committed, moreover forcefed the idiosyncracy that people of different colours never committed similar crimes. Free Tibet i would say and remember Ruanda. Diving into history one finds that often people considered the same race, but most likely of a different tribe, were often complicit in the extermination of other tribes of the same considered race. You cant apply current ideas about race on cultures that had a tribal consciousness.

    • Levi EagleFeather

      IRacism is racism! There is no reverse to it!

    • Thaddeus Mensch

      84 schools in Britain officially have no White children in them.
      Why are White people called “racist” for pointing this out?
      Obviously “racist” is a hate word intended to silence White people who speak out against their own genocide.
      If Japan announced that they 84 schools without Asian children, would Asians be called “racist” for opposing their genocide?
      If Haiti announced that they had 84 schools without Black children, would they be called “racist” for having a problem with it?
      Open borders, forced integration, and ‘assimilation’ is White GENOCIDE.

    • i agree with all of you

      I was just reading through the article and these comments and at first, I was feeling flustered and sad. A lot of these comments seem to be coming from kind folk who care about their own and others’ experiences… yet, there is a lot of bickering. Many of these comments serve to shove back defensively at another comment which was also made in defense. Realizing this, I was
      left wondering… are all of these people actually in disagreement with
      one another?

      I do not think a single person whose comment I’ve read speaks in
      support of any act of racism, bigotry, prejudice, or what-have-you. So,
      then… wherein lies the disagreement?

      Definitions are merely words. They are clarifying and it is often
      important to be clear about them, especially when dealing with policy.
      What is of paramount importance, however, is that these words do not
      cloud the common truths and hopes that many of you commenting folk seem to hold.

      I do not reckon that any of you are arguing that lived experiences
      are not real. I do not think that any of you believe that anyone’s
      experiences with what they feel to be some act of racism/prejudice/injustice can/should have their meaning taken away by an utterance or institutionalized statute.

      Perhaps we might go about forming definitions mindfully, then, while
      knowing that the goal in defining is not to discount anyone’s
      experiences, but to simply find a word for them. Perhaps “reverse
      racism” is a poor choice of word, because it implies that a suffering
      member of the institutionally and inter-personally suppressed minority
      can do the exact same thing to a member of the more privileged majority
      in a setting in which this member of the majority is indeed the
      privileged one. This is indeed a problematic implication.
      Institutionalized racism (or racism, as the author has defined) is a monster of an issue and anyone who experiences it should not feel that their experience has been dismissed by someone else who has been exposed to… well… something that should perhaps be defined differently.

      Perhaps “prejudice” is, may/should be defined differently from
      “racism” if racism is to imply dynamics of power and institutionalized
      inequality. However, it is important to remember what this separation
      of experiences into two different word categories does not do. What it
      does not do (or at least, should not do in theory) is strip anyone of
      what they have experienced. Prejudice is still real, racism is still
      real. This dividing up of definitions cannot- and should not- dismiss
      anyone’s hurt.

      No one should have to fight in defense of their experiences. Your
      truth is your truth and your hurt, whatever it is, is real! We simply
      need to find a common language– and, given that we all do not seem to
      be denying anyone’s truth, that should not be so
      frightening/defense-provoking an endeavor (though it is okay and quite
      understandable that it seems to have been so thus far).

      Anyhow, I just wanted to echo out a statement of hope that felt
      clarifying and unifying when I first thought/wrote it. I felt moved to
      do this because, when I read these comments, I felt that there was so
      much hurt, so much love, so much truth, all just striving to be known.

      With faith in the humanity of you all,

    • Halcykon

      I am not white and I agree.

    • Hassan

      Racism is racism no matter what. If a white person goes to Africa and gets racism (which he will not if he goes to Ghana…(he will be treated like a King)) then that would be a legitimate form of racism that is worthy and important enough to mention and discuss. But what white people have in America (ONLY IN AMERICA) is not worth complaining over. You sound like spoiled brats really. After all the genocide, slavery, oppression, segregation, murder we have improved our society. But black people and minorities are poor, underprivileged, and secondary citizens. We are celebrating a black president because its unbelievable that a black man can be president. America is structured this way. The only thing white people have to complain about is affirmative action, (AND oh my god they have complained). This is the only thing you have to complain about and you complain all the time but then get mad when ‘ungrateful minorities’ start to complain. You get mad because black people can say cracka but you can’t say ‘n****’? Thats because when someone says cracka, its like an oppressed nobody yelling up at a ruling force. When you say ‘n*****’ its a ruler yelling that at a peasant servant. Why would white people be offended when they are called ‘cracker’? He’s calling you an oppressive person. When someone says ‘n****’ it cuts right down to the heart. He is saying you ‘good for nothing’ peasant that this country could care less about. You know when you read about the great founding fathers, a black person in your class was reading the same textbooks and was getting confused. He was thinking ‘ How can I like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson when they thought of me as a slave, a peasant, a nobody?’ You come at this world completely different if your a minority or a white person. And you can cry all you want about “its not the past anymore” or “get over it”….but would you rather be born white in a middle class neighboorhood or start off poor in a violent ghetto where gunshots go off every night? That’s the present. Please don’t complain about racism.

    • Jane

      If u did that there would would fine you and put you in jail!!!

    • Reagan

      When you say you see all people equally, you are denying the fact that Others deserve to be seen for who they are. They are not equal. Not yet. They might be some day, but are not yet, so by seeing them as equal you deny their past and present injustices. The phrase “I am color blind” is just as horrific, if not more so than “reverse racism”.

    • sickened

      you’re amazing. this is coming from a black guy who is disturbed and angered by this article that I stumbled upon.

    • Iron Kato

      Im gonna skip the writing bit and just go right ahead and give this an official
      -PoC cosign-

    • guest

      100% agree

    • UrbanWhim

      Oh.

    • SaraLuckeyISANIGGACOCKJUMPER

      Agree, this bitch is dumb and if you actually use her theory of racism in real life you will see why, she makes so many stereotypical assumptions against white people as if we are all evil in the world and ‘People If Colour’ are what? angles? your obviously retarded you PoC-loving sack of shit, bet you that your nigga bf typed this for you then you just spell checked and tried make a legit article, when i read this i couldn’t help but become angry as in life this article applies oppositely.

    • Janay

      NO SUCH THING AS REVERSE RACISM. Racism is a SYSTEM OF OPPRESSION. Is that person who went to China being rude? Extremely, but there is no systematic oppression of Chinese people by white people in China. I am sorry you were bullied for you skin color. However, in the bigger picture, on an institutional level and farther, you are privileged just because of your skin color.

    • Jes

      SO glad I saw this.

    • Worldwide White Racism

      I am still not sure if I 100% agree with this article, but I think you’re criticism is flawed in many ways. If a white person went to China and screamed racist slurs at the Chinese, yes, that would be racist. That’s because, as strange as it may sound, there is systematic white privelage in China. And this is not specific to China. Europe’s history of imperialism has created an atmosphere in formally colonized or victimized countries that places whites in a position of respect and power. I wonder, seriously, if there is a place a white person will go in the world that this history does not actively affect the present. White privilege is sadly a worldwide occurance. For that reason racism is overwhelmingly, if not exclusively, something that can be attributed to white people, since they almost always have a system of power to back them up.

    • NaturalMamaNZ

      You’re putting words in this authors mouth. She never said racism didn’t exist in other countries or that white people could never be the victim of racism (and in other countries they often ARE the minority who experience racism). She focused on the US, where white people are the majority. She also said that while white people might encounter racism, it is never to the point that black people (or those of other minorities) experience racism. This is true.

    • Alizabeth Szilagyi

      I did live in Malaysia, and was one of only five white people I met for over a year. Even though I was the “minority” I was definitely still well aware of my white privilege. Through that experience I learned what this article argues to be true. No matter where I go, I will always be white, and the social layers of institutional racism will always be in my favor. Even if someone acts racist toward me, I will never fully understand what it feels like to be a PoC in regards to racism. When the rare Malaysian would yell at me for being part of George Bush’s plan to oppress the world, they were in fact exploiting the depth of institutional racism, not actually saying racist things to me.

    • robynbuckins

      I think that you are little clueless .. here America what this author argues is spot on…. are your familiar with the systems of oppression and how they are constructed, transformed to maintain racial inequality… IT’S CALLED CATEGORIES OF DIFFERENCES

    • Hassan

      So, one, you seeing “everyone as the same” schtick? Keep it. That’s white privilege through and through, stop erasure of other people’s experiences because not everyone is the same. Second, no one is taking away your rights. Its been said that you can experience other facets of sociological tyranny; bigotry, prejudice and anything else BUT racism. There aren’t institutions in place specifically to keep you down, imprisoned, out of the public eye, etc. Me, being a Black male, experience racism. You’ve only experienced a portion of what I and others have to live with. Stop trying to be a victim and actually help something.

    • kalijulia

      I am white living in southern California, I’ve had Mexicans tell me my skin color is “not right” “disgusting” “gross” “wrong” if I said that to them you can bet your ass I’d be called a racist! It’s a two way street

    • Cds

      I have to agree with this person, whilst I have never been targeted in any racist manner, that’s not to say that as societies get more integrated that white people can’t end up on the outside. What about when certain PoC groups get angry or violent at the prospect of a white person dating “one of their own” is that Racism? What about when white women go on holiday and are called names like “gringo slut” “White whore” and then on this stereo type of loose sexual morals have men try to shove their hands up their skirts, is that racism? (that did happen to someone I know). Whilst I’m not disagreeing that white people have far more opportunities than PoC and that we probably aren’t repressed half as much as PoC, and that when white people chime in with some minor thing they think is reverse racism, that it further undermines PoC. It’s pretty ignorant to say that white people aren’t some times subjected to racism.
      It’s more like listening to someone complain about the loss of a limb and then chiming in about your paper cut- you probably should keep quiet and not demand a lot of fuss over a paper cut. But you can’t argue that they aren’t both injuries, in the same way you can argue that we whites for the most part should let it go, but you can’t say that racism to whites doesn’t happen.

    • Chel

      500 years of genocide, enslavement, lynchings =/= someone calling you a cracker or honky… There is no reverse racism, whites have instilled a system in which they are the only ones that benefit from it.

      • human

        It is true that systematic racism has, for years, been created by and solely benefited white people. To this day, it continues. Sometimes in more subtle ways, and sometimes in more overt ways. Any white people who cry foul about affirmative action or “reverse racism” are wholly ignorant (at best) and most likely racist themselves. “Reverse racism” is just an absurd term.

        That said, I think you are just playing a pointless game of semantics with your article about what qualifies as racism and what does not. A white individual who is ridiculed or attacked by black people because of the color of their skin IS NOT equivalent to the years of oppression, slavery, and torture that black people received from whites. But it doesn’t make any sense to try to claim that racial prejudice directed at whites by blacks is not racism. It’s just pointless. It does not bring us any closer to the goal of eliminating racism.

        One can acknowledge that western society as a whole is still very much run by white people and it still very much oppresses PoC without getting into some silly argument about how black people can’t be racist toward white people.

        • Chel

          I haven’t been just talking about black people. I’ve actually talked about other people besides blacks, I’ve talked about Latinos, and Asians as well. In a different post I said how PoC can be racist towards other PoC but, PoC can not be racist towards whites. PoC meaning People of Color, that’s including PoC who aren’t black. Whites can not be oppressed by of the same institution that has given them preference. Personal prejudice is what whites may face but they as a whole are not being oppressed or facing any structural racism that PoC are facing.

    • Eric_Saunders

      You call the article juvenile, but it is much more grounded in sociology than your post which is merely a rant based on your not-at-all-scholarly opinions. It really is amazing how when it comes to social issues like race, people think that their opinions and prejudices are equal to the knowledge of academics. Imagine if people just spammed internet threads saying that the world was flat or was 8000 years old because they knew it was, so shut up fancy-talking school person!

    • boytears

      Thank you for this. I am white and it makes me so angry when people have the mindset the idiot who wrote this article has.

    • Unreal

      Ah, Mr. Mansplainer. You have missed the point entirely. You have read this piece with your own a priori beliefs about what racism “should” be. It does not take a genius to understand structural inequalities…but I suggest you give it another try.

      • Dock Drumming

        Is it really worth trying to reason with someone who uses terms like “mansplainer?” Have we gone from redefining existing words like “racism” to completely invented words like “mansplainer?” Also, isn’t it true that YOU, AS WELL, have your own beliefs about what racism should be.

    • Mohammed

      While is true that ALL people are racist, we know whose racism allows one non-Western country to be bombed after another. We also know which ethnicity is more upset by notions of economic equality than others. We also know which nations are predominantly tolerant of Israel’s purported right to exist.

    • Matthew Horvath

      I was going to make a comment, but I don’t need to as you perfectly summed up my feelings on the article with your comment.

    • Amy Green

      VERY well said!

    • Kat

      This is a wonderful reply. You are right on. It does hamper the fight against racism itself which is why I had to reply to the article as well.

    • Katie Marie Wolter

      You are part of the problem.

    • Nyah

      What constitutes ‘racist behavior’ towards whites to you.
      What do whites lose systemically? What do whites lose in general from such behavior?
      If laws exist to stop such behavior like violence etc.then how is this legal protection something new for whites? How new is it for blacks in America?
      Do you think that white people fear being taken advantage of by blacks as some form of revenge because of what has happened historically to blacks at the hands of whites?

    • Jesica McNabb

      What people who disagree with this article don’t understand is that racism and prejudice/bigotry are not the same thing. Any person of any race can experience individualized bigotry. BUT THATS NOT RACISM.
      They are different, and just because most of the time people never bother to understand English beyond colloquial use doesn’t make that any less true

    • Sarah

      The racist white person in China is still a racist regardless of being a minority. That is not what this article is saying. No one is convicting whites of having no rights when it comes to racism. The conviction is that whites have aggressively and continually been in power to take away the rights of Everyone Else. Yes, there is racism is other countries. Yes, there is racism in the US. But that racism has been institutionalized over centuries in a social form. It is something that minorities have lived with. It has effected their past, and effects the way they are seen in the future, and it will effect their futures, forever. And I’m not talking just about African-Americans, I’m talking about Hispanics, Chinese/Japanese (and even in Asia, there is racism between Chinese and Japanese because of historical events that have been oppressive to either race), Native Americans/Indians, I’m talking about people that have been systematically murdered, dealt with segregation, been in internment camps, and “swept out” in the history of every country because of their culture and skin, by primarily white Europeans to make room for white Europeans. And by whites, let me just clarify that I am speaking of Europeans who have colonized and destroyed cultures and continents, enslaved people that were not their own to have their disgusting capitalistic economies rest on bloody shoulders. I wish this was over-dramatized, but it’s true.
      The men you encountered were not being racist. They were men in a group, and I will tell you that is a completely different scenario. I will explain to you that it is not racist, because I am 100% doubtful that those men have spent their entire lives infiltrating white cultures to oppress the people. I doubt those men have held public lynchings of white people. And I doubt those men have colonized and enslaved white people over the course of their lives and their families’ histories.
      What you experienced wasn’t great, and I am sorry you had to go through that kind of street harassment. Harassment of any form is disgusting and is unfortunately another sector of humanity’s social experiences that is deemed “normal” and is accepted. But to call it racist is a malapropism. Racism is a system, and the system does not include Europeans being on the receiving end, for Europeans created the system when they terrorized people that did not look like them in the past. Also don’t try to come up with something about a white person living in South Africa or whatever, they can still be a racist, but they probably won’t be because they would have a lot more perspective. There will be white people living everywhere, because Europeans have colonized most places in the world.
      I hope this means something to you. People of color are not trying to undermine the experiences of anyone else. We are just trying to let others comprehend the universal experience that we have to go through.
      Before a few years ago (and we’re in the 21st century), we had to explain to our black daughters why there wasn’t a Disney princess that didn’t look like them. We have to explain to our Black and Hispanic sons why people will criminalize them, why they will be the butt of jokes, why they have to be more careful in everything they do in order to be perceived seriously. It goes on an on and on.
      White Europeans certainly have rough times, everyone that is human has a rough time. But the difficulties that face people of color in a country like America, and in others, are superfluous because of white Europeans.

    • Julie Corrales

      i see your points, i really do. but here’s the thing for me – while the act committed against you was racially motivated – when you go to the cops, they are going to believe you and pursue these criminals to the greatest of their abilities. If it had happened to a PoC at the hands of a white person, the outcome might be different. The issue is that with your whiteness there comes power. Power+Prejudice. Also, since before nation states – before the modern age – people identified with their own people and there probably were forms of racial prejudice. But it wasn’t until Columbus invaded the Indies and began the transatlantic slave trade, that class was decided BY race. There were slaves before – Europeans enslaved Europeans, Africans enslaved Africans, Americans enslaved Americans. But RACE was not the legitimizing factor in the enslavement. When that changed, the world begun to perceive one race better than the other – for many sociological reasons, including a need for the justification or such ill treatment of human beings for financial profit – its called “dissonance.” So – my point is that European (white) dominance is still in full effect – you say so yourself. So, while your experience i’m sure was horrific, those guys are fucken scum that deserve many many years in jail, and despite their hatred being racially fueled – for definition purposes – its not racism. Its racial prejudice, in my opinion a hate crime( of a woman and a white person) – but “racism” – as defined above? nope.

  • blessing

    I agree with your post but i think you are talking about different levels of racism. It is true that white people have set up an empire/legacy of world subjugating through racism and the effects of those systems are alive and well still today. I do feel however that as a black person I see a lot of minorities full of hate for white and other races purely because of the blame game. Racism is racism whether it’s structural or individual. it doesn’t matter if its coming from the federal level or the guy chasing you down the street it is still racism. I think reverse racism is alive because many PoC people feel entitled to blame every single white person for being born into this privilege, something i feel will not work towards the solution of equality. It is understandable for some whites to cry reverse racism because they are ignorant of themselves of the privilege being white provides. when they experience racism they just call a spade a spade. their experience shouldn’t be viewed as less significant just because they felt it on an individual level. I am saying this because if you post anything on the internet open to people sharing their experiences you should accept whoever responds as equal and significant. although one can not say reverse racism is the case where PoC are out to oppress whites, I do think reverse racism is PoC displaying hate and blame of ALL whites for the racism they experience. racism is everywhere and as much as whites shouldn’t feel entitled to give their accounts of reverse racism every time a PoC talks of their experience, I think its dangerous for PoC to not realise that they too can be racist towards whites for the wrong reasons which grows hate and lack of understanding. thanks for this informative post

  • grateful

    Thank you for understanding and providing well thought information.

  • c0ldn0rth

    How about you tell that to a kid who grew up going to inner city public school, either the only, or one of very few white kids?
    Tell that kid how racism doesn’t apply to them because of the color of *their* skin. Tell them after years and years of being hit, beaten, abused and ridiculed because of their race, it is somehow less than a PoC doesn’t get a cab.
    In fact, why don’t you just join all the other people who convinced that kid, for most of their young life, that they *deserved* that treatment, because of things that people who shared their skin color did before they were even born.
    You tell that kid that it’s an *individual* concern, when it spanned multiple years and schools.
    You fucking well tell that kid that being sexually assaulted in a school bathroom wasn’t a indicative of an issue.
    I’d love to hear your explanation.

    • Bloop

      Did you read the article?

    • WrongAsRain

      I was that kid, growing up one of very few white kids at an inner city public school. I didn’t come out of that experience feeling victimized by racism at all.

      • wes

        Or maybe you just convinced yourself you weren’t a victim when you actually were…

  • justmehere

    racism occurs everywhere. I myself have have often been abused verbally and physically for being white. I didn’t know these people, so it couldnt have been anything i had done. I was sat in a bus station, eating a sandwich, not a care in the world, when a group of asian men and women approach me and begin to call me the white devil. I hadn’t said anything or done anything to them, i hadn’t even noticed anyone else was in the station. That is racism my darling. They abused me for being white. And no i’m not letting this one experience shadow everything else because i have seen it done to other people. Anyone can be racist. ANYONE. there is no susch thing as reverse racism. reverse would imply that you are in love essentially with another race. Racism is racism.

  • http://www.facebook.com/kristi.sattler.98 Kausdsloiio Kasnr

    you are wrong ,blacks are racist against whites too. it is not ok for a black person to hate me because im white. How dare you say that. you are racist against whites and you are a close minded fool. you are evil and heartless .you are satan. god hates you ,jesus hates you, god spits on your evil face

    • Sara Luckey

      If gods gonna spit in my face he could at LEAST give me a reach around, amirite or amirite? jkjkjkjkjk, I wouldn’t get sexy with god. he seems like a realllly belligerent and jealous asshole.

  • stelliferousmeaning

    I think that the definition of racism as insitutional is poignant, but incidental as all definitions are. suggesting that whites cant be victims of racism only exonerates another kind of prejudice, one which is far more complex than this article allows. im not talking about “individual” instances of harassment, which is already a dubious distinction because it suggests that individuals cant be moral subjects. im talking about whites who are somehow gender or culture different and not immediately marked by familiar signs. people who are gender different but remain outside mainstream narratives of gay and straight, feminine and masculine. unable to find representation within the increasingly accepted gayculture, which often denies the existence of bisexuals and tosses trans people under the bus in order to make gains for itself only. gender different white people often have no way to make themselves heard in antiracist and anti-gender discrimination discourse if that discourse speaks of all whites in such broad and generalized strokes as this article. the unwillingness to confront the possibility of ones own internalized stereotypes, bigotry, and labels being prejudiced is precisely a kind of racism, in that it precludes all possibility of a liminal space for a white person. one which often hides along other internalized prejudices of race and sex. This comes from my life time of oppression and silence as a white bi male, often unable to find representation and voice in any Kind of discussion, institutional or not, concerning the discrimination against gender or race. There are whole cultures of people- be they white men who think im a “faggot,” or PoC who think im a misogynostic racist because of the color of my skin, or gays who exclude me for not conforming to norms of gayness (ie those who say bis are closeted gays, i actually believed them once in my confused isolated adolescence)- who will write me off based on either my skin color or my androgny or some combination. Distingushing between different kinds of racism and prejudice the way this piece does is obscurantism, one which repudiates the complexity of identity, otherness, and race-gender narratives, leaving certain minorities among whites further silenced and marginalized. Saying thats not racism because its not institutional just seems arbitrary. All prejudice is bad. It all leads to ignorance of the others plight.

    • stelliferousmeaning

      also, i think it’s worth pointing out that white racists usually don’t see themselves as racist. they often have a sense of self-righteousness and moral superiority that would preclude them from ever seeing themselves as in the wrong, ethically speaking. telling yourself that white people are immune to racial discrimination seems to be setting up for the same kind of trap. i also don’t follow all these generalizations about culture. there is no monolithic “white culture,” only white cultures. internalizing that generalization, as well as the notion that it’s ok to discriminate against whites, isn’t just intellectually lazy , its disconnected from reality and seems to perpetuate stereotypes and cycles of hatred. its time we stop looking at people based on their skin color and start seeing them as individuals irreducible to any one race, gender, or culture. saying that we shouldn’t judge people based on skin color unless their white is almost the same as saying that all people are equal except PoC. both beliefs dehumanize other cultures and thus free you from moral obligations to them. i am just as different from people of my own color as i am from people of different colors. yeah, whites shouldn’t conflate their experiences of discrimination with those of PoC, and neither should PoC conflate all white people.

  • Kay

    Thank you Sara. I’m 16 at the moment and lately I’ve been coming across the argument that white people cannot truly experience racism for the same reasons you’ve stated. When I first heard the argument I was pretty certain we could and actually got argumentative myself. I’m not racist, I don’t think, but this whole idea that white people could not experience what racism was really got me angry. I did some research and as I did I stumbled across reverse racism (which just sounds stupid), and so on I stumbled across your article.
    Your article really shredded some light for me on the subject, and your explanation of it makes me understand. Now don’t get me wrong because I agree that racism is not experienced by white people in America, Australia, England, etc, but what I’ve found is that some people have been saying it exists in other countries where black people are dominant. I don’t really have much knowledge about that subject, but I hope you do and could help me understand this a little bit better. Do white people experience racism in other countries? I know it probably sounds stupid, but again I really don’t know much about that, so hopefully you can help me.
    Another thing though, I also came across a girl who argued something about how white people can experience racism in our society. She stated that if a white person was working and a black person were their boss, and in which he was very racist towards white people, would that count as racism towards white people? I know this too counts as racist, but if you could just tell me why this is wrong and point out the flaws in it that would be hopeful because I can really only think of one thing.
    Thank you Sara!!

  • SMITH

    hah what a bs article

    blame the fucking white guy. Get a life.

    No Institution of power? have you heard of hollywood and the music industry?BET awards, 2pac , lil wayne, beyonce, usher, pdiddy , Dr.Dre etc .they all have or had power over our society.

    • THINK BEFORE YOU TYPE

      THANK YOUUUUU! The claim about blacks having “no institution of power” is complete BS. Of course it may not be AS powerful over all in comparison but to deny it exists is laughable.

      • Hound

        lol No institution of power??? Last time I checked, a PoC was THE MAN in the white house! Oh, it definitely exists, you two are sooooo right!!!

        • Hierophant

          What? Are you stating that because Obama is in office, minorities are now equipped to oppress white people? Are you aware that the presidential line of succession in the United States features 2 non-white people out of more than a dozen. Are you aware that the last 43 presidents where white men? That there were no black vice presidents?

          And the media, (and let it be known this is mostly my opinion) is it the same media that uses mostly white people in ads? Where most tv shows on major networks feature a heterosexual, white cast with the exception of the token gay or minority? Where many movies have white leads? I mean let’s take videogames for a ride. Did you know that every time a non traditional (i.e. white male) character is the lead it’s considered progressive as opposed to “who cares?” I won’t even go into the preference for light skinned blacks, who are ‘safer’ to go with.

          Are you saying the BET music awards are equal to the Grammy’s and not an equal to something like the Mtv music awards or CMA’s? Are you aware that BET is owned by a white person? You’re agreeing that Beyonce, Diddy and Usher have enough influence to make meaningful, long-term changes to the United States, instead of a new meme or catchphrase, or clothing franchise? That their success makes up for the legacy of slavery?

          Do you really think most of, or even half of the top directors in Hollywood are minorities? Do you really think minorities own 20th Century Fox? Columbia Pictures? Paramount Pictures? Do minorities own NBC? FOX? TBS? No.

          You know who owns most of the major record labels? White people. Do you know who are commissioners of NFL, NBA, MLB? White people.

          If you think because a few people in popular culture are minorities that everything is now ‘equal’ or what have you, let me disabuse you of that thought. Chances are those people work for white people. It’s hard to believe how some of you can ignore the massive control and influence that white people still have over our society. No it isn’t really your fault, you were born into the system like I was, I’m just saying be aware that it exist. And while there may be minority ‘institution’s of power’, it is nothing close to the white one that exist in the United States of 2013.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=10036681 Candace Horner

    You had one good point stating that prejudice + power equals racism. In that context then even in America there can be racism against whites. For example, the school boy growing up in a black neighborhood was experiencing racism by your definition. If the majority of his community is black and hold most of the power and he is experiencing prejudice then that is racism by your definition. I agree with others who state if you belittle the fact that whites can experience racism, then you are belittling the concept of racism in general. Racism is racism and in the right context then anyone from any race can experience it through your definition. I do not believe that every politician or company has to have a PoC in charge for whites to experience racism. It can occur in localized sects as described earlier. It is true that whites have not ever experienced racism to the same extent and on the same scale, but it can happen. Taking away the term racism is harmful to the overall concept of equality. This is similar to saying a man cannot experience sexism. They can, but most do not and it will never be able to at the same scale. When a woman or a PoC walks out their door they are inevitably characterized by ingrained stereotypes and societal shortcomings. This distinction is what you were aiming for, but it got lost and your overall message may be detrimental as it appears short-sided. It appears that you have forgotten that small groups can create an oppressive power in a community against a smaller group of individuals.

    And for an extra note, white people should refrain from trying to compare their experiences to PoC because they are not the same. However, you should listen to them too because even though they are white, they still have opinions. Your article came off as negative towards the white race in that context (and yes, you are white, but it was as if you were harboring some aggression).

    Finally, one definition I found for reverse racism is “racism towards ones own race.” This logically makes sense and if so, then the recent use of the term as racism against the majority race should resume to simply racism or prejudice depending on the circumstances as it detracts from this concept.

  • Aaron

    You’ve confused racism and institutional racism. I know feminists tend to hate dictionaries, but words have definitions for a reason, and the idea that you cannot be racist towards white people completely invalidates that definition, which implies that anyone can be racist to anyone. Anything else is a subjective sociological interpretation. Telling someone to “listen and learn” when they are attempting to expose blatant logical fallacies in incredibly counter-productive. And while I’m at it…

    The argument for “privilege” of any sort is inherently flawed in that it bases its claims on generalized interpretations of social situations rather than concrete data. Also, false correlations are constantly drawn – are black people generally worse off than white people simply BECAUSE they’re black or are there many more factors to take into account?

    To provide an example: I suffer from obsessive compulsive disorder. OCD is made fun of quite a bit in the media, social networks, etc. and it is likely that, had I lived in another time period, I would be executed for demon possession or something of that sort. BUT… that doesn’t make people who don’t have the condition “privileged”.

  • Tropical Cantalope

    Anyone who thinks racism can’t work two ways is delusional. Racism is a simple, not difficult topic to understand. To be racist is to segregate, or exclude a person because of their birthplace, or colour. The sooner we understand that, the better.

  • Vicki

    The argument here is that racism towards PoC and other ethnic minorities is institutionalised, whereas racism towards whites is individual, rather than being inherent within a society. Those of you who argue that racism is always just racism – I agree that racism towards anyone is inherently wrong – however, cast your minds back to events such as Hurricane Katrina. PoC were abandoned by the state and federal governments without any resources or medical aid, and were described as ‘looters’ and ‘refugees’. Whites were described as ‘residents’ and ‘evacuees’.

    Some of the comments below mention that racism is not as bad as it has been in the US. There is a massive focus nowadays on anti-racism and political correctness. However, just because everyday racist comments and actions towards and against PoC and other minorities may not happen on such a regular basis as in previous years does not mean that discrimination is not widely apparent in today’s society. There remain huge spatial inequalities in access to healthcare, income, education, and other resources and services between PoC and other minorities, and whites in many US cities. Discrimination towards anyone because of race, colour of skin, gender, age, sexuality etc. is inherently wrong, but individual acts of racism towards white people in the US is not the same as the long-term, institutionalised, inherent racism towards PoC that is seen in society today.

  • Jane Lane

    You are so full of shit. All you are saying is I don’t care about your white girl problems shut- up it isn’t about you. Well guess what, you still aren’t in the majority; get over it. Shut-up it’s all about me. Feels awesome doesn’t it to hear someone to tell you to get the fuck over your issues?

    • Sara Luckey

      Hey guess what? I am in the majority. I’m white as all get out. And you know what? White people can think that racism and a white supremacist society are bullshit. White people can think that sucks and write a piece about it. It’s super duper fucked UP, however, that you assumed I wasn’t white. Your comment is so poorly written that I am literally incapable of telling where exactly you’re writing what you think I’m saying, and where you’re writing what you’re saying. Get it together.

      • NEWSFLASH

        NEWSFLASH!

        Whites are no longer the majority!

        http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/brittney-bullock/bill-oreilly-white-establishment_b_2174200.html

        “It’s a changing country, the demographics are changing… It’s not a traditional America anymore… The White Establishment is now the minority,” – Bill O’Reilly

        • SorayaVonDerAlm

          Lol traditional america? “Traditional america” ended when white people set foot in this country.

  • Michelle

    Why is it acceptable to have the Latin Grammys but an award show only for white people would be atrocious? Scholarships are given to minority members but there are no scholarships given to white people simply for their race. Why is this not considered racial favoritism?

    • SorayaVonDerAlm

      Do you know why black people or Hispanics had to found their own networks? Because mainstream media has a tendency to snub PoC. How many movies have a PoC as lead? Even if a movie has many PoC they always manage to put a white savior in it (last Samurai). I’m sick it and tired of it you already have so much but still begrudge us the few crumbs we get. I’m at a point were I’m too tired to even get angry. I think i have just lost all my hopes in humanity.

  • stevie

    prej·u·dice noun ˈpre-jə-dəs
    Definition of PREJUDICE
    1
    : injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one’s rights; especially : detriment to one’s legal rights or claims
    2
    a (1) : preconceived judgment or opinion (2) : an adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledgeb : an instance of such judgment or opinionc : an irrational attitude of hostility directed against an individual, a group, a race, or their supposed characteristics

    • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

      I find it extremely ironic and hypocritical that although this article encourages open-mindedness and willingness to learn, comments like these that post real information from dictionary sources only receive down votes.

      The least you guys could do is explain why you disagree.

  • stevie

    big·ot noun ˈbi-gət
    Definition of BIGOT
    : a person who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices; especially : one who regards or treats the members of a group (as a racial or ethnic group) with hatred and intolerance
    — big·ot·ed adjective
    — big·ot·ed·ly adverb

  • stevie

    rac·ism noun ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-
    Definition of RACISM
    1
    : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race
    2
    : racial prejudice or discrimination

    • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

      I can’t believe the people on this site. This comment is literally only dictionary definitions, what could be wrong with that? Why are people down voting it?

  • stevie

    Well Sara I appreciate your perspective but it appears that you may be struggling with a couple definitions which I posted above…or below I’m not sure…What you do in this little article is simply attribute your own personal definition to very blanket words that have broader definitions than you would like them to have….your definition of racism is grossly inaccurate. Racism – belief that one race is superior or that race determines traits such as moral character…or intelligence…nowhere does this definition delineate which races are subject to that racism. Yes you are absolutely correct in your description of so-called ‘reverse-racism’ not occurring with the same sort of oppression that racism against african-americans has in the past and continues to be present…(or these days more significantly I would argue hispanic-americans..but most certainly still very significant anti-african-american racism). And your point would hold more water if you would just stay true to it instead of exagerating it dishonestly…for gods sake your example of reverse racism being somebody touching a white persons hair??? the person that complained of that as racism is a lunatic…maybe a violation of personal space but i don’t know a single person that would call that racism…so you use that as an example to build off??? That is a tactic of a very weak and cowardly polemicist (if thats how you spell it) and I should hope that you were better than that as you are a much more skilled writer than I. If a person thinks white people have some trait based on their race…they are racist against white people PERIOD…that does not mean that in America today anti-white slavery is rampant and oppresive, no…but it is still racism…You turn around and say racism only exists based on large sectors of society upholding that racism…but you are wrong about this…What you are saying is that America cannot be seen as a reverse-rasism-state…you are correct it cannot..it is still a racist state that oppresses certain racism…you are correct about that…what you are incorrect about and your essay balances on it, is your definition of racism…sorry I tried but I don’t think I was able to make my point as arrogantly as you tried to make yours

  • http://www.facebook.com/kgphenix Kevin Phenix

    are any of the comments on here by a non-white person?

    white people sure do love to hear themselves talk, don’t they?

  • http://www.facebook.com/georgia.platts.5 Georgia Platts

    re: When a white person
    starts talking about reverse racism, what they’re really doing is derailing a
    conversation to make it about them.

    Good example of white
    privilege. It always boils down to whites and how great life should be for
    them, right? And derailing the conversation so whites don’t have to risk losing
    some of their privilege, as you say.

    I’ve noticed that guys on the
    man-o-sphere do the same thing. They comment on feminist blogs and complain
    that feminists aren’t talking about all the troubles men face. Even though none
    of the men’s rights blogs spend equal time talking about how women suffer at
    the hands of our society.

    But really, everything should
    be about the problems that the privileged face, right?

    • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

      Alternatively, that person is complaining about something that happened? The sentence you quoted is a huge over-generalization.

      My parents are two different races, and I know that people are treated unfairly and unequally based on what they look like. I’ve seen it for my entire life. But that tendency doesn’t mean that racism doesn’t exist towards white people at all.

      If a person can’t make a complaint without being told that they’re only doing it to gain attention, there’s a problem. It isn’t any more complex than that.

      Make accusations based on what people actually do, not what race they are. Otherwise, you’re just being racist yourself.

  • OnGangStalking

    youve never had to grow up white in a ghetto in Boston have you dear? Also there is many an institution that actively oppresses white people- its based on class war. Lower class whites to be specific. Other than that you need to wake up to the reality of things like Gang Stalking and other covert activity thats from state actors and now, outsourced to private contractors in this day and age.

    You still live in the 70′s. Its the 21st century. Do you know how many blacks are involved in COINTELPRO like activity in this era specifically during Bush when they were let loose and were out of control?

    America is still based on the elite running things at top levels. And any one who is really a pain in thier ass will have to deal with thier house slaves-African Americans, in droves. They deal their drugs, do thier dirty work then fill thier prisons.

    And what about feminists helping drag the black male out of oppression so many decades ago, only to be repayed with the culture of ghetto glorification, where females are referred to as ‘bitches’ and ‘hos’ and white women are especially disrespected and only desired as a means of getting back at the white man and taking over society.

    You are one, stupid, ignorant, arrogant bitch. Youve never had to live in poverty with these animals. And I hate you for being an enemy to suffering EuroAmericans everywhere, specifically females who have to suffer constant fear and intimidation by black males.

    You’re theories about society are outdated and do not deal with reality. Come out and live on the street and see how fast your bullshit flies in practice instead of just in political theories.

    You need to be the first to go- you the race traitors who make it so EuroAmericans have to deal with oppression and opposition from our own people. I would give anything to put you into some of the neighborhoods Ive had to live in and travel through. You’d probably kiss up to them and do juuust fine.

    You are a weak minded white person who is nothing but a problem in the race wars now occuring that are DESTROYING EuroAmericans, our culture and our European brethren abroad. I suppose you also support Muslim Extremists in Scandinavia that are beating up women for Allah, raping them and raping little blonde girls so they wont have thier virginity intact- again for Allah.

    WAKE UP ITS NOT THE 1970′S ANYMORE. I hope you get stuck outside your little comfort zone in some very modern, horrible cultural clash thats a nightmare and start understanding whats really going on out here.

    Or are you one of the Jews who seems so eager to support diversity among NON JEWS and in NON JEWISH communities but yet, have a very exclusionary, tight knit society for yourself and your own people. Like, Rabbis telling boys that they better marry Jewish girls or thier mothers’ will break thier knee caps.

    Feminism NEVER SHOULD HAVE SUPPORTED ANY MALES or thier ends no matter what race, creed or religion. You also shit on sex workers who are female for the most part historically which is also back stabbing and traitor behavior.

    If you want to grow the fuck up and start really being about helping and unifying women then stop dealing in outside issues like class, race and politics of race and deal strictly with females and our issues. Stop including males in feminist issues just because they are underprivileged.

    A word to the wise my dear- men will always work with other men to undermine women, and they see women as helping in thier devious plots as well as women are objects for trade and barter. Thus, the black man helps the elite with his business and protecting his property- and white females are the prize. Poor white females are tossed around on the street as barter for these black males to keep workin for the Man, in gangs, dealing, doing his dirty work-because the cops have to look the other way so they can operate and they gotta get thier drugs from top levels brought in somehow.

    Little girl needs to wake up to the big bad world of males and how they do business in this corrupt world. THAT WOULD BE TRULY FEMALE smart and empowering. Feminists just play alot, like little girls at tea parties. You are for the most part reactionaries which means you ARE FOREVER CONVINCED THAT MALE POWER AND DOMINANCE ARE SOMETHING REAL THAT TETHERS YOU, THAT YOU ARE REBELLING AGAINST TO BEGIN WITH. Kind of like Satanists who, instead of wasting time rebelling, why not just go back in the history books and realize the truth about Abrahamic religions being created from other ancient religions to begin with, polytheistic ones, and it isnt valid to begin with?

    When you decide to get real with defending women and helping females survive a male dominated world of war, greed and slavery then you will have grown up little girl. Perhaps that should be called Femaleism, because feminism sucks.

    Its YOU who are the insensitive assholes to poor whites and females everywhere. Why dont you sponsor a south African farmer who’s being killed and driven from his farmland by the blacks? No one in America cares about any of this. Because the truth doesnt sell the agenda. Fools like you do.

  • http://twitter.com/NanoJr5 fernando Rivera Jr.

    Racism is prejudice specifically based on race; it doesn’t have to include any kind of power to be racism.

    Racism:
    racial prejudice or discrimination – Marriam Webster Dictionary

    Same concept for sexism, by the way…

    Racism can exist against any individual with a race, because it’s, racism. Of course “reverse racism” exists.

    A less prevalent problem, is still a problem.

    • Hound

      lol You’re right fernando! Reading through these comments, every time there is a recognised dictionary definition of racism, it’s downvoted… that’s HILARIOUS to me!

  • Adam

    This article should be required reading for anyone who claims to have an open mind. It is on point and 100% correct.

  • Temujin

    I’m a man of color. So it’s possible to display racism against me. But when you redefine the term racism so that it is only possible to be committed by Whites, then there really is a problem with that. The common notion is that racism is simply a prejudicial hatred of members of certain ethnicities.

    When you redefine a word so that its definition can possibly be applied to whites, there is really a problem.

    When people hear you say that racism against whites is not real, they immediately think of “hatred of other races” instead of “institutionalization” and “white privilege.” So when you say racism of any kind isn’t real to someone, the two parties involved are thinking of two completely different things.

    Would you not acknowledge that “hatred of other races(Including hating whites)” is not real? Or would you acknowledge that institutionalized prejudices against whites is not real? Both sound far-fetched to me.

  • Anonymous

    Ok, I’m not going to add anything in here that’s fancy or statistical, but it is my experience of racism. Firstly, I started school in England, it was a school of 400+ people and in that there was only 5 white people, myself included. I later moved to Ireland to a smaller school of 100 people. Everyone was white, catholic and Irish. I actually thought it was weird for so many white people to be in the same place at the same time. What I experienced all through school, both primary and secondary, was isolation and I was treated much differently from others, it was a very clear and obvious occurrence. Do you know why it was? Because I was English. In fact I was actually, primarily of Irish heritage, but at the time I sounded very English and it was where I had spent most of my life. That went on for the 9 years I was in school in Ireland. It was from my peers and from teachers, the local people where I lived called us “the new ones” for 4 years. In my secondary school the administration treated me with disrespect and never took me seriously because I was an outsider, I was apparently from England and because I wasn’t catholic. That is certainly racism.

    I experienced something similar when I was in Turkey, Ghana and Nigeria. There I was treated differently from PoCs. At the airport I was stopped and they began asking me questions, but I couldn’t understand them until they asked “Are you English?” They had been looking at the inside of my passport where it says my place of birth, so I pointed at the cover and said I was Irish, at that the 4 security men and their manager saw the cover, smiled happily at me and let me through the gate. Was that not racism? It certainly was.

    Little children canted at me and people would give me dirty looks in all of these countries, particularly those in positions of authority. What they were chanting would have been, if they had not been children, extremely insulting and offensive. This was all racism, I am white and I experienced racism. You can not deny the fact that millions of white people have experienced racism. A large majority of people in the world are not Caucasian. The majority of countries in the world are not run by white people. Regardless of this you claim they cannot be racist towards whites yet what have we seen in countries like Zimbabwe? I experienced racism from both Caucasians and from PoC. You cannot deny me that.

  • Scott Wilson

    This was painful and ignorant. I went to a “magnet school” that was almost entirely Hispanic and was hospitalized repeatedly because I was attacked for being white. Not racist, not stupid, not silly, just white. White kids were told that if they complained, they would be called racist and would get in trouble. The entire Hispanic community refused to believe there was a problem even when five white students were severely beaten on “Beat Up a White Kid Day” and threatened to suspend the students for racist accusations because “Hispanics cannot be racist, because the word racist denotes white privilege and not ethnic anger”.

    There is a massive problem in this country when it comes to racism aimed at Blacks and Hispanics, and it is thoroughly entrenched in the system to a degree that probably won’t even change when whites are no longer the majority. Sadly, articles like this try to ignore the reality so that they can score extra clicks. I’m much more concerned with White Racism than “Reverse Racism”, but this really pounded home just how delusional and self-absorbed much of the anti-racist PR actually is.

  • Horse

    Wait a minute.
    Just because a person experiences racism once or twice in their life doesn’t make it less racist or invalid.

    Reverse racism isn’t when a black person calls a white person a fucking white bastard, It’s racism, pure and simple.

    Reverse racism is where you give more credance to a person because they don’t belong to the dominant race. Of course it exists. Even the nature of this forum smells of it.

    I think some of you should take the time to peel yourself away from your computer screens and experience the world as it is.

    Marcus Garvey, who was a guiding light for the Rastafarian movement, said that white people where inferior to black people. Are rastafarians racist ? How about the Nation of Islam and their rantings on race.

    Is that OK ?

    In China I am charged substatially more to learn Tai chi than a Chinese person (three times more on one occassion). Even though my Chinese girlfriend earns twice what I do I have to pay more. Is that OK ?

    The more we bleet on about such things the stronger they get.

    A person who has hate in their heart will find any excuse to denegrate another for whatever reason. To me this is not rascism but unhappiness turned to hate.

    This, for me, is a more valid topic. Otherwise you are part of the devide and conquer scenario. Which is exactly what those at the top want.

    ‘PoC’ ? really.
    A load of middle class politically correct white people feeling guilty about being white and middle class. Get over it.

  • Paul Druck

    This is one of the most ridiculous articles I’ve ever read. By your power/prejudice definition of racism, the only people who can be racist are white people. If a white person hates Asians, he or she is racist. If another PoC hates Asians, they aren’t because they aren’t in a position of power. You are an idiot… which, ironically, is the only kind of human being that it’s ok to be prejudiced against.

  • Judson Putney

    so, what you’re saying is, if someone gets made fun of for being any race (except black people of course) it’s not racism. you’re completely wrong. reverse racism is, in itself, a racist term. racism doesn’t only happen to minorities that have been prejudiced against in the past, the concept of racism doesn’t see color, it only sees people. For you to think that one race of people is exempt from racism, only leads to more racism. If a person of any race, regardless of where they are, or what environment they are raised in, is made fun of or tortured because of their race, it is racism. it’s the same thing no matter who it’s being used on.

  • fernando Rivera Jr.

    Where did you get the idea that racism includes power. You’ve said before that it’s silly to use the simple dictionary definition as a source What is your source?

    Racism is prejudice based in race, I’m sorry

  • wakeupscreaming

    “white privilege” ROFL!
    If white privilege exists, I’d like some. I stand in line at the supermarket like everyone else. I’ll see chinese try to bud in front of me. I don’t get any discount for being white at restaurants or on my rent. We’re all wondering where TF you think white privilege came from, except your imagination to accompany other fake things like unicorns.

    Time to unlearn the shit your “liberal” education brainwashed you with.

    • SaraKee

      http://www.nymbp.org/reference/WhitePrivilege.pdf

      Educate yourself, please.

      • Hound

        looooool, a lot of those points are sooooooo outdated. If it wouldn’t end up being so long, I’d go through each point in turn, but in the interests of keeping it short… Please, while that article may be a ‘classic’ of anti-racist educators, the points do need updating.

        1: There are many clubs, bars, hangout places which are run and frequented by PoC… I’ve been to Sydney, the amount of asian run clubs there is unbelievable. I’ve been to other areas in Australia where a white person would not dare step into a pub. Just a couple of examples on that point.

        3&4. Depends what neighbourhood you live in. There is a MAJOR area of Melbourne where whites are the minority

        7. Ok, it’s not a nice one, but yeah, there is material that testifies to the existence of PoC. Over here in Aus, it’s the stolen generation… which is quite a political issue. Aboriginals want the government to apologise for it, government sees the legal implications of it, so puts up a struggle… we had a “Sorry” day because of it.

        9. ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? Black music is EVERYWHERE! Well, I understand it, white people suck at singing, and black music is just so damn catchy!!! :D (Tell me you don’t love a bit of soul music, rap, blues, etc)

        16. Ok, this one pushed my buttons a lil. The only language and customs I need to know about are the ones right where i am… that is the same no matter what race you are. Exceptions are if you need to communicate regularly with somewhere else!

        18. LOOOOOOOOOOL Us whites can’t even be sure of that anymore… chances are that the person in charge is asian or indian!

        19. My cousin dated a cop… They’re more likely to pull over a white person because of colour. They’re too worried that a PoC will sue them for racial discrimination. Example: A cop got blasted by his sergeant for arresting an aboriginal for fighting (yes, there was a white guy and yes, he was arrested too)… he had to release the black guy and apologise for the inconvenience. I know this, because I was in there giving a statement about an unrelated incident at the time.

    • Hierophant

      The last 43 leaders of your country and to some people – the world – were white. Do you really think that means nothing? You’re well represented in just about every media there is. Stop thinking privilege is synonymous with favoritism. No one is going to reward you for being white, but at the same time very few people are going to give you grief about it and you most likely are not going to suffer for it. That is White Privilege.

    • Namaps

      I guess you’ve never bother to familiarize yourself with the American criminal justice system.

  • SaraKee

    I’m a white person, and I’ve experienced racism. Hold on, don’t roll your eyes just yet. I was nine and a group of white, teenage boys pushed me off my bicycle, grabbed the black American Girl doll out my my bike’s basket, and strung her up in a tree. Then they spit on me, called me a “n—-r lover,” stole my bike, and raced off. While this is still entirely different from a PoC’s experiences with racism (because I could have abandoned my beloved doll and never experienced anything like that again; PoC cannot abandon their skin), it’s given me a better understanding of the hatred and violence directed towards PoC. I will never know exactly what it’s like to have this hatred directed towards me specifically because of the color of my skin, but I have seen this hatred first hand; it is hideous and terrifying, and it is VERY different from having a PoC judge you or be rude to you because you’re white. That’s not “reverse racism,” it’s actually real racism backfiring onto the privileged. We, as a society, cannot expect to systematically oppress a group of people and not experience some back-lash. As a woman, I have to say that, yes, I do preemptively judge men that I don’t know, and that’s not “misandry” or “reverse sexism;” it’s because women are oppressed, rape is the status quo, and because I have experienced a lot of sexism in my short life. Judging and avoiding strange men is a defense mechanism. Because of this, it’s pretty easy for me to understand why a PoC might judge me, and I understand that if I don’t want to be judged, I have to prove myself….just like men that don’t want me to judge them have to prove they’re not a threat or a sexist douche.

    I realize this is a long-winded comment, but I live in a conservative and racist town, and I’m really tired of having to explain this to so many of my peers. I’m tired of having someone respond to my criticism of their racist jokes with “but black people are mean to me, too!” Maybe if you weren’t perpetuating hate and enabling racism, you’d get a little more respect. And don’t tell me you’re not enabling, dearest white person. I can only speak for my community, but I seem to be the only one speaking up about racism when I see it (i.e. all of the fucking time). Everyone else is either quiet or laughing along. Unless, of course, there’s a black person present! Then everyone’s an advocate. Fucking white people.

    TL;DR, if you’re a white person talking about your experiences with racism, and the perpetrator wasn’t also white, then you’re wrong, and you’re probably a racist. And if you’re not speaking up when your bastard friends tell racist jokes, then you’re enabling racism, and you’re probably a racist.

    Sincerely, your friendly neighborhood “liberal bitch.”

    • Don’tGiveADamn

      I’m a white man. I judge white and black men and women when they walk down my road in front of my house. I don’t know them, so I judge. Just as we all use our judgement to guide our actions. Some peoples judgement proves better than others. I certainly watch these people, making sure they don’t mess with my children or steal my shit. They have to prove themselves first.

  • Abraham

    Caucasians are a minority worlwide but are the dominant race. Racism is utilized in order to plant inferiority to the oppressed and maintain power. It does this by sowing discord amongst the receiver, to make them dependant to their superiors, and finally to make them hate theirselves. When white people stop being racist their dominance will soon follow. Leaving whoever is next to follow suit or learn from the past. Either way, hatred was never in the minds of the trend setters; hatred was much easier for their descendants to understand. They couldn’t comprehend what were the true intentions.

  • Maria

    Talking about racism in a manner in which the terms “PoC” and “white” people are used only furthers the idea that we aren’t all the same. Which we are. And furthermore, racism is racism, it doesn’t matter what your color, and saying that it does only furthers the idea that we’re different even more. Saying that racism has to be “systematic” and “industrial” is ignorant to say the least. If a white man walks up to a black family at a (mostly white) restaurant and says “You black people disgust me, you shouldn’t even be allowed to eat here.” then that’s obviously blatant racism, even though it’s only one man. But if a black man walked up to a white family in a (mostly black) restaurant and said “You white people disgust me, you shouldn’t even be allowed to eat here.” then what? It’s not racist because white people are more “privileged”? Let’s all just lol it off and pretend it didn’t happen? Racism happens to ALL colors of people. And while I understand that racism may have a greater impact coming from someone (or a group of people) with more power than others it is still racism nonetheless, and it happens to everyone. Let’s say we reverse the roles of a certain notorious racial group. If a group of black people targeted a white person as a victim for a particular crime and openly told the police that they were targeted because they were white, would that still be considered a “hate crime” or just a regular crime because the victim was white and “privileged”. This entire blog post (which I refuse to call an “article”) just makes the writer look ridiculous and uneducated. (Although I’m sure she is the typical “college liberal meme girl”) And I’m sure if she was ever targeted as a victim for her race her opinions on “racism only exists if it’s against any color other than white” would disappear very quickly.

    • wes

      She would be making a beeline for stormfront.

  • Mister So-and-So

    As a white man who has been living in Japan for some time, I have definitely experienced what I would like to call racism, but perhaps a different term would be appropriate? I know some Japanese, so I can hear it on the train when I walk on and I hear the scoffs, and the “stupid white person”, or “damn American”. Or when I try to buy a cell phone, but they don’t carry the prepaid phones because “they are a lot of foreigners here”, or when I am not allowed in the restaurant or business because “no foreigners” or “only Japanese allowed”. I know these are still not to the same degree as many of the issues faced by PoC’s in America, but I still thinks this constitutes as racism. As Japan is something like 95% Japanese, wouldn’t that make ME the PoC?

    Am I totally off base with this one?

  • iris

    While I can accept that the racism a Poc experiences, especially a black or Hispanic person, is huge, daily and can be absolutely devastating, I want you to know that racism exists in every country and culture. Being married to an Asian person has exposed me to a pretty large amount of racism. We’re talking about people who are friends with my husband who have refused to ever speak to me directly or acknowledge me as a human being, lots of people. We’re talking about people who have called me names, when they haven never even spoken to me and know nothing about me, names like “white monster”. We’re talking about people who wouldn’t come to our wedding because my husband was marrying a white woman. I have stopped going to parties with my husbands Asian friends, because literally no one will talk to me, if I try to talk people will deliberately ignore me. People will talk in a language they know I don’t understand and point and laugh at me. I have literally left a party in tears while people pointed and laughed at me. Yes, I have experienced racism and it is horrible and so very damaging to a persons sense of worth as a human being. I’m grateful though for having experienced it, because I have so much more compassion for PoC who experience what I have, only on a daily basis times 10 or times 100. Man I have so much respect for someone who can retain their dignity and self esteem under the shadow of such senseless hate.

    • SorayaVonDerAlm

      They treat you like this because of the past White and Asian people share. They are still hurt and therefore can’t understand how one of them “sold out” married a white person aka former oppressor. I can somehow understand their feelings of hurt but still condone this kind of behavior. Bullying is not the answer.

  • Brinton

    Bull crap is all I have to say to this article…. You think blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and Indians can’t be racist, then your more delusional than I thought… You think it’s ok for the new black panther party(only using this as a example) calls for the extermination of whites, and that a Dr. Kamau Kambon makes this clear in this video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqCLr6MSBWk… You friend are no worse than the media that perpetrates stereo types, and Bigotry… Freaking most whites don’t even know they were slaves(Indentured servants-slaves) first in America, yet you don’t hear those who know this, crying slavery is at fault for our problems, now do you!!! The first recognized slave owner in America was a “BLACK MAN” named Anthony Johnson… Blacks owned Blacks, Blacks owned whites, Blacks owned Indians, just as it was with whites and Indians also… Any time a black person cries it’s the whites man fault, I let them know who sold who into slavery, and it wasn’t the white man, but their own tribes.. Sure some whites are racist, but does that make all whites racists? NOO!! I’m sooo tried of the Bullshit…

  • John Ross

    You people are daft. Reverse Racism is a thing. It is real. I recently was interviewing for a supervisor position at another store of the same company I work for. Even though I was the best equipped, and most professional. A Black girl was hired. Why? They had too many white associates. That is racist to me. But Racism doesn’t apply to whites. Just as Women “cannot” be sexist. Reverse Racism is real. The fact people are trying to say it doesn’t just shakes me to the core. I’ve lost a massive amount of faith in humanity today.

    • SorayaVonDerAlm

      Boo hoo cry me a river. You fail to see that what happened to you is an exception. A black men not being hired though he might be the best equipped for the job, is the norm. That is racism. You also fail to see that your feelings of entitlement are born out of white privilege.

  • Paula

    Okay, so I agree with most of your points, white people aren’t discriminated against on a systematic level. However, let me tell you my experiences with racism. The university I attend is in a really bad area (and by bad I mean there’s a lot of crime) and theres a lot of tension between the predominantly white college students and the predominantly african american population. Whenever I walk down the streets near my school by myself, gross old men hit on me, and if I say anything bad they’ll call me a white racist bitch. I’ve been assaulted by kids around here. Actually, last night I was riding my bike, and some little kid tried to get in my way so I swerved around them. When they realized I was gone, they started throwing shit at me and one of them even hit me with a water bottle. As I was leaving, they were yelling at me telling me to get out of their neighborhood. I understand that I only experience racism on a personal level, yet at the same time, I wonder if you’d have a different opinion on the matter if you were in my shoes. I don’t want to be racist, but it’s hard to trust the locals around here when you see this kind of thing go down.

    For the note, I consider myself and ally, and I do everything I can to stop the white college students around me from having racist attitudes. I literally call out all of my friends when they say or do anything I think is racist, and (institutionally) I’ve been going to the university and pointing out the fact that most of the students are white. It’s just really hard to do this kind of work, when, after having a conversation with a classmate calling them out on their prejudice, some whiny brat runs up to you and punches you in the face.

  • BlahhDeeBlahhDeeBlahhh

    There’s so much unwarranted white guilt in this feed. Racism is racism. Quit trying to split hairs and perpetuate the race card. People like Kaitlyn and Sara are the main reason racism is still around, because people can’t just let it go and realise that we live in a completely different time where whites are discriminated against just as much as any other races, and in some cases more so. Not always, but the instances are not that varied in the grand scheme of things. I don’t know if guilting white people who had nothing to do with the evil, racist acts of America’s past is your form of self imposed karma or reparations, but whatever it is, it is toxic. If people would just live and let live and live for today instead of dwelling in the past, humans of all ethnic backgrounds would be much better off. Unfortunately you all want to continue to apologize for something you and I had no hand in and carry this non-issue into the future with (I assume) the hopes of creating “more equal ground” by elevating those of perceived minority status above white people (You do realize that white people are quickly become a minority in this country). It’s people like you that got our race baiting, blame someone else, campaigner-in-chief elected to office to begin with. Now we’re becoming the entitlement ridden, gimme gimme, nanny state, and I, along with other sane and responsible Americans, see no end in sight. The thought of a return to self-accountability and sustainable living is all but a distant fantasy that we as a nation once aspired to. How about everyone just worry about bettering themselves rather than what everyone else is doing? Reverse racism IS nonexistent because there is ONLY racism. It’s not something that occurs when combined with power. It’s a social construct in many different subcultures throughout our nation. Go to some downtrodden, predominantly “minority” area in the US as a white person and see how many slurs and nasty looks get tossed your way. Of course no one ever says anything about that because we’re just supposed to take it because somehow we had something to do with what white people from decades passed have done. You guys who love to pour on the white guilt do realise that the world has had these problems since looong before modern America was even around right? And you also realise that slavery was a thriving trade well before Europeans introduced it to the America’s. In fact, by in large, it was Africans who sold other Africans into slavery initially. There were even Black American slave owners. I don’t hear about any Black families with slave-owning ancestry anteing up for reparations. I assume those of you who hold these “blame white people” ideas are mostly Left leaning. It would do you and our nation good to see the reality of things and realise that the world isn’t all rainbows, fairy dust, and unicorn farts. Yes there is racism and evil throughout the entire world, and it will always be there, but if we focus on bettering ourselves and quit seeking to place blame and create scapegoats, our society will be much better for it. Sadly, our country seems to be stuck on a hamster wheel; striving for mediocrity and “good feeelings” rather than exceptionalism. To the once great America; we mourn you. RIP.

    • SorayaVonDerAlm

      “we live in a completely different time where whites are discriminated against just as much as any other races, and in some cases more so.”

      Wow. Just wow. You are the reason why racism will never stop. You don’t want to see that the racism that people of color experience is worse than you being denied your white privilege. You don’t want to see that reverse racism is just a form of self protection. People of Color for example Black people have experienced centuries of oppression by white people and you expect them to not have any scars.

      ” Unfortunately you all want to continue to apologize for something you and I had no hand in and carry this non-issue into the future with”

      Just a privileged Person aka white person would call this a non-issue.You fail to see that the whole world still suffers under white supremacy and until that toxic Ideology of one race being superior than others is abandoned,and until the day white people stop denying Colored people their birthright of being treated equally, colored people will continue to practice what people like you call “reverse racism”. Until that day there won’t be unity amongst humanity.
      Reading the rest of your comment confirms that you are just a racist and one of the reason why racism will never end.

  • C.Y. Heona

    Racism; (noun) “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races, and prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior”. I am a caucasian, fair skinned, naturally blonde girl from Sweden. I utterly and completely HATE everything about my race. I hate how I look. I also hate how when I walk into the Asian supermarkets that I adore so terribly, I get really dirty looks. And how I hear these discriminatory words around me, this verbal abuse, in both Chinese Mandarin and in Korean, which both I speak pretty fluently. But of course, no one expects the ugly white girl to speak those languages, right? I’m actually a frequent visitor into the Asian society, so I coloured my hair, bleached and altered my skin tone, just to fit in better. And you know what? The day after I coloured my hair and put all that make up on, no one even stared at me. No more verbal abuse. I’m not saying I “transformed to Asian” or some shit, I’m just saying I didn’t stand out as much anymore. If you say that what I went through for so many years, is “my fault” because I “CHOSE to engage in the Chinese and Korean community”, or in general because I am white and I “have no privilege to be affected by racism”, you are the racist one. If I was black, and the Chinese and Korean people were white, this would have been classified as a case of obvious racism. But I guess to you, an Asian calling a white girl insults literally equivalent to “Ugly white trash/scum”, is not on the same level as a white person calling a black person an “ape”. The perfect example of racism. Just because my race doesnt have a very long and tragic history of slavery and a constant submissive position in society, the actual verbal and mental abuse I’ve went through is not as real? I was kind of offended by this article, as you generalize too much to this certain mold of “white kid being chased down the streets by the black kids a few times”. But I guess, I’m white and I feel slightly offended – I must be really ignorant and racist myself then, right?

    • Honey

      C.Y Heona,
      I think they’re aren’t staring at you because they think you’re ugly, they are feeling jealous because you are the beauty ideal, fair skin and fair eyed, that is apparent across the globe. in asia people bleach their skin to be whiter. There are lots of Asian people who dye their hair and wear eye contacts. and POC people being reminded that they are far from this beauty ideal can cause resentment. I guess it’s natural for white people to find only other white people attractive, but I guess this ideal has spread globally and POC find it hurtful when they are looked at as ugly for having dark eyes, skin, or different ethnic features. So maybe you are being stared at in resentment for being the pretty white girl, not the “ugly” one like you claim, as the beauty ideal representing you has become a global one. For some reason people cannot see the beauty in other races…I don’t see many people donning dark eye contacts and getting nose jobs to make their noses less Caucasian looking for some reason. Why is this?

    • Honey

      C.Y. Heona,
      that said, I’m sorry that happened to you anyways. Any sort of prejudice, white against black against Chinese or whatever, is pretty rude. Bullying is terrible. So yes, racism against white people exists obviously. I wish people would treat others with kindness and respect and with the intention to keep each other safe no matter what they look like. Anytime someone treats another person like they are sub-human based on their race is racism, regardless of what those races may be. Hurting peoples feelings is wrong, and violence is wrong, and feeling mentally/emotionally abused is wrong. Abuse of any kind is terrible and needs to be avoided, I think, for any people no matter the race.

  • Edward Mort

    Sara,

    While I think your intentions are good and a lot of what you say here needs to be heard by the “Privileged”, you are way, way, way off the mark and come off as self righteous and very inexperienced. You sound like a text book on black oppression. I agree about some privileged whites crying about how a black person treated them poorly at the mall is not racism or the made up term reverse racism. Please take the time and spend some of it with poor white people (not privileged), who by total number are double the size of the entire black, hispanic, asian and native peoples population combined. Then ask yourself if “There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people.” Right wingers are fanning the flames of racism in this country at unprecedented levels and the uneducated whites are falling for the hate bait. Why? Because this is the oldest oppression tactic in the book, get them to hate others so they will not hate you and by the way take all their money and insure that they remain subjugated to maintaining your wealth and the system that promotes it. Racism is an indication of the level of education, self righteous indignation is an indication of the level of experience. “White women rising to the top while black women become secretaries” is a per capita view but it is a fools policy to believe or apply. There were three times the number of poor white women who did not get the job as the exe or the secretary. Not oppressed huh? I’m an equalist and believe all people deserve the same good, rights and love in life, but what you are doing is not the right means to the same end I believe we both want. By promoting your ultra PC generalization verbiage you are promoting policies and views of inequality to the non privileged white people. I don’t think that is your intention. I just think you are another inexperienced, good intentioned left winger that is talking out their white guilt ridden privileged ass. Look at it this way, if we are all equal then the percentages of black people who have experienced racism that has had a negative effect on their life or place in life is a fraction of the whole of poor people who are oppressed. It is the whole that matters, not the color of their skin. As for Marc Barnhill’s Amoja Three Rivers quote – everyone of those powers are oppressing poor people (in the USA – a lot more white people than black), African dictators oppress their black citizens via every agency and government entity, is that racism? no. but the point is it is about class not race, racism will be overcome by education, oppression will not. People with power eat their own all through out history. A poor white racist is uneducated and a puppet and a rich white racist is also the oppressor of the poor white. Stop promoting racism by supporting these policies of inequality. A poor black man and a poor white man are just as fucked, but a poor black man has way too many pc white people caring their flag. You are being exclusive not inclusive with this naive view.

    Love and tulips,

    Edward (just another white nigger)

    I tried to post with my account but it will not let me over my phone. My email is [email protected] if you want to reply to me.

    • Don’tGiveADamn

      Thank you. That is the real gist of it, and I wish more people would think this view point over, it is reality.

  • yamammy

    You are correct in saying that “reverse racism” doesn’t exist, but not completely correct in explaining why. The simple answer is that racism is racism regardless of what color the oppressor and oppressed are. We all know that a white person attempting to oppress a black person is racism. But it is equally racism if a black person tries to oppress a white person. Racism is racism. You cannot reverse it. The term implies that the white race invented the concept and “owns” it, but that simply is not the case.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Joshua-Samson/1509177659 Joshua Samson

    white is a color too.

    • Victor Jacobo

      “White is a color too” …. You cannot fathom how, as a person of color, sick and tired I am of white people using that phrase as a means to gain sympathy on this whole “reverse racism is real” crap. Hell no I will not feel sorry for you when you try to gain sympathy by saying that phrase. Hell no I will not magically begin to understand your white struggles amongst the oh so horrible PoC that are supposedly attacking the integrity that is whiteness. Please check your privilege before you make asinine comments like that. It is unfair for you to reap the benefits that come with being white and at the same time attempt to use your whiteness to evoke sympathy from PoC on dialogues of race.

      • Don’tGiveADamn

        Hell no. I will not try to understand (magically or otherwise) your PoC struggles when you cannot come to the table as equals to discuss an issue. Your race is not more important than mine, and vice versa. I see a lot of racism, prejudice, and bigotry in this world, but what I see more of is the tendency for people to blame failure on racism, prejudice, and bigotry instead of owning mistakes, laziness and lack of motivation to make life better. The laws of America are NOT stacked against anyone race, however in many aspects stacked FOR minorities, affording legal rights protected from majority biasdness. This does not include affirmative action (which encompasses many, many faucets of the American institutional “Power Base”) that were introduced to help provide an opportunity to equalize PoC lifestyles, to that of the American “White”.

        1. The world is not fair. – Everyone experiences judgement from other people, all the time, about many things, including skin color, sexual orientation, religion, accents, weight, clothing, how many kids you have, etc.

        2. We are taught to judge. – We judge everything and everyone. We are taught to, from birth, by family, friends, media, society, life experiences. My judgements have saved my life on more than one occasion. I will never stop judging the world around me.

        3. Why would I waste my time, understanding issues that a PoC deals with, (or anyone else on any other matter) when it is not reciprocated? I will not for the sake of political correctness “listen and learn” of your issues for no reason other than to… be aware? I don’t care about your “black” problems about as much as you don’t care about my “white” problems. See how it works?

        Bottom line, I don’t feel sorry for you. I don’t have any sympathy for you because you don’t “reap the benefits that come with being white”. Rise up out of oppression if thats what you want. The grass is not greener on the other side. It’s greener where you water it.

        • Victor Jacobo

          Excuse me, but never in my post did I ask for your sympathy. I don’t need your sympathy. Please take off your rose colored glasses and take off your blanket of white privilege because frankly I don’t know what country your talking about when you say that all anyone needs to do is to work hard to get what they want. It is much more complicated than than. MUCH MORE.

          Let me answer your post though…

          1) “The world is not fair”

          – No shit, hun. Thanks for stating the obvious. As if I didn’t know that everyday of my life as queer chicano, first-generation college student. I know the world isn’t fair — where in my post did I say it wasn’t. If I do see injustice though you can be certain that I will do my best to address that injustice.

          2. “We are taught to judge”

          – Damn right we are. I acknowledge that I am the product of this society — my family, my friends, my school, my work environment, etc. However, I don’t think judging justifies any racism or prejudice that people experience. Quite honestly, I don’t understand why you felt the need to tell me that other than that you were trying to justify racism. Racism is not okay…ever! Racism is the reason for a lot of the inequality in this world. Zimmerman trial… enough said.

          3. Understanding PoC issues — Excuse me, but if you’re trying to quantify and compare the struggles that PoC face here in America with the ones that White folks do… my god how much more closed minded could you get…? The struggles are so different it’s like night and day. I am not here to fucking educate anybody — please get that through your head. The fact that you would even suggest that I want you to listen and learn of my issues is ridiculous. Even if you wanted to listen you would never understand! You would never understand what it’s like to live in an America that was not meant for you. All these laws that you say benefit or help PoC are merely accommodations. But you, sir/ma’am, will never know that feeling.

          I am not asking you to have sympathy for the PoC, but as a human being you could at least have some empathy.

          The only positive thing that I can take from your post is the comment of “rising out of the oppression.” You better believe that’s what I am doing. By this time next year I will be the first in my family to graduate from a 4-year university. Education is one step towards liberating my self and my loved ones from the oppression.

  • AnnoyedwithThis

    I think this article is completely invalid. Any prejudiced against someone based on race is racism, no matter what race it comes from.

  • jakes

    ”
    Their white privilege leads them to believe that what they say both matters and needs to be heard and is important and the conversation should stop to focus on their ”

    the irony of sara saying something like this is mind boggling.

  • Zeroed Out

    Although racism is systematic and people are usually referring to being prejudice, it’s really all semantics because most people don’t think of it that way. For the vast majority of people, being racist means the same as being prejudiced because in many instances — at least in this country — oppression doesn’t happen in the way it has happened in history. So when someone says that a black person like Spike Lee is being racist because of something he’s said against white people and then Paula Deen is said to be racist because of something she’s said against black people, to MOST people — including those who make the comments — these situations are the same thing on a fundamental level.

  • This article, wtf.

    ~welp~

    This article is extremely offensive. Racism is racism. If 5 black people beat up one white person, it’s a hate crime and racism. This really isn’t that hard to understand. Racism is discrimination based on a person’s race. Does the author live in a fantasy world where she gets to define her own version of “racism”? The world is still so fucked up because of people like the author. Stop seeing people as different and start doing something that’s actually helpful for the human race.

    • Guest

      well, I don’t understand why it would be offensive. 1. people of color, aren’t just black people. 2. racism is racism, but “reverse racism”(which is what the article is about) does not exist. And your comment on the 5 black people, and 1 white person. Where did that come from first of all, and second of all how would you know what they are beating him up for? Plus beating someone up is not racist it’s bullying, but thinking your smarter, more qualified , and more civilized than someone because of his/her race is racism. In addition the author can write what she feels. Lastly the world is messed up because people stereotype, don’t learn about history, and love and accept people for who they are

  • Anon

    Reverse racism isn’t real because it’s all racism. Hating whites is racism, and there are people out there who do, just because of the fact that they’re white. Just as some whites hate blacks because they’re black. Both are stupid and very real…

  • Kris

    To start, the word “reverse racism” is not an accurate way to describe discrimination against whites. The opposite of racism is not discrimination against white people, it’s egalitarianism, as racism at a personal level is the belief that different races have different places in society and egalitarianism is the belief that all people should have the same place in society. A more accurate way of saying it would be racism against white people.
    Now, I think in order to actually be fair we need to make a distinction between institutionalized racism and racism on a person to person basis. Institutionalized racism is the kind of racism dealt with in this article that permeates social structures, while person to person racism is simply one person believing another is inferior because of their race. I have noticed in a few of the comments that some people have come to the conclusion that only institutionalized racism is racism and they say person to person racism is prejudice. This is a misunderstanding of the term prejudice. Prejudice is holding beliefs that are not based in reason or prior experience. This is a much wider category than racism. One can be prejudice against anything; bankers, gay people, pickles, literally anything. Racism, however, is often one specific kind of prejudice (it is possible to be racist based on past experiences, and hence not prejudice but belief systems of that kind are wrought with fallacies so a legitimately non-prejudice, racist viewpoint is rare). So in place of saying racism you could say race based prejudice. The statement, “that’s not racism, that’s prejudice,” then, doesn’t make sense as all you’ve done is added ambiguity.
    So to recap, “reverse-racism” is not an accurate term to describe racism against white people, and by logical necessity a prejudiced opinion against white people is in fact racist. I suppose my essential issue is the lack of rigor in terminology, if you’re going to say something doesn’t exist, you have to first accurately describe what it is. That being said, it is still a mistake for a white person to equate their own experiences of person to person racism with other people’s experiences of institutionalized racism.

  • Gupdawg

    Bravo Sara! Reverse racism is a myth perpetuated by White folks who feel their grip on superiority slipping. We White folks feel we have a right to the privileges our White controlled institutions have ensured for us. Reverse racism rears its ugly head when we are asked to consider that those privileges come at the expense of others. E.g. Here in Canada the privileges I enjoy come at the expense of Indigenous people. My ancestors took advantage of “free” land appropriated from Indigenous people. Indigenous people hold no institutional power to deny me my humanity. I have a responsibility to ensure that the White controlled institutions that benefit me stop denying Indigenous people their humanity – oh yes, and their right to original title.

  • perceivedguilt

    Another lousy internet phenomenon is that of white dudes fallaciously claiming that they are being victim of a conspiracy to commit “genocide against whites” through immigration, integration and so on. It’s bullshit, but there you go.

  • perceived guilt

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TG4f9zR5yzY

  • Grinderrr

    I believe racism to be the cause of systemic oppression against PoC, not the other way around. And I guess that’s my main issue with the argument. Perhaps I’m misinterpreting the point but surely an institutionalized system of oppression must be built from the individual free-thoughts of it’s leaders, thoughts such as; a person with black skin doesn’t deserve the same freedoms as others. Should these thoughts and ideas NOT be considered racist until they are implemented in a large-scale, governmental society? By looking at racism as solely a systemic oppression we’re overlooking the root cause of the problem; individual racist thoughts and actions. And by labeling these thoughts and actions as simply prejudice and even trivializing them (we’re all victims of prejudice, it’s not the same as racism, blah, blah), we’re forgetting that they are the building blocks of oppression.

    There is, of course, a huge problem with institutionalized racism and I’m in no way denying that. But to say it is the ONLY form of racism I can’t agree with. The argument only identifies the scale of racism in a certain part of the world, at a certain time in history, it doesn’t define it. To try and make people feel that their individual experiences are of no importance to the wider picture is pretty condescending to say the least. It’s the individual experiences that make the whole picture and we should be fighting against racism in all it’s shapes and sizes, not just systemic racism but individual racist thoughts and actions against any race because it’s those individuals who group together and create these ugly systems of oppression.

  • Namaps

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs,
    legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression
    of the rights and liberties of a group of people.”

    That’s not the
    common, vernacular definition of racism. Most people define “racism” as
    prejudice and discrimination based on race, ethnicity, or skin color.
    If you want to reach people beyond extreme leftist activists, it
    probably pays to use words the same way most people use them, rather
    than fighting a semantic battle from the ground up before you can even
    have a mutually intelligible conversation. It’s really not all that hard
    to just say “institutional racism” instead.

    Acknowledging the
    difference between the broad category of racism and the more narrow
    category of institutional racism also allows us to have a conversation
    about the serious problems of institutional racism without people
    butting in to make comments about “this one time a black girl made fun
    of me because I was white” because, despite being a small instance of
    racism, that comment is much more plainly an entirely off-topic cry for
    attention.

  • Oddmanic

    Reverse racism does not exist, true. You shouldn’t call it that.

    If a white person gets chased by a crowd of black people on the way home from school they should call it what it really is: hate.

    There’s a difference between “racism” and “hate”. It’s just not that big of a difference.

  • Notsoprivileged

    Racism is racism. It doesn’t have a reverse gear.

    Please resist the attempt to redefine the lexicon. Present valid arguments using the terms as defined, or invent new terms as necessary. Don’t carve off your own private subset of the language for use as you see fit.

  • benji

    Great piece and I agree with the sentiment wholeheartedly. (I’m a half-white-half-Asian person raised in a white family who mostly identifies as white, and I’m frankly unsure about how much racism impacts my own day-to-day experience. I think not much, but hey maybe I am pathetically blind about it, right?) But, I feel like the racism vs. prejudice thing is a little nitpicky and maybe damaging. I agree that the two are starkly different things, and I do think that semantics matter, but it is unnecessarily divisive to insist that white people’s experience with prejudice not be defined as “racism”, for two reasons.

    First, race is a dynamic and monstrously complicated thing. The racism endured by Asians in America is vastly different than racism endured by blacks in America. The role of race in society changes with each passing year, however glacially; 2013 racism is not the same as 1963 racism or even 2003 racism. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg regarding the multiplicity of experiences with racism — there’s gender to consider, upbringing, geography, ethnicity, class, profession, mental health, various subcultures, and on and on and on. Since the terrain is complex and ever-shifting, is it really useful to separate everyone’s experience of discrimination into this dichotomy of “racist” and “predjudiced but not racist”?

    Second, from a purely practical standpoint, I feel like it is more productive to engage white people about racism with plenty of empathy — as it is with all people with all delicate topics — rather than with a blunt semantic denial of their personal experiences. That tends to piss people off, and when most people are pissed off they shut down. I agree, callouts should be made at times, but I want callouts to have a good chance of succeeding and not be for the sake of pure self-righteousness. Piety holds its own traps, you know? I think it’s better to parlay a white person’s complaint of reverse racism into a consideration of proportionality (“yeah. but think about what if the fact of your race defined your identity with most people you met, all the time, for as long as you live?”) than to insist that their own experience doesn’t qualify as being “actual” racism. Yes, it’s frustrating and tired as hell to hear white people equate being treated shitty on the bus one afternoon with four centuries of slavery and naked hate — again, I’m stating this as someone who mostly identifies as white — but that doesn’t mean it feels any less real to the aggrieved person. There’s a line in The Satanic Verses: “It’s impossible to judge the size of the internal injury by the size of the external wound.” How does it help anything to slap down their own injury as invalid? I’m not saying you gotta tiptoe around on eggshells and make everybody feel nice all the time; I’m just saying that if your goal is to actually change things, you need to win hearts and minds. As the comments on here show, hearts and minds aren’t won through expressing your (warranted!) disgust

    Why not just acknowledge that we live in a racist country and a racist world and we’re therefore all racists to varying degree, regardless of our race? Because, come on, we are. And with that, acknowledge that it’s not OK that that’s the case, that it’s a fucking horrible plague that we all have to bear and will never be fully free of, but that we have a constant responsibility do our best to mitigate it and fight as hard as we can to make it better? And that that’s worthwhile, since everything is a matter of degree and it IS on balance better to have 2013 racism than 1963 racism?

    One more thing: for the best ever all around exploration of this topic, please read Jonathan Lethem’s “The Fortress of Solitude”, which is about a white boy growing up in inner city Brooklyn and being harassed daily for the fact of his whiteness and suffering tremendously and then how that is an utterly, qualitatively different experience than what it means to be black in America. It’s a wonderful book.

  • An Onlooker

    It is interesting to note that the author only replies to comments which confirm and agree with everything she has said in the article.

  • a white person

    I think what the author is meaning to attack is the attitude of self-righteous obliviousness that white people can invoke when they bring up “reverse racism”. Reverse racism IS real because racism is racism is racism. And YES because of power differences some people’s racism is way more harmful than others’ and those (in this case white) people because of their social position are also consequently most empowered to avoid engaging in a discussion. But it can be argued that if PoC want real institutionalized racism to change, they have to also take responsibility and acknowledge that attacking white people’s rudimentary attempts at conversation effectively shuts down any discussion and prevents progress towards solving the problem. If the goal of any discussion of race is to throw any white person, regardless of their personal history, off-kilter, this becomes merely an aggressive expression of frustration on the part of the PoC, and any denial of a conversational partner’s individuality is also definitely a form of racism.

    I also think it’s interesting to talk about “ownership” of racial language and ideas: white people, who’ve rarely thought about any of this stuff (other than “we’re all equal, really”), frequently feel a need to ask for PoC’s rules for acceptable ways to talk. It makes white people feel discouraged before they’ve even begun to think about the issues. And they should be thinking about and taking ownership of the issues, too. Denying the validity of white experiences serves to maintain the dichotomy between “white” and “not-white”, those who are allowed to talk about the issues and those who aren’t.

  • Harley

    Walk through a non-white area of Birmingham as a white person and see if you make it through without some kind of discrimination, be it verbal or physical. I know a white guy who lived in Birmingham most his life and he dealt with racism from the Asian community there all the time. The term reverse-racism is stupid, a person discriminating against another because of race is racism regardless of what race the victim is.

  • Geenius_at_Wrok

    What I think is that you’ve redefined “racism” to suit your argument (“Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching”), but that the essence of your point — that ethnic minorities’ prejudice against whites has basically no effect on them, whereas institutional prejudice against ethnic minorities has a profound negative impact in nearly every area of their lives — is sound.

    Racism is simply prejudice and/or unjust discrimination based on the construct of ethnicity we (inaccurately) call “race.” It doesn’t have to have institutional power behind it to be wrong. When it does have that power behind it, though, its effects are so much worse.

  • pick a name

    annoyingly pious article… can’t even get up the energy to argue with the implicit self congratulation. yawn.

  • SunnyOne

    I agree that “Reverse Racism” does not exist. Racism does exist and can be part of anyone’s life, regardless of color. People of color can dislike white people and act on their dislike, just the same as white people can act on dislike or fear or general lack of understanding toward people of color. It is the power and privilege that goes with whiteness that make racism so devastating. When you think about it, it has held our country back from greatness by keeping people of color from reaching their full potential. It is that racism combined with that awful power that puts so many black men in jail or underground right during their most potentially productive years. And why are so many young black men not productive during their prime? Could it have anything to do with multigenerational systemic lack of sufficient education and opportunity? The longer a set of people exists with low opportunity, the more set it becomes that there is no opportunity for them, breeding hopelessness and lifestyles that are unproductive to society. Affirmative action to open opportunity is the only way I know of to stop this cycle. Affirmative action is not “reverse racism.” It is providing to people of color and women the SAME opportunities white men have always enjoyed without thinking about them.

  • Joe

    “PoC” is a racist term. stupid white people. We don’t need your pity. Make yourselves feel better by “defending the po’ coloreds”. You turn on each other out of guilt. pathetic.

  • The Truth

    Some people tried to do science in college and failed, so they went to the only place they were getting good grades and wrote about how they really are good at everything, but they must be where they are because they were oppressed. Hence sociology. It really shouldn’t be funded by colleges anymore, but they need to keep the sociology classes around so that way the science majors can take one every once in awhile to keep their GPAs up to get into graduate school.

    In short, stop wasting all your time whining and start doing something. You’ll be surprised how much more respected and less “oppressed” you are when you do work that is actually tough and rewarding to society.

  • Gini Denninger

    Sara Lucky you are incredibly naive. Black on white racism exists and is getting worse daily. Racism simply is believing a person is not the same as you and less deserving of courtesy and respect , based on color, race, sex etc. people like you who think that I by sheer chance of being born white, deserve to be treated as a lesser by a person of color, you are sadly mistaken.

  • Langwige bucher

    Reverse racism is a
    term that describes a situation in which a white person suffers
    racial discrimination. Sort of like how reverse sexism might be used
    to describe a situation in which a man suffers gender discrimination.
    It is not proper English, but if we consult the accepted standard of
    proper English racism is:

    1:
    a belief that race
    is the primary determinant
    of human traits and capacities and that racial
    differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

    2: racial prejudice
    or discrimination

    Also: Everyone
    who uses your definition of racism can already tell you why the
    juxtaposition is nonsensical. Everyone else is going to perceive a
    claim that there is no such things as discrimination against white
    people.

    In an effort to
    preach to the choir you are alienating converts. How does this help
    you?

  • Pingback: race4ourlives | Reverse Discrimination — hogwash!

  • Mike

    Wow this is one of the most ignorant articles I have ever read! So what you are saying is.. As long as you are a white person in America nobody can be racist towards you because you are born into white privileges. Here is a quote from your article “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges.” So here is a news story for you that you can look up yourself to verify. A white 13 year old teenager was walking home from school when 2 older black guys followed him up to his front steps, poured gasoline on him and set him on fire while saying “you deserve this white boy”… and other things that confirm it was a racially motivated attack. This story remained local and did not make it to main stream media. why? If this story was reversed and it had been white guys burning a teenager for being black and saying racial slurs it would be plastered all over the place. The whole article is basically saying, don’t empathize for anybody born white… that’s absurd!

    Would you “the writer” ever go to lets say, South Korea and tell them that they need to show more diversity on their bill boards, tv shows, and give out special programs to whites, blacks, and Hispanics because they are being racist and unfair since they are born into Asian Privilege! If we moved there and started calling them names based on their looks and race, according to this article it would not be racist because they are the dominant race. That just doenst make sense and is arrogant on your part.

  • Akilah Flowers

    To, A naive Article
    You just did the EXACT thing the article was discussing. You proved to the tee EXACTLY what the author was trying to prove from the start. Your comment flipped the WHOLE story around to make it about YOU so that the transfer of the blame and what SHOULD HAVE BEEN AND EDUCATIONAL LESSON was reversed. So now we go 2 steps BACK to square one where “poor little white girl” was bullied once in her entire life. You know the way you could have MAYBE been able to prove your case in the slightest bit? I will tell you. By actually applying what was said in the beginning of the 3rd paragraph in BOLD LETTERING to your life. LISTEN AND LEARN. So no, you aren’t that one white person to rebuttal, your actions reflect you ALL as a race. I am not saying there aren’t any white people who try their best to coexist with other people and love everyone, but because of your ignorance you make it REALLY hard for them because in my eyes you represent them all. And that thought process as “racist” as you may call it is well over 300 years in the making honey. What you experienced ONE time whether you were victimized or not happens EVERYDAY to us physically, mentally, emotionally, and figuratively and you will NEVER understand that because you were NOT born into the irreversible skin I’m in.

  • agentleman

    What’s funny to me is that White people will take one to three occasions that a person of color have done them wrong as a racist incident….and yeah it’s wrong. There’s a lot of wrong or bad people out there, criminals, rapist, arsonist, pedophiles, etc. I’ve read many comments to this point…and one thing stood out to me. Earlier, there was a comment made by a young man that went to Beijing, and the students asked him, first were there any black students at his school…and then asked were they bad. That’s racism! For Asian kids to just assume that the black kids were bad and they have none at their school…proves what Ms. Luckey was talking about. People of Color do not….I repeat do not have the “power” to create a negative thought about white people, or any race of people thousand of miles away.

    Here’s another example…my company is all about helping people (I won’t go into depth), so when I see people on the side of the road, broken down, I pull over and help them. This was on an expressway and it was over 100 degrees outside, I pulled over to help this lady and she told me her brother was coming, I told her I could go and get her water or wait with her to make sure she was ok. She told me I needed to go because she didn’t know what her brother or father would do if they pulled up and saw a Black man by her car. I stayed, met them, and explained why I stayed….you should have seen the look on their faces.

    If people did something to you personally that hurt you, physically, emotionally, or just rubbed you the wrong way, that is unfortunate. There’s a lot of over weight people who gets discriminated against, there’s a LOT of women who are discriminated against as well……and it’s some people who get their ass whooped because they are at the wrong place at the wrong time. But until you go somewhere and people automatically assume that you are bad before they even get to know you, until you go to help someone, genuinely help someone who needs it and they almost refuse to take it because of the color of your skin, until you feel like when you meet someone White you have to prove that you are one of the good ones before you can build rapport with that person then you have not experienced racism.

  • sultana

    Maybe we should start with an agreed definition on what racism is? The writer int he article is referring to ‘when prejudice+power combine’ and others are referring to simple prejudice. I think its important to be clear first about if we are talking on the same page? what does racism mean to you? Are we talking about colour or cultural or religious based racism? Are we talking about overt or covert racism? In the west its mostly covert/indirect and institutional racism?

  • Siera Vercillo

    All I kept thinking about is…she’s right. There is always that one white person who attempts to empathize / identify…or possibly try and belittle the storytelling. I also could not help but think that every time I read a a story about discrimination against women…or violence against women..or women’s rights…or pretty much anything to do with feminism, some men’s rights activist likes to remind us that men have it difficult to…as if it is a competition. When they are completely missing the point. Replace a few words in the article and it changes a bit: “Reverse racism [discrimination against men] isn’t real because we live in a culture that supports and enforces whiteness [masculinity] as the norm and PoC [femininity] as other. Just an interesting comparison…”

    • KevinDurantGOAT

      “There is always that one white person who attempts to empathize / identify…or possibly try and belittle the storytelling” sounds like a stereotype. let me insert different words like mad libs, There is always that one black person who attempts to rap / dance…or possibly try and eat the watermelons.

  • concerned person

    this article provokes because it has somewhat hi-jacked the word ‘racism’ by using a (fairly recent) sociological definition of the word. however, traditional definitions such as Oxford dictionary and United Nations certainly do not define racism as having to be systematic, coupled with power, media or anything else.
    so the article makes very good points about the situation in the USA but really uses a narrow definition of the word racism that is certainly not the commonly understood definition, thus stirring up panic, chaos and confusion within those that read it.

  • Conrad

    And here is another one: The argument that uninstitutionalised prejudice (-power) is not racism leads us down a dark alleyway of relativisms.

    Is the down and out whitey beggar that slings racial invective at the rich black dude in the Merc that refuses to give him money a racist? Why, sure he his! Its all institutionalised you see and he has power even though he is a beggar.

    Is the racial invective spewing rich black dude in his Merc that calls the beggar white trash racist? Of course not! He is still structurally disadvantaged and powerless.

    Changing the context slightly and making it a white beggar in an African country, wont change much for these folks. Capital is white, they would argue. The beggar still derives his power from the structural dependence of this African country and its elite.

    Does this mean that one should ignore context? No, of course not. The white beggar’s may well have an edge on a black beggar due to his race. But that hardly serves as a magic wand to make the behaviour of the rich black dude any less offensive.

    Distinguishing between prejudice, hatred and racism on the basis of assumed structural “power relations” involved is an extremely blunt tool. It generates neat little black and white pictures, useful only to extremists and those that seek to divide us. Judging prejudice as racist or non-racist on the basis of somebody’s skin colour is patently absurd. It is high time for sensible people to stick together and dump these tired old ideologies in favour of the principle of mutual respect and tolerance.

  • Lola Anna Carbona

    Racism occurs through out all races. Just because a nation never oppressed white people does not mean that racism towards white people dose not exist. The only people that United States is oppressing are gay people. You should conduct accurate research before making a fool of yourself.

  • grin-n-barrett

    I will have to agree…reverse racism does not exist. It is just plain old disgusting racism no matter who is dispensing it. Yes it goes on in every race against every race and is unacceptable regardless of who is doing the dispensing. It doesn’t matter who is pitching or who is catching, it is still unacceptable. When I was 11, I was jumped by 5 girls, I told my baby sister to run. The parents of these 5 girls watched me get punched and kicked over and over. They got involved after my 2 brothers and their 4 friends showed up to rescue me. Then these brave parents ran over to save the 5 girls from getting the same in return. Funny (now) how none of the parents would answer when asked why they didn’t come to my aid. Now what color am I and who beat the hell out of me? You fill in the blanks yourself. Was it any less racist if I am white or black or Hispanic? Hell no, racist is racist, period.

  • AnnG

    Actually as a matter of fact I don’t think living a life of surfing the web could ever find you a real meaning of reverse racism unless you’ve lived it for yourself. surfing the Web is not going to find you the real answers you need! And it’s almost funny for you to write a column you know not a thing about. I personalany am causation and have experienced a lot of racial things not from me to to blacks but from blacks to me. Calling me cracker, honky,snow flake,etc. you are insane if you think that it is not acceptable for a white person to call a black person a Niger when they call themselves that to one another. Yet it is acceptable for a black to call a white a honky. Black people are more racist towards whites then whites are towards blacks. Maybe you should do more research!

  • Derayver

    Racism is defined by that lovely Mariam Webster as “a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race”. (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism)

    White people are not the only racists in the world.

    This article is defining reverse racism as any perceived racist act against a white person. That is not reverse racism, that is racism against white persons.

    For the author to say that racism DOES NOT EXIST towards ‘white’ persons is ridiculous. It does exist. Just like racism (unfortunately) still exists towards people of color… and Chinese individuals… and Russians… and Hispanics.. and… well you get my point. Racism exists towards all different races, ‘white’ people included. And ‘white’ people are not always the perpetrator.

    I was under the impression that -reverse racism- was when a ‘white’ person was overly nice to a person of color. For example; a ‘white’ man and a ‘black’ man go into a bar. The bartender gives the ‘black’ man (who he has never met before – nor has he any previous interactions with the white man) free drinks. The white man is given no additional beverages. Here, reverse racism has occurred.

    I’m no expert. I have no concrete evidence to support this theory. However, I have seen it happen. And perhaps I’m even guilty of subconsciously (or partly subconsciously) offering more opportunities to a person of color than I would a person who shares my own skin color. Why? Because on the deepest level of my heart I am sorry for what their ancestors had to go through when they started out in this country and maybe a little extra kindness will help ease the pain.
    The truth though, is that this act in its self has me acting racist towards people of my own race.

    • derayver

      *White people are not the only racists in the western world either.

  • Derayver

    So if your judged based on your race and your white, its prejudice. If your judged based on your race and your a person of color, its racism.

    If your attacked based solely on the fact that your white, its prejudice. If your attacked based solely on the fact that your a person of color, its racism.

    Is the author trying to say that the attack on the person of color is worse than the attack on the white person merely because it can be defined as racism?

    A rose by any other name is still a rose. Whether you want to call it racism, bigotry, or prejudice each act is equally detrimental to the individual.
    If you want to call two identical acts by a different name just because the race acting as the perpetrator is different, doesn’t that in its self make you bias?

  • fallacy_blaster

    “Ya know what else? That shit is tired, played out, and incorrect.” Yeah just like every single hole in your argument. Racism can be directed toward any race regardless of what name(“reverse racism”) you want to call it.. regardless of the fact that a “predominantly white establishment” is simply no longer the case. A predominantly white establishment went out of the window when the following took place: amnesty reforms, Obama’s inauguration, appointment of rick holder, appointment of Sonya sotamayor. nearly entirely black sports teams, domination of rap and pop in the music industry, new black panther party is praised by mainstream media. In fact when you look at the population statistics blacks are doing very well these days in respect to thier proportionate share in the establishment, but the inauguration of Obama puts the nail in the coffin to the end of sorry excuses and justification of white racism. Let me guess you are someone who thinks ‘cracker’ isn’t a derogatory racial term?

  • elleaich

    Systemic racism, the
    difference in experience of racism when you’re part of the oppressed
    group, derailing as a silencing tactic — these are the issues. Continuing to insist that your definition of ‘racism’ is the only valid one is only going to keep the discussion on the wrong thing, adding fuel to the derailing.

  • Nonono… lots of no

    Well good luck making that point when a white person works or intends to work at a place that employs 99 percent blacks or hispanics because guess what!? for one the boss is of a minority and secondly the school is a public university system that favors minorities in the first place. EVERY SINGLE DAY I WALK INTO WORK FOUR BLACK GIRLS HARASS ME BECAUSE OF MY SKIN COLOR. Black people think this is good that a white person suffers, they enjoy it. It makes them happy. Because they psychotically think they have been persecuted by whites in all ways possible. They mistily recall stories of injustice when their sister’s friend’s dog’s previous owner met someone in the KKK once at a drive through movie billions of years ago. I HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED AT MY WORK AND MY BOSS DOESN’T CARE. THE GUY CALLS ME A RACIAL SLURR ALL THE TIME TO THIS DAY. YOU ARE A PC IGNORANT FOOL. Bet you think it’s funny for me, to call *you* ignorant, alas you freakin are. Racism against whites is very real. Pull your head our of your self righteous pc asshole…. It must feel nice to feel like you are Gaia in the flesh, a lover of all races and especially the poor apparently helpless victims that are minorities. You don’t know what justice is. You think shit that happened about 150 years ago justifies the actions of these horrible people to terrorize another race? You’ve never been raped by a black man because of the color of your white skin SNOW BUNNY. Wake the fuck up. I’M TIRED and ashamed of weak white people like you. You don’t know what black people are like, I’ve been around mostly blacks for most of my life. I used to be friends with them until I slowly got tired of being put down by them BECAUSE I AM WHITE- GOD DAMMIT. I don’t owe these manipulative opportunists anything. It’s hard to see them as anything else. Even the educated ones think white people somehow need to pay for slavery, no matter how they deny it villifying white people gives them advantages and therefore an incentive to act out. They don’t act out because white people are so racist, they act out because they want another BET channel and a new big screen. They also want whites to suffer because it’s what they are brought up to do. America was founded by whites, China was founded by the Chinese…. It’s almost too simple for an American to understand… Countries are not made out of rainbows and unicorns, they are made out of war, sweat, and blood… many times in the past this included slavery. African American slaves in NO WAY had a unique experience. If anything the Jewish slaves did back under the control the Babylonians around 3-600 BCE… Aside from that… My very poor family Ukranian came here in 1974. 1974… It’s an assault on a race. You really are so unobservant. Bet you think Trevon was an innocent child of 17 who had never done drugs and had no past violent behaviors. I wonder why they choose this case to magnify, there are likely more actually clear murder racism cases out there.

    • wes

      Exactly.

    • The maid

      Well. I guess you’re right. And you are completely justified in hating the blacks that you work with. I’m very sorry. I’ll just shut up now and do what you say.

  • Paul Teevan

    Check your dictionary.

  • jc carington

    It was real here http://www.examiner.com/article/why-did-the-press-drop-coverage-of-white-baby-shot-by-black-assailant

  • jc carington

    http://www.examiner.com/article/why-did-the-press-drop-coverage-of-white-baby-shot-by-black-assailant

  • Pingback: Clinton Jones » Forward Gear Racism

  • Bobby Williams

    http://news.yahoo.com/black-americas-real-problem-isnt-white-racism-070000529.html

  • Steve

    Doesn’t make any sense. I racist person doesn’t stop being a racist because someone else is racist toward them. You can’t say reverse racism doesn’t exist due to the fact that white on black racism does. That’s an awful and illegitimate argument

  • Bobby Williams

    So Sara, you’re one of the “good”white people that admit that reverse racism isn’t real. I wonder how many educated black people, or “PoC” (because that’s what white people in touch with reality call black people) have read this article and laughed uncontrollably at the trash you wrote. You’re obviously a twenty something kid with no life experience to back up what you’re saying. Ive read alot of the comments down below and it’s amazing to me how different people’s opinions are on this subject. That’s all they are…opinions. White people are worried about their crumbling privileges? A white person is derailing the topic if they bring up personal experiences? That’s funny because nothing can be told, taught, or learned without personal experience. You’re suggesting that reverse racism can’t exist because whites hold all the power in society. Ironic because that’s the very ideology reverse racism stems from. Working in corrections with a 95% “PoC” staff and population will open your eyes to many things. “PoC” will teach you that other “PoC” will look for, and prey upon “weak” guilty minded white people who think just like you for their personal gain. Profiling you to rob you, mug you because you’re white IS reverse racism. Manipulating a system designed to help minorities by having multiple children to make more money is the very definition of reverse racism. Don’t believe me? Take a look at these facts published by Yahoo with stats from the FBI…..http://news.yahoo.com/black-americas-real-problem-isnt-white-racism-070000529.html

  • openmind

    If I had an opinion regarding this essay, would the validity of my opinion be either greater or lesser depending on my ethnic background?

  • Cole

    I love this article, thank you! Am going to share it.
    Just wanted to say – I don’t see any credits listed for the artist who made the image “LOL WHITE RACISM”. Their name is Mark Aguhar and they passed away in 2012.

  • Andrew

    Bryce, is everyone hating on white people? Could you please enlighten us about this new trend of “hating white people and getting a pat on the back.” Everyone seems to be pointing out white people’s bigotry and it’s kind of getting awesome. I’m white btw, though it should not matter.

    • Bryce Jones

      im not bigoted. What i’m saying here is that, it seems that in schools when white kids get fucked with for being white, they get a pat on the back. someone suggests killing white people on a poster in a college, it’s all good! You can’t combat bigotry with bigotry. If I punch a black guy in the face, it’s racism, if him and his friends rob and stab me, it’s “unfortunate that my white privelige was challenged”.

      • idiotsallofyou

        Um…if you punch a black guy in the face the result is, you probably get punched back. For anyone to assume that as racist CLEARLY does not understand what that word means. Now, if you were to say “I hate black people”, followed by a punch, your above comment would become true. But it’s not. And if some black people robbed and stabbed you, its because they wanted what you had – the same as if white people robbed and stabbed a black person. A robbery does not define as racism.THIS IS WHY MANY PEOPLE MISUNDERSTAND REAL RACISM. They still think petty acts are ALL based out of racism and not just people being assholes to one another.

    • Bryce Jones

      it’s kind of to the point where, if i’m a white skinned male i should be shamed for being so. even if i’m not racist toward anyone, im made to feel responsible for other white peoples actions. I’d bring up my forefathers but none of them were involved in slavery or segregation, yet people will point me out and call me a racist because of my skin color. But that’s not racism~

      • idiotsallofyou

        The discussion here is about an ENTIRE societal construct surrounding racism and here you go talking about yourself. You don’t have to feel guilty. What’s done is done – it’s too late to send the stolen black slaves home to Africa and give the Native Americans back their language/culture/land/wealth etc. But nothing will ever change, if you can’t see past yourself. Even if you do not participate in racism yourself, you should still be intelligent enough to recognize that white people have played a huge part in institutionalising racism. Until you do this, nothing will ever change. Like therapists say – you have to root out the cause before you can treat the symptom.

    • Bryce Jones

      EG, black dude walks around calling everyone he sees that’s white “a cracker peice of shit” and everyone thinks it’s perfectly fine to do so.

    • Bryce Jones

      im just saying all that as a canadian white male who actually hasnt had any sort of hand up in the world because of his race and was told to feel guilty about being white.

      • marfmellow

        your guilt is worth NOTHING.

  • ElectricFire

    Yes, I do think that this article is completely off point. Reverse racism is unquestionably real. We don’t live in a culture that supports whiteness anymore. We live in a culture that expects apologies for simply being white.

    It’s not the 1960′s anymore. Reverse racism is a genuine problem facing Americans today, and it’s stunning that liberal whites ignore that the double standard is shifting against whites.

  • Sensia

    Being a white woman, and having worked at several different large companies, I definitely agree with the blogger/author. I have seen outright racism first hand by my colleagues and friends. It is embarrassing, and disgusting at the same time. I get tired of hearing the “reverse racism” claim because I know for a fact that is not what is going on. I think we still have deeply embedded racism in this country and it was pushed under a rug for awhile, up until we elected our first black President. Boy oh boy have we seen the racsim come out of the woodwork.

  • Derrick

    rac·ism
    /ˈrāˌsizəm/

    Noun
    The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as…
    Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.Synonyms
    racialism

    Nowhere in the definition of racism is your definition of racism. You are redefining words to meet your political agenda. This why YOUR point is moot. If you are going to make a logical argument you have to consider all evidence equally. Not choose what supports your argument as fact and dismiss all else.

  • Fed up

    Are you serious…. Black people perpetuate their own experiences with racism by confusing to constantly talk about it like it was an every day occurrence… How in the hell do we have a black president when there is so much racism? we have this idea that if we just do this and that and make sure we don’t say this or that then everything will be cool… But why do I have to pay the price for something I never did and you never experienced? This country is so freaking worried about offending someone that nothing advances. we’re us all this racism people speak of? Outside the warped view if the media? I see black people get every advantage over whites daily. Whites are hated by everyone and it’s sad because whites are a color too in case we forgot it was part of your spectrum. everyone is so quick to scream racism and I guess I would too if it got me a truckload of free shit all the time and jobs when I didn’t qualify…. No reverse racism…. Bullshit. tell that to al and Jessie

  • e

    Don’t agree w/ you. Agree a little bit, as in derailing or taking over a conversation and converting it to be about oneself.

    What I’ve experienced is racism. I understand its historical and current sources. I am not trying to maintain a status quo of white rule (some stuff she describes is inaccurate because she’s talking socio-economic disparity not racial inequality).

    Maybe you have never worked at 7$ per hr jobs w/ black co-workers, nor served a largely black community. And so have never been on the receiving end of daily, grinding hostility-on-sight/site, false accusations, rocks thrown at you nor been met w/ the assumption that you must feel superior and do not work as hard because you are white. And Jewish! Maybe you simply are not living in the City of Brotherly Love. Wanted you to see another, personal side.

  • Chell-bell

    I don’t know if the point has been made yet but I feel like should say
    that POC doesn’t mean/ just refer to “Black person”. POC is “Person of
    Colour” and so you should use it as such. It feels like a lot of
    commentators are quick to jump to an experiance with a black person to
    defend their point and try a put it on an equal plain to the POC’s
    experience but the fact is…. The POC could be Korean. Or Somali. Or
    Portuguese. Or any one of the races listed under the minorty banner and
    they are all going to be reffereing to different experiences of racism.
    Not just black people. It feels like a lot of you are saying “Well if
    that black person is getting upset about this then I’m going to tell
    them about the time I got called a whitey by 12 black guys!”

    This comment was pretty random and I’m pretty sure I lost my point somewhere but I just felt like posting it anyway.

    • Sara Luckey

      Hey there, author here. I completely agree with you and I do mean it to indicate anybody that isn’t white and I do see it getting misconstrued in the comments, but you are absolutely correct.

    • wes

      Explain why white people aren’t people of color…

  • Gerald

    My good lord, as a black girl, this is exactly how I feel. You are 100% and I’m so glad you are able to see this

  • smh

    I completely disagree, not to say that racism isn’t alive and well, it definitely is from every standpoint sadly. Any race can be racist, luckily here times have changed dramtically and Obama has proven there has not only been progress, but thankfully laws created to help protect. Instead of trying to take away people’s rights to share factual experieces that contradict your silly ideas and trying to silence people, why not address the portion of our tax paying population that are still denied equal rights based on sexuality? Those currently discriminated against by not only society, but our government in connection with the religious ideas of some. Once everyone is on the same field with civil rights and their tax money allows them equality with the same privileges and protections… then you all can bicker over which race has worse feelings for another. Also the international point is a huge one that shouldn’t be swatted away. There are horrible racial struggles all over the world and violent murders happening widespread similar to pre-civil rights here, but until you leave the safety of your online soapbox behind your keyboard and escape the protected bubble of the USA to live abroad and know anything beyond western society, you’re kind of clueless anyway.

  • Treat Me Equally

    Why is it okay to discount a white person’s experience with being discriminated against? “You’re white, therefore you should keep your mouth shut about being repeatedly treated like crap.” I don’t care what label you put on it, it’s not okay to use the color of someone’s skin as an excuse to treat them poorly. I’ve worked as a minority with a group from a different race and I was disturbed that people who have been complaining for years about how they’re victims could be so discriminatory themselves. And this writer has some serious unresolved personal issues. Their blanket all-or-nothing statements indicate that they don’t have much of a sense of objectivity- or logic.

  • Imani

    This article is shit for even giving credibility to the term “reverse racism”. It isn’t real because there is only racism, and racism exists in all cultures. It is not a white person’s responsibility to recognize that they are in America and to “check their privilege” before being offended and feeling uncomfortable by actions meant to offend and create discomfort. They are still a victim of racism. The narcissism that makes a person “derail a conversation” is unfortunate and I apologize on behalf of all white people.

  • BrownFlowers

    Where did you pull this definition racism from?
    General knowledge is pretty solid when comes to describing racism as a act of prejudice toward another based racial difference. However if you want to get technical, the dictionary describes it as “a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” So if what your doing is trying to justify your argument with your own “opinion” of what racism is, you should clearly state that
    The only thing I feel like you are right about in this article is that whites aren’t experiencing “reverse racism” because REVERSE RACISM DOESN’T EXISIT. Racism is racism, and the term doesn’t make sense.
    Your white guilt isn’t stopping racism, and not in the least bit helping. If a white person is relating and sharing their own experience with minorities, why is it is suddenly wrong? Don’t down play on anyone’s hurtful experience. The goal should be complete equality for everyone, which from your article, I feel your motives aren’t the same.

  • Jim Jarvis

    Whether

  • Jim Jarvis

    Whether you call it “institutional racism vs. individual racism” or “racism vs. prejudice” we need to acknowledge that the former has far more impact on society than the latter.

    I’m a black heterosexual American and in my teens I heard someone complaining about gay pride parades how they were “shoving it in their face”, but someone else said straight pride parades happen every weekend night in that neighborhood, every bar and club, every wedding, everytime a man and woman hold hands in public. That immediately and permanently made me see my “straight privilege”.

    It seems like any white person willing to think for a few minutes in a similar manner could determine what “white privilege” is, and they would never ask why there are HBCUs and BET. Realizing the impact of institutional racism would soon follow.

    The only real impact the privileged can back is to not be an a-hole or insensitive prick. Also to make bigots feel uncomfortable in subtle or overt ways. This seems small, but that behavior multiplied by 40 million or so can make real change.

  • Ray Ivey

    You are absolutely wrong. Racism is racism. There’s a difference between being “denied privilege” and being discriminated against because of skin color. The fact that you don’t think white people can tell the difference is condescending and offensive. Have black people experienced a horrible amount racism historically? Absolutely. Doesn’t mean that they “own” being victims of racism.

  • Maria

    Who are you? So 95% of blacks voting for Obama even the second time around wasn’t done because they are racist? But you would say that white people were racist if 95% of whites voted for the white candidate. You are naive. Where do you live? I am not prejudice in the least and know some nice people of different backgrounds. You are just really ignorant. One other thing, the “goods” the wealthy buy are virtually available for a lot of people of all different backgrounds. There are discount stores galore, books are another example because way back when only the wealthy could afford a book because of the way there were made but with today’s technology and advancements, everyone can buy a car just about, get jewelry and get the same food at the grocery store. They may be at different prices but we all can get a lot of material goods in our modern society. Another thing, don’t tell me that whites can be racist but blacks can not because there is a lot more violent (HATE) crime from blacks on whites where the other way around it is very remote according to the statistics. White-ness is the norm?? Are you living in Timbuktu??? How many white teenagers copy the rappers of today? Their music? Their style? Their way of talking? Singing? I wish they would go out of style! Maybe the kids today wouldn’t emulate depraved behavior promoted by the media if it went out of style. Why don’t you go and fly a kite instead.

  • Vlasta

    You must be one of those whites who just love to kiss ass and be all “pro-black” while you live in a all white suburb.
    Me, on the other hand, a white person who grew up on Chicago …in not the “best part” of it to say the least, has experience has had PLENTY of encounters with reverse racism.
    And by the way most of my friends happen to black because of my childhood, including my now boyfriend. So anyway, I have heard every insult in the book just by walking down the street at times, from blacks, only based on my skin color. And I have been attacked by STRANGERS in my childhood just for being a “white girl.” So don’t tell me reverse racism doesn’t exist.
    What? Black person can’t be racist because of history? Stop lol….
    So you mean to tell me was ok for blacks to insult me… A child at that time! Because I’m white? Because someone with my skin color abused their great great grandma ? Hahaha wow give me a break. MFS DONT GET A PASS ON BEIN FD UP HUMAN BEINGS FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY DIDNT EBEN GO THRU. Pathetic.

    • i am the devil…..ihave come

      you are…..the exact same white dumb ass that she described in the article, your cookie sir

  • Just a thought…

    Reverse racism does exist. To use your examples, if someone touches someone else without permission, you’re right, that’s not racism. However, if a white child is bullied by black children BECAUSE they are white that IS racist. Racism is discrimination based on skin color or race. If any person is discriminated against because of their race, WHATEVER RACE IT IS, that is racist. It doesn’t matter what race it is. It’s still racist.

  • george

    Reverse racism is a false term there is only racism. Racism against any group is called racism. Reverse racism by definition is racism that is non existent.

  • JMac

    Not trying to derail your argument or anything, but there’s a typo in the line “…part of the fabric that let’s whiteness remain dominant in American culture.”

  • John Smith

    Should have a big *applies to certain parts of America only* in the title.

    There are places such as South Africa where racism is rife from both sides (Blacks and whites being killed for race). Maybe if the writer learned a bit more of the world…

    • Sara Luckey

      ‘America is a country seeped in white privilege, and our social structure is built on colonization and forced slave labor that then turned into further systemic and ongoing oppression of PoC.’

      ‘t’s extensive and a part of the fabric that let’s whiteness remain dominant in American culture.’

      ‘There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people’

      I specifically mention American three times in the article to indicate that I am talking only about America. It’s not just a context clue, it’s the actual context.

  • Depends on the Perspective

    So, the premise of this article is that minority groups on a wide scale cannot be “racist” because they do not have power of majority? I’m I understanding this correctly? Racism isn’t solely a societal thing… Racism exists at the individual level, and at many levels beyond the society in general. Take for instance the prevalence of black only colleges, or black only scholarships. Minority groups have privileges within society that some white people do not have access to. Look up admission statistics for institutions of higher learning. As a minority you can be admitted to a school despite being less qualified than a white person… I’ve actually experienced this myself and there is plenty of data out there if you want to look it up. I’ll post a few links at the bottom of this post. Also, look at “Civil Rights Activists” like Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. Can you say that those people aren’t in a position of (relative) power? Could they not influence prejudiced opinion in a large group of people? The idea behind reverse racism isn’t necessarily that white people are being put down, but rather, that minority groups (specifically african americans) have the mindset that they deserve to be put on a pedestal so to speak. Instead of looking for equality, they look for preferential treatment… and that white people’s “racism” is keeping them down when in actuality it is mainly the lifestyle they have chosen to be a part of. Yes, I understand that racism is still a thing… but what evidence do you have that we “live in a culture that supports and enforces whiteness as the norm and PoC as other”…? We have a black president… there are numerous people in positions of power that belong to a wide range of minority groups. No public institutions are allowed to discriminate based on race… No policies are in effect that affect minority groups more so than any other group based on race alone. In our society, racism against a single race really only exists at the individual level. Yes, there are examples of racism at higher societal levels, but like I have said, that goes both ways… white people are discriminated against at all levels of society as well. Its kind of like this… all white people are characterized as being “privileged” and “come from good homes” therefore, they do not need as much help. Black people on the other hand are viewed as “discriminated against” and “come from poverty” and therefore need a lot of help. Think of it this way… imagine if we had a national society for the advancement of white people. Or if there were scholarships out there that only white people could apply for… What if white people were accepted to schools with lower academic statistics than black people were? The minority community would be in an uproar… but ALL of those things exist… only reversed.

    Here’s a link to a few studies I have found:

    http://www.ceousa.org/attachments/article/548/UM_UGRAD_final.pdf

    http://www.mindingthecampus.com/originals/2010/07/how_diversity_punishes_asians.html

    http://www.aei-ideas.org/2013/04/medical-school-acceptance-rates-for-2010-2012-reflect-racial-preferences-for-blacks-and-hispanics/

  • Cannibal Vegan

    Sara, this is a great article and one that should be read by every who misunderstands racism in this country and world. However, I WOULD NOT use the word PoC [person of color]. Is there any reason to believe that white skin is not a color? I know you are talking about the privileges that come along with ‘whiteness’ and that people who don’t necessarily have white skin can have the ‘power of whiteness’ but I think it’s better to use the word ‘non-white’ rather than PoC when talking about people who don’t have white skin.
    Just a thought,

  • C.J.

    This is similar to a topic I allow my students to debate over. Its great to see an online discussion of this

  • Daniel

    I’ve been reading a lot of the comments on here (typically a huge mistake with the Internet), and I saw some comments about how racism, if from an ethnic group that is minority, towards a white person or another minority is prejudice and not racism since there is no institutional value. I want to clarify that the term ‘prejudice’ pretty much does and has always referred to an opinion or attitude of another individual or group that is formed not on facts but of preconceived notions. Prejudice has essentially always referred to opinion without action. Clearly, people are eager to redefine racism, which is fine. But Racism, at least not up until the last 5-10 years, has never meant discrimination backed by power and societal systems. So if this is going to be the new definition for racism we need to think of another term for the scenario I described at the very beginning. Because prejudice is not the right word. Unless of course we’ve just given up on linguistics as a society and just say whatever we want and expect others to accept our new definitions. Is this the most pressing issue? No. But it’s still going to be important in regards to future discussion of this topic.

  • logicdictates

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism –

    1.a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the varioushuman races determine cultural or individual achievement,usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and hasthe right to rule others.

    2.a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fosteringsuch a doctrine; discrimination.

    3.hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism -

    Racism is usually defined as views, practices and actions reflecting the belief that humanity is divided into distinct biological groups called races and that members of a certain race share certain attributes which make that group as a whole less desirable, more desirable, inferior, or superior.

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/racism -

    1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

    2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism –

    1. a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

    2. racial prejudice or discrimination

    http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/racism -

    1.The belief that each race has distinct and intrinsic attributes.

    2. The belief that one race is superior to all others.

    3. Prejudice or discrimination based upon race.

    http://www.globalissues.org/article/165/racism –

    Racism is the belief that characteristics and abilities can be attributed to people simply on the basis of their race and that some racial groups are superior to others.

    With all of this data collected from reputed websites known as dictionaries and encyclopedias, I am positing that your premise is incorrect. You have used merely a single definition of racism (the second one from dictionary.com specifically, and in a general sense, vague interpretations of the other ones) to present your point. The fallacy that you have just committed is that of equivocation, in that you have extrapolated a single meaning of a word to apply to all meanings of that word.

    You are entirely correct that there have been no recorded incidents of whites being systematically oppressed in any modern or pre-modern cultures. And so, whites have never been systematically oppressed, or been victims of systematic racism. However, the definition of racism applies not only to cultures, societies and governments as a whole, but also to smaller groups and individuals. And certainly, even a single incident of a white being shunned, hurt, or even killed merely for their skin color disproves your hypothesis.

    I whole heartedly agree that whites have never faced any relevant level of racism when compared to PoC. I would say on the richter scale of racism, whites have faced maybe a 1.3, compared to the 9.3 of blacks, or the 7.8 of asians. (not literal figures here, just making a point). Feel free to continue saying that whites have never been systematically oppressed, because that is entirely true. Feel free to say that the amount of oppression that whites, men, straights, and protestants have faced has never been close to substantial. But when you use fallacies to back up your argument, it has nothing to stand on.

    Not saying that what you have said has no point or is completely wrong, because you really do. But you are wrong simply because of really specific things.

  • bemused ally shaking her head

    much like all articles about feminism, the comments on this article justify the article. well done.

    • wes

      The same is said by white nationalists and pro-white advocates, as well as men’s rights advocates, respectively.

  • JJ

    I think the problem is that most people don’t differentiate between the definitions of “racism” and “prejudice.” I see what the author is trying to say, but I can also see why people might feel that it’s cherry-picking to say, “You can call it ‘prejudice’ if you are a white person being discriminated against for the color of your skin, but not racism” if they don’t accept the definition of racism to be “prejudice with the power to affect legislation, social environment, etc.”. Maybe this will raise the awareness of some people about the more technical definitions of the two words, but my guess is most people will continue to see the words as synonyms.

    I personally do see the distinction, and I can see why prejudice against a minority (racism) has a lot more repercussions than prejudice against a majority, but I wish we could all agree that a “PoC,” as the author says, lashing out at a white person due to racial prejudice is wrong just the same as a white person lashing out at a PoC is wrong. A white person who grew up in a predominantly black neighborhood where s/he was singled out due to his or her skin should have a right to feel incensed when someone tells him or her that those experiences “aren’t the same” just because it’s their “individual experience.” It’s individual, yes, but that person still suffered discrimination and it makes sense that they might get upset and feel like they’re being told their experiences with prejudice aren’t as valid as a minority’s experience because it “wasn’t racism.”

    • wes

      The problem is you and the author of this article don’t know the definition of prejudice. Prejudice is an all encompassing term for the ‘isms’ of society, racism is specifically racial prejudice.

    • JAES

      THANK YOU. Well, well, well spoken. Or written, rather. ;)

  • Jeffrey James

    While this is obviously well written, I do believe that you are unaware that this argument is poised on the same principles that you condemn. What I find most false is that you consider racism solely as an institutionalized phenomenon. What you are speaking of is a purely academic/historical argument of racism. In our modern world where the paradigms have completely shifted in unprecedented ways, regarding individual experience as a part of racism is integral within this conversation. After all a community is only a collective of individuals. Any group of individuals being subjugated to prejudice based upon race, is racism.

    Racism is not a black and white argument. I mean that figuratively and literally. Socio-economically speaking there are far more Hispanics being oppressed within our modern society. In our culture it is socially acceptable to portray “Mexican” Americans as migrant workers and further berate that group by making fun of their societal plight. That group is institutionally oppressed and in many ways is going through its own version of indentured servitude. Many Hispanics are light skinned, yet never receive an inkling of white privilege. Historically, Native Americans are the saddest story that America rarely speaks of. That is our American Holocaust. Should we disregard this portion of the argument as well. Your argument is selective at best. What is ironic, is that the black/white portion of this “omnilogue” dominates, subjugating all other groups from this pervasive problem; based upon their race.

    I also happen to be an outlier of societal norms. I categorize myself that way, because I fall within many cracks of this argument. I would be categorized as Hispanic, but I am light skinned, with blue eyes. I am a South Bronx native and come from a poor family and neighborhood. All throughout my life I have been subjugated to varying forms of racism, from varying groups of races. Most often the form of racism was dependent on the group I was interacting with. This would run the gamete on forms of racism from literal (pale face, cracker, spic, etc.) to perceptual. My girlfriend is “Black” and being a part of an interracial relationship has opened the door even further to racism. My viewpoint is unique.

    From all of my experience dealing with race, the one true lesson that I have learned; is that you can not get rid of shortsightedness with shortsightedness. If the goal is to reach equality, you must treat all as equal. Until the 17th century the word race denoted national affiliation and not its now taxonomic sense. With that said, I consider my race to be American.

  • Guest Speaker

    So what do you call what happened to George Zimmerman? He had the President considering him guilty before he even got a trial to prove his innocence. The President taking sides because his victim was the same race. The President diverted the Attorney General to go into a state criminal case and try to manipulate it. Once Zimmerman was acquitted, the President accused the Jury of being racists and once again told the Justice Department to try another way to sentence him(double jeopardy). That was some major oppression being done…

  • Fred C. Dobbs

    Reads like an essay written by a privileged student lacking real life experience. It is simply wrong.

    • i am the devil…..ihave come

      you are wrong but like many other whites think you are right while being wrong

  • dude

    If you define racism as the steps that leads to discrimination against a group – you may be right. However, in just looking at the end results, what the outcome of a situation is, then “reverse racism” is very real. If through an affirmative action program a certain quota of Poc or other minorities have to be included in some sort of program (school, job, etc.) then anyone who is not part of those minorities is systematically being discriminated against. no?

  • Anonymous

    As a Chinese American, I can attest that reverse racism is a thing. In fact, many of my Asian friends can be quite racist to white people. The entire concept of “power” in racism is absolute bullcrap. Discrimination based on race is a problem no matter which race is the “dominant” one. So please take this drivel and toss it in the garbage where it belongs. All racism, no matter if the racist is a minority or not, should be condemned. Otherwise, it’s giving one group an advantage over another, which is racism.

  • artwerk

    this is one dimensional af

  • Racismisnotblackandwhite

    I don’t know what this “reverse racism” crap is, but I’m a white male who has had my fair share of racist and hateful comments, looks, and language directed toward me for being white. However, I could never understand or even be able to relate to those who are discriminated against on a systematic level. In other words, it is one thing to have a few ignorant people here and there hate you for the color of your skin and eyes, it is quite another to have entire societies and governments treat you as a potential threat, deviant, or any other unpleasant thing simply because of the color of your skin. This is something I and every other white male in most parts of the world will never be able to relate to or fully understand in our entire lifetime.

    • i am the devil…..ihave come

      is that a white man using logic, you are rare, heres a hug

    • wes

      You do realize most white guys are treated like potential terrorists by homeland security, right?

    • Lifthrasir

      Yet most white women will be able to identify with that. Being harassed at every streetcorner by men of all colours. Being denied of having a soul by the Roman Catholic church some 400 years ago and now again my some natives posting on FB, being discriminated as not having the vote, not being able to land jobs in the higher sector, being paid less then men wherever and being responsble for the majority of householdchores in whatever relationship. Trust me for a white woman, hearing her black friends what it feels like to be harassed by the police is not such a major step to imagine nor is being physically and sexually being abused.

  • Kassia Hardwicke

    This article was SO well written! I’ve shared it a couple times! Thank you! And to answer the questions you asked above: I am a pale skin, blonde haired blue eyed Metis woman…I have NEVER experienced racism, ever. Some of my fellow Metis, First Nations, and Inuit peers with darker skin have, I cannot even begin to fathom their experiences. I have experienced discrimination for not being “really Native” because of my skin colour, but guess what, that is an individual experience…when I walk out in to the world I do not experience what my peers experience…examining the power dynamics, when I walk out in to the world, I experience privilege because of my skin colour…I am never followed in stores, cops drive past me without hesitating or eyeing me up…these are only a couple examples…this is not true for some of my peers. Because of this power dynamic, I do not experience widespread systemic discrimination on the basis of my skin or culture. So yes, I am tired of hearing people say reverse racism is real, and I do believe it is self-centered..yes, we all deserve to be heard, but for christ sakes do not go in to a PoC space, hijack the conversation and make it about your individual experiences…it isn’t about you. What you can do is listen. And learn…. and to answer the last question, no, reverse racism is not real.

    • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

      Thank you.

  • Malcontent

    I’m not shouting or angry but why is “Black people meet dot com” OK, when a “white people meet dot com” would be viewed as promoting racism? Whites are encouraged to look at the person, not the color. Blacks are told, stick together, it’s us against the whites.
    In a poll about the Trayvon Martin case (sorry to bring it up) 90 percent of whites (last spring, way before the trial) said they did not have enough information to decide if Zimmerman was guilty or innocent. Sounds level headed and open minded to me.
    In the same poll, 80 percent of blacks had already decided he was definately or probably guilty.
    If the jury had a majority black make up and he was found guilty, would that be racism? Based on that poll, you wonder if they would even listen to the testimony.
    There are racist whites, and racist blacks and racist yellow people too, don’t think this is a one sided thing.

  • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

    Actually, racism equalling prejudice plus power is a commonly accepted definition amongst critical race theorists, activists, cultural critics and many, many others who are actively involved in anti-racism discourse AND action. The writer is sharing, with those who don’t know or who might not know, a definition that is very clear and widely used though not popular or popularly understood amongst those that don’t read about and work regularly to destroy racist systems, structures and modes of thinking and communicating.

    • commonsense405

      Merriam-Webster says:

      rac·ism (noun) ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-
      : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

      : the belief that some races of people are better than others

      …no mention of requiring a position of power.

      That said, “power” need not be systematic or institutional. It could simply be possessing weapons and/or outnumbering someone on the street at night, as the case was when Dr. Singh got jumped by a gang of African-American men in NYC last month:

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22/prabhjot-singh-sikh-columbia-hate-crime_n_3972449.html

      Are you really going to argue that this act wasn’t racist because it wasn’t committed by whites?

      • Cup of Tea

        Dr.Singh’s attack is not racism. It’s prejudiced (mostly religious based, at least because of what religion they assumed him to be) but not racist. Do you even know what race Dr.Singh is? Do you think his attackers did? They called him ‘Osama’ as in Osama bin Laden someone perceived as a terrorist…whose race was hardly ever mentioned but his religion always.

        You used a dictionary….to describe racism…a dictionary. Webster’s dictionary… a dictionary forming from when slavery was still in existence. Yes with updated definitions…you’re using a dictionary instead of learning about it for yourself….you used a dictionary to understand something as powerful as racism.

        I think you’re trying…but then again..I think you’re being defensive and showing your privilege (which you obviously don’t understand..which is part of your privilege…to not have any real understanding of racism )

        • commonsense405

          > You used a dictionary….to describe racism

          The entire modern world uses dictionaries to define words, even “powerful” ones. And if you really want to discard all modern dictionaries on the basis that they’re racist, please offer some actual evidence.

          > They called him ‘Osama’ as in Osama bin Laden someone perceived as a terrorist…whose race was hardly ever mentioned but his religion always.

          Pure speculation. I could just as easily assert that they targeted him for his ethnicity based on skin color and attire, thus it was a race-based hate crime. I don’t think you’d have any problem identifying this as racism if it had been a white gang beating a random black man.

          But hey, want another?

          http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jul/28/trayvon-martin-3-black-men-beat-rob-white-man-dc/
          Three black men beat and robbed a white man while yelling “This is for Trayvon.” But not racism by Ukumbwa’s definition and yours, because the black men don’t really have “power,” right?

        • Derek Jude Tallman

          Ok, so someone is too ignorant to even distinguish South Asians from Arabs, and somehow that makes them not racist. Wow. Can you help me craft my next excuse when I come home late for dinner and my gf is pissed? You seem to be good at making them for others.

    • Lifthrasir

      Before you keep spreading this definition any further, you need to check out the definition of racism by the UN. And even in different countries racism has not always the same definition. Yours is not valid in the UK and not in the Netherlands. We use racism, as based on skincolour and race and we use discrimination. The latter is then related to all economical oppression, less chances etc.

    • Race Traitoress

      YES. The privilege shown by those here as armchair race theorists is unbelievably frustrating and arrogant. The OP knows what she’s talking about. Educate yourselves before you pop off like you think you know everything.

  • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

    So this has probably been said before. Sorry to not have the time to read every comment, but I’m already tired of exactly the backlash behavior/discourse that Ms. Luckey speaks of in the article. So many of these comments are exactly the same as what I have experienced day in and day out, month after month, year after year. People of privilege find it really, really hard to be present, listen and learn from experiences that are not their own, that may indeed and in deed challenge their perspectives and challenge their unearned privilege in a society built on and sustained by racist social, political and economic structures and ideological systems. It would be great if more people of European descent (along with others) would read and study about racism, privilege, colonialism and patriarchy. We’d at least be able to have more productive, supportive and compassionate discussions that are actually focused on creating better societies and freeing ourselves from our fears and social pathologies.

    Thank you, Ms. Luckey, for this informative writing.

  • Cannot stand you

    A 9 year old boy just recently hung himself for being bullied for being white. Yeah no such thing as reverse racism, all white people are privileged and never have any reason to act like they have a bad life.

    • Ukumbwa Sauti M.Ed.

      No one is saying that these interpersonal situations don’t exist. And it is deeply tragic that this happened to this boy. It doesn’t change the nature of racism that some people’s prejudices were taken out on this boy for being white. It doesn’t make it reverse racism (which suggests that the “correct”, normal racism happens to so-called people of color). It doesn’t change the systemic orientation of primary and constant group oppression on so-called People of Color. It doesn’t change the nature of what was set in place and advanced from 1492, the genocide, the holocaust, the chattel enslavement. Those systems, that system, this system still oppresses certain people more and more constantly without the privileges of whiteness/European-ness. AND it is tragic that this boy committed suicide and that should never happen to anyone.

  • Zita

    Yeah and the author’s point is that when PoC’s talk about INSTITUTIONALIZED racism, white people jump in and talk about INDIVIDUALIZED RACISM and derail the conversation.

    It seems like it’s hard for you to understand that institutionalized racism…. is still racism?

    • commonsense405

      Actually, the author doesn’t specify institutional racism. She says “Any time a PoC starts to talk about their experiences with racism”

      Individualized racism is racism too, is it not? Then it’s relevant to the conversation and not derailing anything.

      • Kandi

        It’s entirely derailing, because you’re using personal experience to invalidate someone else’s personal experience. You’re making it about white people, as if there aren’t a million places for white experience– where it’s thought of as just ‘experiences’.

    • fernando Rivera Jr.

      If you’re talking about institutionalized racism, say institutionalized racism, not just ‘racism’.

  • asdfqwer

    So if a member of a minority shot a white guy in the face because the guy was white, you would not consider that an act of racism? Just trying to clarify here.

    Also, from your logic, if you take a KKK member and drop him off in South Africa somewhere (presumably where he is a minority and racism against whites exists) and he starts killing off all the blacks he sees, just because of their skin color, you would not be able to consider that racist. Thoughts? (I really am curious, I am not trying to be rude)

  • reason

    Ms. Luckey, just because white people post about singular events does not mean that the incident is a standalone fluke. I have had my share of both racist and accepting whites, blacks, latinos, asians, (i can’t claim native americans as they are very few because our forefathers are dicks who were greedy land hungry fucks who wiped out the indigenous) and others. In fact, YOU are prejudiced speaking from a technical pov. Prejudice comes from the word Judical, to judge. pre meaning that you judge Before knowing the full measure of the person or thing that you are so haughtily judging. RACISM means that you hate or feel that you are superior to a person’s race. just as sexism means you feel the same about the opposite gender. You are the type of self-hating bigot who believes that your own people are the scum of the earth and do not deserve the same rights and priveleges as anyone else. and to claim that there are no systematic policies against whites is a naive and shortsighted statement. what do you call a rule that favors one group over another. are white males covered by equal oppourtunity or hate crime legislation? no. what about money for college based on our skin color? didn’t think so. if a seasoned, well-qualified white man and a fresh out of college, no real world experience minority are in for the same job, and yet the employer has not met the quota for that type of minority, the latter will get the job, because the employer does not want to be caught in miles of legal red tape, law suits, and protesters. And this is legalised by our own government. never once in any school i went to, even predominantly white ones did anyone ever get to learn about and celebrate a white culture. and lastly, i leave you with this link. I admit that the author was wrong to point blacks out so pointedly, but it is quite correct in the main point. I challenge you to read this and reply with the same view.

  • Jimmy D

    It is true that “reverse racism isn’t real”. It’s just plain racism and all races can be the perpetrators or the victims.

    The premise that “power” is a required element of racism is incorrect and destroys the author’s entire argument.

    For example, the collective disdain that most blacks have toward most whites is definitely a form of low-grade, loosely organized racism. It is perpetuated in music, comedy, and all forms of media.

  • whatever

    rac·ism
    ˈrāˌsizəm/
    noun
    noun: racism
    1.
    the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

    prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.

  • ghanderman

    well, first of all, you have to understand where the idea of “race” comes from. as a concept, “race” did not even exist until the 18th and 19th centuries…it was coined by European anthropologists and other (pseudo)science types in order to construct explanations for human differences—which was kinda ok in the beginning because people are comforted by labels and prefer explanations. but it was ultimately distorted to justify a hierarchy of oppression in which the “white race” (which also did not exist until the same time period) was seen as the epitome and pinnacle of human evolution. the concept did not come from asia, nor did it come from africa, nor did it come from the americas, nor even eastern european countries…it originated in Britain and France and Spain during the era of “discovery” and conquest and was aggressively promoted by the church, the monarchies, and the land owners. the reason it was aggressively promoted by these entities is because the European construct of “race” allowed for a system of oppression based on phenotype (that is, based on what people looked like) that secured power for the European elite and allowed European commoners to find a new, higher status in the white hierarchy; it didnt matter that they were still landless and dirt poor schmucks of the European aristocracy being ruthlessly exploited by an elite system of oppression (called classism) because now they had power over an entirely new class of people that they could dog instead of being the dogs themselves. it also allowed the european elite to suspend their own systems of laws regarding title, occupancy, and rights over land and land use when it came to the indigenous populations whose lands they were colonizing–after all if someone isnt really a human being and isnt really worthy of consideration since they are beneath white people, then they dont really deserve legal protections and arent really under jurisdiction of the law since the law is reserved for human beings (which in europe meant white people). for a person of color to be a “racist” and to practice “racism” as it actually is, they would have to buy into the whole genetic fallacy of “race” (which does not even exist), would have to be willing to suspend their humanity to promote an oppressive and destructive idea of their own superiority over other human beings, be willing to engage in the dehumanization of themselves to the point where they could not only commit mass genocide on millions of innocent people but justify it through racism and saying that the victims deserved it for not being of their group, and establish global institutions (law enforcement, justice system, scientific community, legal structures, political structures, etc because its not about individuals saying names or retaliating against their oppressors who are white—its about a NATION a community of individuals working to create inequality and using systematic violence to maintain those inequalities) to back up those beliefs….they would, essentially, have to replicate European history and European social relations, establish the same kinds of hegemonic structures that Europe did at the point of a gun before they could then even begin to enact “racism” and be “racists”. Compare it to sexism….a woman can call a man a bleepity-bleep but we all know its still a “mans” world and as a dude, I still have power that women will never have as long as it is a “man’s” world…..I am constantly unpacking my male privilege and having to challenge myself to see where the line is between a woman being angry at hundreds of years of male oppression and me as a man benefiting from that system and engaging in sexist behavior. but racism is worse because race isnt even real; sex differences between men and women are. that black guy shooting a white guy because hes white is nowhere close to that white guy and his father and his fathers father and his fathers fathers father benefiting from the organized lynching and enslavement of millions of black guys over hundreds of years. THATS what racism is—its historical, its systemic, its about a community, an entire nation of people agreeing that black people are inferior and deserve to be murdered because of it. and thats american history, folks…the usa had laws against being black, thousands of “decent” white folks would gather to witness the lynching of a single black man. dont believe me? do some research….and unless black people gain the same systemic power to do to white people what black people have endured for 500 years then nothing they do is “racist”; its a logical reaction (i would even call it justifiable resistance because what sane person allows themselves to be treated like that?) to being targeted for injustice, genocide, slavery, murders, rapes, dehumanization by racists for far longer than any person should ever have to endure.

    • ∞Ꭹᗢᘮᖇᕼᓰᘐᕼﬡᗴᔕᔕ∞

      “…the concept did not come from asia, nor did it come from africa, nor did it come from the americas, nor even eastern european countries…it originated in Britain and France and Spain during the era of “discovery” and conquest and was aggressively promoted by the church, the monarchies, and the land owners.”

      You aren’t entirely wrong, but many researchers would argue that “racism” originated in (and around) India. Race as a concept existed WAY before the 18th century. Try 200-100 B.C.E. Have you ever heard about the Indian Caste System?

      “dont believe me? do some research….”

  • FatRob

    I was about to comment on this old article, but a lot of what I’d intended to write was basically covered below already. Still, the above is guilt-ridden garbage that plays games with semantics while ignoring the actual problems that cause ppl all over the internet to claim that they’ve experienced reverse-discrimination.

    I do think that the use of “reverse” in these discussions is kinda useless, but I understand why some ppl feel more comfortable using it. Whether you want to call it racism, prejudice, or bigotry, it’s pretty F-ed up when ppl marginalize or harm others due to reasons related to “race”. (And, really, the concept of race is a social construct, but that doesn’t make it any less real….)

    If the author ever reads this comment, I hope she’ll realize that there are many situations extant within US society where PoC hold institutional “power” over white folks, even if Caucasians remain the most widely recognized “dominant” ethnic group. Don’t you feel a little bit racist, given that you believe that PoC aren’t even *able* to be racist, Sara Luckey? Don’t you think that, by relegating ppl of color to permanent sub/victim status, you’re showing quite a bit of racial prejudice yourself?

    Whether or not “reverse racism” is real, it’s in poor taste to discriminate against ppl based on (any) skin color, regardless of your particular notions about USA social structure.

  • Josh

    I have 2 degrees (just in sociology) and years of study in sociology myself that saws you’re an idiot.

  • any given person in the world

    rac·ism
    /ˈrāˌsizəm/

    Noun
    The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as…
    Prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.

    A lot of people are claiming to know the definition of the word racism. Just look it up and get it right. I’m not putting across an opinion as that would be seemingly futile. However racism is ‘prejudice or discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief.’ so everyone in the world can experience it, and don’t try claim i’m wrong as its in every dictionary i have checked. Just use a term such as ‘institutionally based racism’ as you serve to undermine your own argument if you get simple facts wrong as people will be less likely to take your word for other, more important, arguments (such as where racism is rooted).

  • Idiotsallofyou

    I think white people are HUNG-UP on the word ‘racism’ PERIOD. I see that most of these comments are more concerned with the definition of ‘racism’ than the consequences of it. HA! Why the f*** do you need a specific/correct (whatever you like) definition to make yourself feel better? The issues discussed in this article are contextual. If you can’t grasp that concept, then a definition WILL NOT HELP YOU UNDERSTAND EITHER WAY.

  • Adolf

    I’m the only White man living in a predominantly non-White neighborhood. I’m not imagining the fact that I’m terrorized nearly every day, I don’t imagine that my house is always being tagged and that I’ve been mugged 3 times by black people. Fuck this stupid bitch for telling me I can’t experience racism just because I’m White.

  • Adolf

    “unless we’re talking about criminals, then PoC get unfairly misrepresented”

    So we have to ignore crimes committed non-Whites to not be racist? Have you ever considered the outlandish possibility that you always hear about crimes committed by Black people and that our prisons are full of black people because black people are actually just committing more crimes?

    You have the predetermined conclusion that everyone commits the same amount of crime (because the only difference is color) and so when reality doesn’t match with your belief you have to create an abstract and imaginary social construct of White privilege to explain away all your inconsistencies.

    If I rob a store, if I kill someone, it’s not because I’m expressing rage at the patriarchy or because I’m feeling the affects of centuries of oppression. I’m responsible for my own actions, I wish I had that kind of excuse for everything so I could blame all my failings on someone else instead of taking responsibility for my own actions.

  • Adolf

    I was always told that racism is when any race attacks or oppresses any other race. Then I was told the idea that only White people can be racist is just something racist White people say to try and make racism look like a stupid concept. Now here you are, openly declaring that White people can not be victims of racism. Fuck I wish I knew how to get into this White privilege club.

    I wonder why my privilege didn’t stop my Indian boss from firing me and hiring another Indian (he only hires Indians but that’s not racist because he isn’t White.) I wonder why when I was in the Army I was one of 3 White men in my platoon and I got constant shit for being White, I’m talking relentless, both physically and verbally. I had to constantly be on my best behavior and the tiniest bit of racial profiling was the worst possible thing that’s ever happened to anyone.

    I’ve been a victim of shit like this all my life and you’re acting like its fair, I didn’t colonize this country, I never owned a slave, I’ve kept to myself my entire life and now all these people are attacking me for crimes I didn’t commit.

    It’s psychos like you that made me into a racist, I had no incentive to “check my privilege” I had no reason to ever watch what I say and no matter how hard I tried to make sure I wasn’t racist it was never good enough so I just decided fuck you, if I’m always going to be racist no matter what then what’s the point in trying.

    YOU PEOPLE ARE GOING TOO FAR AND YOU’RE MAKING MORE PEOPLE HATE YOU

    • reason

      At least this man is honest. I don’t agree with hatred toward another race but he does have a point. Why is it fine for people to make assumptions to whites being racist evil people but not minorities for things that a majority of them do. It is unfair but unfortunately true that when people say “there goes the neighborhood” when a black family moves in. Why? Because no matter what the character of the original family, others blacks who buy into the gangster bullshit follow, because they think that because another black family moves in, it is accepted that they can, without regard for standards of decency. it is the people who perpetuate the negative steriotypes that ruin relations between the races. It doesn’t matter that this is a good family who will be a merit to my neighborhood if they bring a dozen more who will destroy it. (not that I live in a good neighborhood. actually I’m homeless) if these negative people and I include open and belligerent white racists in this, want to help their race move forward then they should leave the decent people alone and let them mingle with other decent people regardless of race!

      • Adolf

        A reasonable intelligent homeless person? Why are you even homeless in the first place, are you Hitler?

    • Jane

      What about all the white soldiers who fought for our freedoms in WW 1 and 2- so the nazis would not overtake the world and kill all nonwhites. They fought for all people and races…………

  • Aria

    rac·ism

    noun ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-

    : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

    : the belief that some races of people are better than others

    All racism is valid be it anti- Black or anti- Asian or anti- White or anti- anyrace, you do not have the right to invalidate anyone else’s experience by claiming it is not what it is. Anyone who shares their experience with racism is not trying to invalidate you, they are sharing in the validation that racism is wrong and should be stopped, if they happen to be white that is no different.

    We all recognize that in North America it is primarily anti- PoC racism, which is institutionalized in that children are taught it and it is reinforced in the major media. And that many white people are ignorant of racism and therefore do not speak against it or in some cases ignorantly perpetuate it without understanding. But that does not mean anti- white racism does not exist because it is less prevalent and less reinforced.

  • oh great

    LOL, do people still believe that prejudice+power rubbish, outside of the teenage hordes on Tumblr?

  • Kenneth Jackson

    It is really sad that it has gotten to the point where there is blatant racism toward whites and no one cares because it isn’t racism cause whites hold the most power. Funny last time I checked some white guy that gets hassled in a NY subway for being white who is just trying to get home from his dead-end job does not hold any more power than anyone else in his situation. I use to be a part of the black movements when I was younger but with my fair share of what would be considered hate crimes today against races, I have come to grow and realize that we are judged as singular people. It does not matter if there is a white man controlling some major position, 99% of other whites have nothing to do with it. This article is incredibly bias and very pro-modern. Make the hurt feel better by hurting. There are never any excuses and until people realize this, racism will be alive and well. At least three fatal white hate crimes have been committed the last few months and there is no uproar, peoples lives taken. Oprah gets denied a handbag and it gets months of coverage. If that as a person doesn’t make you uneasy then I do not know what will. When i was younger, I feared being black, these days I would fear being a white man.

  • Kwehrheim

    Racism is discrimination based on race. There is no other definition. You can think of it however you want, but that’s the only definition of racism. You’re inventing a definition of racism that is in no way legitimate, and then arguing that because a white person could never be a victim of your made up version of racism, there is no such thing as reverse racism.

    The only reason that “reverse racism” isn’t a real thing is because it implies that the type of racism is defined by the specific victim, and it isn’t. Discrimination against any race is racism, and white is a race like any other. If you want to argue that white people aren’t as hurt by racism as non-whites, sure, go ahead, I would agree with that. But to say it doesn’t exist? That’s just stupid.

  • Anonymous

    So your central argument seems to be that racism only exists if the prejudiced opinion is supported by the larger society. I agree with you that racism and profiling is rampant, but I was also under the impression that racism is a privately held belief about oneself in relation to other races, hence the term “racist.” So, in those instances you described about a white kid being chased by PoC at school or the incident with touching hair, if the actions of the PoC in those stories are not racist acts, then how would you describe them?

    I ask not because I don’t think your point is valid, but because I think that “racism” is a strong term with an important connotation. By describing those actions as something other than racist you seem to be suggesting that, while they are deplorable actions, they’re somehow “less bad.” To me that misses the central point of race equality and of all issues of equality and prejudice, which is that the parties deserve to be treated equally in spite of their differences, and that would include both being treated with an equal level of inherent respect and an equal level of criticism for doing something wrong. I might sound idealistic and you might argue that because of white hegemony we can’t think in those terms; those overarching problems are very real and desperately need to be fixed, but to me that doesn’t make an excuse for behavior on the level of person-to-person prejudice, which is a connected problem but still a different one.

    • Reason

      I have to make one small but i do believe important interjection. I do not believe that the act of a black person touching a white person’s hair because it is different a deplorable act of racism. While indeed an invasion of personal space I think things like this should be shared among the races so as to see and acknowledge differences, but accept them as a positive. we need to be more open about and even poke a little FREINDLY fun now and then. I think there is no better cure for modern racism than comedians like dave chapelle and carlos mencia, among others. WE NEED TO GET IT OUT IN THE OPEN AND BE OKAY WITH EACH OTHER PEOPLE! There is nothing wrong with a fried chicken and kool-aid joke or with a banjo-totin sister-screwer joke! just as long as it is said in a spirit of friendly understanding that it isn’t really the case. friends rip each other to shreds with jokes constantly. stop being so fucking sensitive!

  • SebMoss

    There is a difference between institutional racism and general racism. In primarily white-dominated societies in the west, yes institutional racism is primarily perpetrated by white people to “PoC”s. General racism can happen to anybody by anyone of another race.

    This is an important distinction, and it’s harmful to suggest white people cannot suffer any form of racism.

  • Definition

    Without the support of a society (Communism), I cannot be a Communist, just a solitary idealist. Without the submission of a nation (Facism), I cannot be a Facist, just a control freak. Without the hereditary control of the economy (Racism), I cannot be a Racist, just a frustrated bigot.

  • Christopher Kidder

    We are the human race… and therefore ‘racism’ does not exist. This should and eventually will be called something else (or at least I would hope science would reign). Culture is what drives these walls between people. Just because a certain culture was oppressed for a period of time does not mean it will always be so, therefore actions and thoughts and power do change hands. Also, only we know our own realities and you, nor anyone else, can define how the world ‘is’ for anyone else. I like your writings and definitely, keep observing and listening to the world. We need more people to just listen and digest before they speak. Cheers.

  • hm7380

    I call BS on this article. I’m a white female, who has lived in Atlanta & Baton Rouge in the last several years. I get treated like absolute trash by black people when I’m in urban areas. I was even in line to buy gasoline and was the only white person in line. THEY REFUSED TO SELL IT TO ME. I get called a ‘honkey cracker bitch’ on a regular basis, for no reason whatsoever. If the things I experienced had happened to a black person at this day in age, they’d be screaming to the local news and the NAACP about ‘injustice’ in this country.
    So, YES. There IS such a thing as ‘reverse racism’, whether or not YOU’VE personally experienced it.

  • all things are not equal

    I think what people are failing to recognize is that there are different degrees of racism. The author here is addressing institutional racism. Which yes has it’s own definition and is separately defined in every dictionary I’ve ever seen from simple racism. That particular level of racism operates on such a large scale and in such subtle ways that it’s virtually imperceptible. It’s infinitely more damaging than one person’s direct interaction with another individuals racist actions. Yes when you are a victim of racism it’s bad. Regardless of your raceor the offenders race. It’s racism and it’s wrong. However thas is nothing compared to the institutional racism that affects every PoC from birth and even, in this case, whites.

  • Toads

    Racism: the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Racism hurts the minority race the most, yes that’s true. However racism can occur towards a person of any race, by a person of any race. If a Chinese person thinks they’re superior because of their race, that’s racist regardless of if they’re a minority group or not.

  • Steven

    I tend to think the ideas of a “Black” society vs. a “white” society are totally trivial. I’m Scottish and I want to know exactly when that slumped me in with those fucking disgusting French people. (…do you get where I am going with this?)

    And why don’t various other cultures/continents have a set color? I think all racists need to sit down (separately, of course) and decide on more color references that we should use as frequently as these super vague descriptions.

    Racism and Homophobia are two words thats I find completely mind-boggling and totally misleading in today’s world. Assuming that someone is more privileged than you ONLY makes them more privileged than you. I am a gay, white man and I can honestly say that I haven’t felt more privileged than anyone else, and I don’t feel sorry for anyone else (because that would only be me sub-consciously admitting I have some sort of handle on life, which CLEARLY no one has). I can say that I fear a “homophobic” person more than they “fear” me.

    I’m sorry to those of you who have had terrible experiences with these people you’ve described as colors (whether it be white, or black… I seem to see a lot of those two colors mentioned), but guess what (I know this may be a shocker), there are assholes EVERYWHERE. Because we are all on the same planet, you see?

    I hope this comment is as ridiculously sarcastic and annoyed as I feel right now… because the basis of this article is so mundane and stupid. WE HAVE OTHER SHIT GOING ON THE WORLD. LIKE BOMBS. AND DEATH. AND FUCKING HUNGER.

    (on a completely unrelated note: As much as my rant makes complete sense to me, I know it will fall on completely deaf ears because false-progression is something Americans love and hold VERY dearly… so I am going to make the subtle request that I be called a “red” from now on. Because I am a red-haired person, and “white” doesn’t accurately describe my skin that has both white spots and black spots.)

    Also, can I get fucking married yet? JEEZ.

    • Reason

      Love that. nailed it. except not all of us americans are idiots and assholes mate. and as to your last question, hopefully soon mate. Good luck in scotland.

  • Nevi

    When racism occurs against a minority it adds to the oppression of that culture. When someone makes the argument that a minority was racists against a majority (ex. group of black guys mug a white guy) it intern gives people more reason to continue to be racist against the minority. It’s very cyclical, and a difficult problem to combat.

  • commonsense405

    Sara,

    Your entire argument is based on a false premise. From Merriam-Webster:

    rac·ism (noun) ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-
    : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race
    : the belief that some races of people are better than others

    So when you qualify racism as requiring systematic bias, you are factually incorrect. Racism is racism, and “reverse-racism” is also racism. Anyone can fit the above description, including those who have been historically more oppressed (see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/22/prabhjot-singh-sikh-columbia-hate-crime_n_3972449.html ). Racism can occur on a societal or individual basis; either way, it’s racism. Denying that as you do here is dangerous and counterproductive because it censors the conversation and gives license for non-whites to act racist without repercussion.

  • Kelly

    I think there is a serious blur on what racism actually is. It entails a dichotomy of inferior and superior races. It is the belief that such a paradigm exists in the first place. It is racist for a white person to believe they are superior to a PoC. It is LIKEWISE racist for a PoC to believe they are inferior to a white person.

    If you buy into the idea that one race is in fact superior or inferior to another (not because you like it or want it that way, but just that you believe it to be true), then you are a racist.

    People often conflate that which is racial to that which is racist. Dropping the n-bomb isn’t racist, it’s racial. Not hiring a PoC because you think a white person would be better for the job is racist. Hiring a PoC because you think they would be better for the job is racist. Race based superiority and inferiority.

    That all being said, reverse racism is far more real than this perceived “white privilege”. THAT is the real tired argument. This notion that because I have fair skin, I’ve got something handed to me. Really? Why is it that the majority of people on welfare are WHITE then? Where’s THEIR privilege?

    I don’t deny that there is racism. But not the way you’ve described and certainly not in the form you think it appears. Saying that white people cannot suffer discrimination is like claiming a man can’t get raped. That’s ignorant and a rather tragic waste of mental potential.

  • Johann Gambolputty

    There is no such thing as reverse racism. Racism is racism. And yes, it is possible to be racist towards white people. To claim that white folks are exempt from regular discrimination and only able to be victims of some form of alternative discrimination is a fallacy. You have, through your own argument, set a specific group of people apart and by that, made a discriminatory statement against them. You state that white people are inherently powerful and privileged, an assessment made only based on your own preconceived notions on a people based on their skin color. You prove the point of those you try to denounce.

  • Deb

    Reverse racism isn’t real because putting a “reverse” in racism does nothing but divide the two races. Racism isn’t necessarily oppression–the term you’re looking for is “institutionalized discrimination.” ID can be based on sex, sexuality, class, race, and anything else that creates sects in society. It’s absolutely ridiculous that people think being “prejudiced against another race” does not count as racism when that’s the epitome of it. These definitions have been separate and established–you can’t go around changing what “racism” means to suit you. As an Asian in this country, I find it so ridiculous that people still argue about this when my ancestors had it just as bad and overcame it economically. Chinese were banned from the US government for over 60 years, Japanese were put in INTERNMENT CAMPS just decades ago, the worst mass lynching in this country’s history occurred in Chinatown. But despite all this, Asians, especially East Asians and Indians, were able to start off at the bottom of this country, overcome “White Privilege,” and make a greater income than anyone. I understand money isn’t everything, but since economic oppression is what people like talking about the most, this proves that it’s not impossible to overcome. In addition to this, growing up in South Carolina, I faced more racism than the Black people at my high school did, and although the White people were the ones who made ignorant comments, the Black people were the ones threatening to “fuck me up for being a chink,” even in middle school. Excuse me, but you’re disgusting if you’re going to make excuses and call that “prejudice” instead of racism. A) My race didn’t do shit to cause the issues Black people faced these past couple centuries and B) There are 3x as many Black people in this country than Asians.

    In addition to all of the above, slavery in this country occurred when it was still globally accepted by developed world powers–that doesn’t make it correct or anything, especially in retrospect, but it WAS because of this country emancipation’s decision that other developed countries stopped enslaving people. People seem to forget that (and also seem to forget that Black people were sold to White people by Black people during the slave trade…how is the seller any better than the buyer?) And in addition to that, why are all the people who continuously complaining about slavery in the 1800s doing NOTHING to stop modern-day slavery, that at 27 million enslaved, is higher than it’s ever been? I’m tired of people making arguments without stating the most relevant facts or looking at it from a perspective that actually requires effort and a global and historical view. Please, unless you have thought long and deep and have done your RESEARCH rather than solely relying on what other people think and post, don’t comment on such controversial issues like you know it all.

  • Zoe

    In this long chain of defining and re-defining racism, we have lost the point.

    The issue with white people popping up and claiming “reverse racism” in response to the story of a PoC is not so much whether it is or is not racism. It’s the underlying implication from the poster that “I have had a bad experience and I’m more of a victim than you, so your story has no value; stop whining”. Or put in a larger societal context: “the fact that racism against PoC exists and is rife is undermined or mitigated by the fact that some whites experience racism too.” This is obviously utterly illogical – it’s like me claiming that a woman who was sytematically abused as a child should not moan about it because my mother beat me up and put me in hospital once. There’s no connection – both are bad. In fact, much like the way “Victim-upmanship” can destroy a potentially constructive conversation, it undermines the opportunity for empathy and shared understanding that should come from a shared experience.

    Two situations cause most of the conversation threads where a white person goes “yeah, but me too” to go off the rails:

    a) that person states it in the way illustrated above, thereby failing to see the point of the whole conversation, i.e. “racism is bad, it sucks for everyone”, undermining the whole issue and perhaps coming across as attention seeking and petulant about their lost privilege in the process, if not somewhat racist themselves.

    This pisses people off, and the conversation spirals downwards, usually becoming more racist and drawing “us vs them” distinctions from both sides.

    b) the white person actually states their “yeah, me too” in a way that is empathetic and potentially constructive, but someone(s) with a strong sensitivity to “those whiney, privileged whites, claiming they could possibly understand the pain of PoC, hijacking the conversation from people that have a RIGHT to discuss it” takes umbrage and says something along those lines.

    …This pisses people off, and the conversation spirals downwards, usually
    becoming more racist and drawing “us vs them” distinctions from both
    sides.

    Interestingly In both situations, the flamer has made the mistake of categorising a person by their race and thus valuing or devaluing their right to speak on an issue. Racial lines have been unconsciously drawn and people have stepped onto one side or the other, which of course derails a conversation which in the beginning was about how racial prejudice is destructive. Ironic, but not that funny, really.

  • Fome

    What a ridiculous, limited, worldview.

    The racial issues in America pales in comparison to the level of hate and injustice we see in other parts of the world. I’m talking about massacres, ethnic cleansings, blatant civil rights violations, modern day slavery, imprisonments without trials, racial propaganda campaigns, etc. And these things are still going on today, as daily occurrences, all over the glove. In most of these situations, not a single “white” person was involved.

    Reverse racism doesn’t exist because it’s contradictory in its very definition. Racism does not belong to Whites, racism is a global issue and any one can perpetrate it at any power level.

    If racism, specifically, is the cause you choose to champion in your small time on Earth, and if you actually want to affect change instead of bitching about minor encounters on the subway, to foster understanding, break down barriers, and improve people’s lives, then it’s time to drop the anti-white crusade and focus on other parts of the world.

  • ConsiderThis

    Definitions. Learn them and use them. Don’t create your own.

    Racism : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

    Prejudice : an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc.
    : a feeling of like or dislike for someone or something especially when it is not reasonable or logical

    Discrimination : the practice of unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other people or groups of people

  • Charlie Browne

    I think we’re just arguing about terminology here. That’s not really an important issue. I think it’s more important to remember that for long lasting social change you need the majority on your side and that anytime your judging someone based on the colour of their skin your buying into a mentality that just adds to this cycle.

    We need to remember that there is only one human ‘race’ and we are all just people. Ask any mainstream scientist or just look at the story of Adam and Eve or in Buddhist texts it is said all humans can reach Nirvana. They all tell us there is one human race only. I think if everyone realised that then perhaps this problem wouldn’t exist.

    The idea that there are multiple races is a social construct. It is similar in some ways to the old pseudo-scientific number system that my country and many others used to follow earlier in the last century.

    What if we came up with a term for people who deny that there is a single race? Culture is a different concept entirely and those differences should be celebrated but we are all human and we all have potential.

  • CJ

    We could walk through a myriad of examples to poke holes in this article, but I think it comes down to the author simply attempting to redefine the word “racism”. The article states that people without power do not have the capacity to be racist. This is simply not the case, and, in fact, suggests that they are less than human in that assertion. They are somehow not capable of the complete capacity of being human.

  • Kev_S

    According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is “prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed at someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior”. Furthermore, anyone can be on the receiving end of mistreatment based on race, including white people. No matter who it is directed against – black, white, Asian, Aborigine/First Nation, whatever – racism is racism, and like all forms of discrimination and bigotry it is unacceptable. No person should ever be made to feel bad about what race or colour they happened to be born.

    A little further reading you might be interested in (especially you Sara):

    http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/01/28/irish-apes-tactics-of-de-humanization/

    http://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/skinall.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_trash

  • Tyler808

    The ignorance in this post is astounding. The author right in the fact that there is no such thing as “reverse-racism”. That is because racism is NOT defined as a white person oppressing a person of color, so it does not need to be “reversed” to be present. Racism is the oppression of any person based on their ethnicity. For example: at my university it is socially acceptable for my friends of color to call each other names based on their separate ethnicities, it is socially acceptable for my friends of color to call me things based on the fact that I am caucasian, it is not socially acceptable for me to do the same towards them. Now I am not arguing that I should be able to do that. My point is that all of the above instances are minor forms of racism. These minor things are racism ingrained into the culture. This post, and others like it, create racism whether we realize it or not. All the talk of how “white people” as a whole need to tread carefully and be very conscious of how they act around/treat those who are not white is just creating another form of prejudice.
    I am white, and I went to high school in Hawaii. I did experience real racism there, even if I did not get kidnapped or shot because of it. I do not want pity, or even really care that it happened to me, it gave me good life perspective. I also do not feel a need to compensate for how annoying/infuriating white tourists are, I do not feel a need to get out of Hawaii because white people invaded it so many years ago, I do not feel a need to make up for all the white oppression that has happened to people. The simple fact is, my skin color does not justify grouping me with people who have the same skin color because of the wrong they do. This would be doing the same thing as the racist who assumes that a black person is responsible for gang activity because there are black gangs.

  • me.

    just because you pick a narrohwly defined definition for racism does not mean that the ground rules for it. most of us would simply describe racism as hatred based on one’s race and we can all be guilty of it. to try to excuse anyone from it is not helping any of us move forward.

  • Guest

    While I agree that the “reverse racism” that you’re talking about does not exist (the white in the all-black neighborhood, etc), that definition is rather one-dimensional. You can’t deny that there is a sort of reverse racism, if you want to use that title, in the form of assumptions that a white person is racist or isn’t smart or feels superior. There’s prejudices and assumptions such as these towards every race in society right now.

  • Caucasian Person

    “White” people..

  • Racism goes both ways

    I totally disagree with this article. I’m from Canada and I’m constantly being bullied at school by both students and teachers for being white. I’m the only white person in 3 of 4 of my classes. I’ve been called a Nazi by the majority of my peers just for having blonde hair and blue eyes. It doesn’t matter what race you are, being attacked for your skin colour is racist. Reverse racism is when someone is called racist just because they’re of a specific race. I’m unable to participate in class discussions involving other countries without being called racist. I’ve been bullied by teachers for being christian because “white people are allowed to be christian.” I was beat up by a girl in my art class for painting a picture of Jesus and not painting him black. The paintings were supposed to be accurate. He wasn’t black and it’s not racist to paint him the way he actually looked. Racism is terrible no matter who it happens to. No one is immune to racism.

  • Fvbe

    I like the simple definition: racism = power + prejudice. It is universal and applies to many situations, whether at the level of a country or a neighborhood or a school or a church. When racism is widespread, it can form social constructs, legislation and media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Yet racism can happen at the level of a neighborhood or a street corner.

    Racism (= power + prejudice) can come from all sides, including from People of Color (PoC). Racism can even occur within a same color of people. Remember the genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus in Rwanda in 1994?

    Please do this experiment: Spend a long time (years) in a group that is majority different than yours, and act to change things for the better as you see it. Chances are you will experience push back and prejudicial comments, and you might be down right excluded by some people. Not by everybody, but by some individuals, call them extremists. These will react loudly and influence others to support their viewpoint against yours. Since other members of the community look like and identify (biologically) with the extremists, chances are that they will support them and will not stand up against injustice.

    Actually those of you who are part of minority groups have already done this experiment. You are doing it everyday living in a country where the majority looks different. Go to a country where you are part of the majority, and i bet you will act like a majority person. This phenomenon happens also at the level of a neighborhood or a school or even a church – as I have experienced.

    And this is not specific or limited to any one race or religion. It is a natural phenomenon of any homogenous majority group of human beings toward any minority that is trying to assert itself. It can happen to black, while, yellow, brown, red people. And it would happen to green people if we had some.

    The defeat of racism will be based on understanding, empathy, and recognition of our inherent sameness (or god-ness, in my world view). Denying that other people’s experiences of racism are real, is not an example of any of those qualities… Love you all!!

  • JOE REALIST

    I love how its only white people who can be racist, or wrong. It’s never “when Asians complain of racism”, or “when blacks claims racism”, or “when latinos claim racism, they’re wrong. Only when whites point out injustices, its because we are born evil and our black hearts can’t stand to see others succeed right? I’m white and I NEVER got the memo about how we secretly get everything free and how theres a plot to hold them down. Get a life phony. Black people do not need your help and phony demeanor and people are tired of this act. Some whites LOVE slapping themselves and their race on the wrist for things that happened centuries before we were born/in the country. NEXT.

    • Mr. Frazier

      you’re the same white person who will draw energy from your “founding fathers” who “built this country” but as soon as something so evil and barbaric as slavery is bought up… OH that wasn’t us.. neither was the constitution or any inventions that white people in the past came up with.. but you will take credit for that.. like a lakers bandwagon fan, only claim white power when there’s nothing to be judged negatively off of..

      • Jane

        There is slavery right now in the world – 8 million or more slaves. Its not run by whites. They are in saudi arabia, sudan, indian and china.

        • Ne-Yo from kiss my ass prank

          That doesn’t negate the fact that white people need to acknowledge their role in slavery just as they assume credit through lineage from white people’s alleged accomplishments.. That and repent for it

  • http://blog.franchesca.net chescaleigh

    this post is flaw free

  • Hammerstrike

    Hahahaha, saaaad! Leave your basement. come to Detroit and see if it is imaginary.

  • Hammerstrike

    If that evil privilege really existed, feminism and civil rights movements would simply never have succeeded as they did in the first place and you would be living in a kitchen trailer.
    But you know that, don´t you? That is why you go on about “Privilege”, you yourself want preferential treatement for being female, you want things handed to you in life instead of working, earning them.
    Your social justice utopia cannot whistand biological and economic reality, thought, not too long before it crashes hard and EBT cards stops working.

    What then? Ever read Darwin´s book? Oh right, he is White, evolution is an invention by Whitney to oppress the PoCs!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSsDh23KroM

  • i am the devil…..ihave come

    ” the belief that some races of people are better than others”, actually this is the definition of ethnocentrism but carry on blindly

  • i am the devil…..ihave come

    if sharpton and jackson were as dangerous and racist as yall claim whites would have been dead a long time ago

  • i am the devil…..ihave come

    internet comments will make black people racist, they certainly have made me quite the malcolm x over the last year or so, you people are freakin delusional, uneducated degenerates, not just a few of you most of you, the internet was the worst thing that ever happened to this false sense of white intelligence superiority because it exposes to me how ridiculous the mindset of most whites are, incapable of understanding and empathy, ethics, or morals, you people are barbarian savages in my eyes

  • Jordan

    I’m black and the way I see it is that white is a race, therefore – you can be racist to them.

    I know so many POC that are always complaining about the whites and blaming newer generations for the things their ancestors did, because you know how that three year old next door helped lead the slave trade. It’s ridiculous. People of Colour who attack and blame white people who aren’t at fault just keep racism alive.

    • Jane

      and people dont know that there were more Irish slaves in America, England and the Commonwealth than black slaves..

  • Marko

    I cant even form a well constructed response to this article. It is that ridiculous.

    I’m heading over to Thailand in a few months. I suppose I can make every racist comment I can think of to all the locals as I’m walking the streets of Bangkok. When people look at me in shock and wonder why such a hate filled person would bother coming to Thailand, I can simply refer them to your article. Because apparently, due to the fact that the Thai’s are the majority, I’m not being racist?

    Have I got that right? Who cares. You are a moron :)

    • Speaksvolumes

      Beautiful analogy. Well done.

  • Davy Goossens

    like with rape, this is how feminists redefine language. by linking it to “power” and “systematic” oppression.

    • toffee

      What is your definition of rape?

      • Davy Goossens

        2rape transitive verb

        : to force (someone) to have sex with you by using violence or the threat of violence

        from merriam webster.

        • toffee

          So, how have feminists redefined rape. Also, feminists haven’t redefined racism, social scientists have.

  • BaseDeltaZero

    The general gist of the message is exactly right – POC against white discrimination is not as harmful as white against POC discrimination due to the power differential, bringing up ‘but what about my problems?!’ as a silencing tactic, and the like, but…

    If we define ‘racism’ as “discrimination by a privileged group against and underprivileged group on the grounds of ‘race’”, then it seems like ‘reverse racism’ would be exactly the correct term for ‘discrimination by an underprivileged group against a privileged group on the grounds of race*. The very term acknowledges its not the same thing as racism. It’s in reverse. (Not the ‘opposite of racism’, that would be tolerance/egalitarianism). That’s mainly just my semantic nitpicking talking, though, and yes, it isn’t as bad, because, well, the privilege thing. That doesn’t make it *right*, just a question of priority. When other races actually have something like a proportionate share, *then* ‘that black man called me a honky’ will actually be relevant. Until then, first remove the plank from your own eye…

    Racism is a process, not a solid state.

    I’m heading over to Thailand in a few months. I suppose I can make every racist comment I can think of to all the locals as I’m walking the streets of Bangkok. When people look at me in shock and wonder why such a hate filled person would bother coming to Thailand, I can simply refer them to your article. Because apparently, due to the fact that the Thai’s are the majority, I’m not being racist?

    1. Typically, it refers to a world context.
    2. Alternatively: No, you’d just be being an asshole.

  • Blank

    Although I do agree to a point I must say you need to open your eyes to what others may be saying. If a black individual simply hates a white person or any skin color for that matter, its not reverse racism its just simply racism. Any one of any color can be racist towards another color. It doesnt have to be reversed its just plan and simpe racism. When a mixed couple are looked down at for being with each other. Not because one or the other color but because they both are of a different race thats racism as well. So your point that whites can not be offended or affected by racism is false and ignorant.

  • Reason

    “white people” are also posting that they agree with your side, idiot. white people also fought to abolish slavery, jim crowe laws, fight for racial equality, and many other pro-colored activities. I believe we shouldn’t even be white but red with forked tails and horns on our heads to hear some people tell it. Idiotsallofyou indeed. the definition is the point of the article in the first place. hate is hate. and you are a prjudiced and hateful person.

  • nabeel

    Whites created rasicm and practised it all over the world. This made them the enemy and reverse racism is just what they deserve. Fight fire with fire. There are many white racist ppl still throughout the world and the best way to get back at them is to give them a taste of their own medicine. They never cared about how the poc felt when they were oppressed, so why should poc care about how they feel now? All the whites care about is not equality, but rather to bring racist idealogies back and to once again oppress poc. So poc should not feel sorry for them. You feel sorry for them and give them power again and they will oppress you again. The truth hurts but it has to be told.

    • april showers

      Whites created racism? If you seriously believe that, you need to go back to history class and stop being so ignorant and racist!

  • Bub

    You’re right, there’s no such thing as “reverse” racism. But not for the reason you think. Racism does not apply to ONE race. To believe that, as you do, is actual racism. Racism is racism, regardless of what race it is against, and which race is the perpetrator. Words have meanings. Ignorance doesn’t change those meanings.

  • Sean Morris

    Of course “reverse racism” isn’t real. That would mean, the reversing of racism. Except to those who use the phrase to imply “racism directed to white people” or even better PonC. In which case, that’s pretty fucking racist terminology. For that matter, using PoC to distinguish all non white people, to generalize them, if you will, in some category of discourse, is very racist indeed. The fact that this article singles out a whole group of people distinguished exclusively by race, is racist. Seriously, what the fuck is wrong with you?

    Furthermore, to suggest white people are immune from racism, is like saying the holocaust didn’t exist. It’s ridicules and naive.

    Simply put, cry assing is cry assing no matter who is doing it or what their race might be. It gets no one anywhere.

    Besides, you’re not white, so you could never understand. (LOL! Sorry, couldn’t resist that last line).

  • Matthius Wiseman

    We

  • Jacob

    The idea that there is a concrete, final definition for a term is ludicrous and naive in my opinion. Words are expressions of culture from within the culture. We all know that cultures are ever-changing, so a particular definition may become obsolete as that aspect of the culture grows and shifts. It is the people who challenged conventional definitions who came up with the very definitions we are arguing about. One scholar may accept it as canon just as another one casts it aside. Arguing about definitions is a battle of many sides and with no end, therefore is not a battle worth fighting. I believe, though, that we can all agree on a few basic principles of racism, these being:
    1. Race is a factor
    2. It is a conflict
    3. One party emerges in a place culturally seen as superior to the other
    Correct? Is there anyone that disputes this?

  • Kacie

    There’s no such thing as “reverse racism”. It’s either racist or it’s not. Whether it’s prejudice toward African Americans, Caucasians, Native Americans, what have you, it’s all racism. Everyone has come in contact with one form or another, it just so happens that white > black is what we hear most about. It’s all there though. It would be great if people would stop trying to sweep it under the rug and actually try to accept that it does exist and take steps to equalizing the world.

  • Barry

    Racism is racism!

    People think they are displaying discretion but really it is discrimination!

    Every body is selfish & evry body judges by they’re own pathetic standards!

    I’m a misanthrope!

    I hate all of you equally!

    I pray every day for the Apocalypse!

  • Mav (F)

    Ha Ha.. White people as you call them have racism against them just like every other race. Your article stating we bullshit about racism, well frankly you are the one being racist now. Every Race in this world has racism, doesn’t matter if they are white, black, brown, olive, red and so on, we all experience it. Frankly, I don’t care when someone is racist against me, I think who really cares but me and what you have to say I will only think the worst of you not your race. However this is certain races that I would never ever trust again. Does that make me Racist? or just wise to realise they can’t be trusted?

  • Monica

    Racism is not something that is NOT the sole and exclusive domain
    of white people. Racism occurs whenever someone acting on their prejudice
    treats another person unfairly, cruelly or even differently than they would
    treat another person based on the color of that person’s skin.

    Taking over a conversation where someone is sharing an event that happened to them and making it about you is something else entirely. I believe that would be called narcissistic behavior.

  • Mark K.

    Question: trivializing the race-fueled suffering white people have endured, and drawing a line so that only “PoC” can truly experience racism…….isn’t that racist? I mean, if a bunch of white kids beat a black guy on his way home from school, that would be racist. But the other way around, it’s not? If anything, having this line, having the term “Person of Color” at ALL is part of what’s perpetuating this stuff…

    I mean, if we’re looking for equality, why do we insist on this division?

  • se9f

    What an insulting article. Considering that in college, Vietnamese non-citizens and African-Ams had full scholarships and grants and did not work, while I did not qualify for the same because I was too lower middle-class, too female,too Caucasian, too typical, yet smarter/academically qualified, I go nothing. Zippo. Just 5 days a week working night shift in a nursing home, going to school full-time, and ending up in the ED two times with arrhythmias from exhaustion.Please. Very biased. Just as I cannot explain your experience, don’t try to explain mine.

    • ih8disquis

      so how did you know you were smarter/academically qualified than them? You had their transcripts? test scores? what’s insulting is your assertion that you are intellectually superior without providing facts. I get that it’s an anecdote but get over it and stop feeling sorry for yourself.

  • Michelle

    I agree that “reverse racism” isn’t real, but not because or your reasoning in your article. Reverse racism isn’t real because being a racist isn’t limited to one skin color. Racism is really just the hatred or discrimination of another person or group because of their skin color. It doesn’t matter if you are white, black, mexican, asian, etc. you can be a victim of racism, even if you aren’t the minority in the area you live in. This article is offensive not only to white people, but to all races.

  • racismisbad

    Prejudice of any kind is bad. Some are worse than others, but they are all bad. Just a kind reminder.

  • Laurel Hedge

    I deplore anyone being trivialized, othered, or victimized, by racism or anything else. But I’m calling bullshit on your premise. There’s not such a thing as “reverse” racism only because the phrase itself makes no sense. There’s only racism.
    Anyone–of any race–can be a racist. And anyone–of any race–can be a
    victim of racism. To claim that people of European descent can’t be victims of racism in the U.S. of A. because it’s not “institutionalized is–in itself–racism. It’s specious, it’s arrogant, it’s ugly, and it stinks in the sun.

    I’m sad that you’ve interacted with white people on the internet that have made your experiences of racism feel trivialized, othered, or victimized. I wasn’t there, so I have no idea what what said, or what was meant–but this article is all about YOU othering, and trivializing, and minimizing their experiences, which don’t matter to you because they’re not “institutionalized.”

    Shit doesn’t happen to institutions. It happens to individuals. When it happens to YOU, simply because you are Asian, female, handicapped, short, fat, homely, speak with a stutter, are old, Islamic, a child, a teenager, autistic, schizophrenic, mentally challenged, have HIV, and/or any of the other condition that causes people to think that it’s okay to mistreat you–the why matters a whole lot less than the what,

    It’s not okay. Period. Ever. The sneering condescension you’re displaying toward whites is just as bad as trashing men who try to empathize or share their parallel experiences regarding the victimization of women simply because they aren’t women. The sexism aimed at men is not the same as the sexism aimed at women, and it’s considerably more rare. it’s still sexism, and the experiences of the men who are harmed by it are just as valid as any woman’s. Are you a sexist too?

    Sara, although i sympathize very much with what you’re trying to say, I kind of despise you right now. Not because I’m a racist (I have no idea what race you are, and I don’t care, any more than you have any idea what race I am)–but because you are..

    I hope that changes–for all our sakes.

  • Laurel Hedge

    Forgive me. I didn’t read the entire article before spouting off, and I was wrong. The people who wrote this crap–NOT Sara–are the racists.

  • hosein

    Fuck you, you insufferable bitter piece of trash

    I promise you, not all minorities think this way. People of all walks of life are susceptible to racism and prejudice.

    You know what though, you are right. reverse racism isn’t real. because it’s just plain racism to begin with.

  • Jason

    Racism is racism, there is nothing reverse about any of it. It is all gross regardless of who is doing or who it is being done to. In a conversation, it is a normal human experience to respond to statements made to you. That is how conversations work. You say something to me, then I say something to you. If you want to give a speech and not have a conversation at all, I guess then it wouldn’t be appropriate to respond to it in any way, but if we are having a conversation, I may chime in. If a PoC makes a statement to me about racism they faced, I may respond with straight sympathy or I may respond with empathy. When someone tells you they have pain, it is a normal human response to respond by telling them about pain you have felt. That doesn’t mean you are belittling them, making it all about yourself or derailing the conversation. It just means that you are trying to express empathy for them. Yes you have had pain, I have had a pain that felt similar to me as what you have explained to me and I feel sad for us both that we have both had that kind of pain. If a PoC says to me that someone was racism towards them I might feel inclined to tell them about when I experienced bigotry or racism. Shared pain is a human emotion. That’s why friends get together and watch Steel Magnolias, the Color Purple or the Notebook and have a good cry together. It isn’t that we have all been in the 100% exact same boat, but we all have pain, we all suffer and sometimes sharing it helps. It help emotionally to know other people have gone through something like what you have gone through. It also helps more specifically sometimes when you tell someone of your troubles and they tell you about how they had similar troubles and how they dealt with it. Telling all white people to just shut up and listen is racist in and of itself. It isn’t reverse racism, there is no such thing. That would be loving all people only for their race or some weird crap. Disrespecting or disregarding someone because of their race is racist no matter what their race is. It doesn’t stop being racist if the racism is directed at a white person. Maybe you as a white person disrespecting other white people would be what reverse racism is?

  • There you go.

    No one talks about macro vs micro racism. The ability and power to kill coupled with prejudice lends for the ability to be racist on a micro or individualized level. Now, institutionalized racism requires a society to create and if a certain racial group does not have the numbers to create social norms then no, that group does not have the power to create institutionalized racism on a macro level. Really that is the end of this discussion and I wish I could go back to college to say it.

  • Mr. Frazier

    a lot of white people are in their feelings over this piece. The author spoke the truth, racism is different for different races and none bear the brunt of it more than people of color, there is prejudice and there is judgement, but racism in the context that most Americans know it is focused on those who aren’t white, particularly blacks and to a lesser (but not much) extent latinos. I say lesser for the Spanish people because some of them can pass for white based on their appearance, like the Canadian-born Ted Cruz. There is a staunch difference between what whites go thru and what darker skinned people experience, and being anything other than colored, you’d never understand.

  • Harmony Scaglione

    This is “It wasn’t me!” syndrome. Being a white person who actually acknowledges and talks to other white people about the logical impact of hundreds of years of oppression on African Americans, and the genocide proudly committed by the US against indigenous people (ex: look at your man on the $20; research that story), I have heard, a million times, “Well, I wasn’t there! I didn’t own slaves! I didn’t kill Indians!” And this, of course, is true. Because this is a world where people don’t want to pick up a piece of litter they did not personally drop, I have to acknowledge that okay, true, YOU never personally did those terrible things. But just like the litter that YOU didn’t drop — IT’S THERE ANYWAY. The true definition of karma is consequence of action, and what white people experience, and call reverse racism, is the karma of centuries of dehumanization. To better understand it, white people could try to see the big picture and stop trying to squeak out of the horrible truth about what has happened here. Honestly, once accepted, that truth hurts. On the other hand, it is unfair to expect a white person to be abused for being white and not to not react/respond. Every action has a reaction. In the core of all of us, we want to be treated well, to feel respected, and to be happy. We all need to act peacefully, and try to enlighten and heal our society.

    • wes

      Or maybe imperialism was karma for non whites due to what they did to European people thousands of years ago…

  • mike

    you obviously have never traveled far from the white suburb you exist in. Reality will hit you hard and you will be embarrassed by the foolishness you wrote above. Get a clue

  • sveme1

    I agree with the author that “reverse racism” is a nonsensical concept; however, I only agree with that idea insofar that racism is racism- I myself don’t differentiate any degrees or “level” of racism, and it sounds as though the author doesn’t either. I think that the author’s approach to the definition of racism though- specifically as a social construct and socially driven entity, with agency solely held by whites- is somewhat myopic. I don’t think that anyone in their right mind would debate the fact that whites have the greatest social agency in North America, but the author should be cautious in (my opinion) casting aside- somewhat flippantly- the experiences of whites in regard to racism. To suggest that any experience a non-PoC might perceive to be racism is patently not, runs the risk of being racist itself- or at the very least, prejudicial (I’d argue that it’s racist, as action was actually taken- an article was written and posted). If a mob of whites beat a PoC based upon skin color, it’s certainly racist- an action taken based upon prejudicial thought (I’m using the Merriam-Webster definitions for the words). If a mob of PoCs beats a white person based upon skin color, that too is racist- it flies in the face of the textbook definitions of the words to suggest that it’s merely a revocation of some white privilege. I do agree with the author that touching somebody’s straight hair isn’t racist- anymore that touching somebody’s curly hair, or bald head is racist. Certainly uncomfortable, possibly assault, a braking of traditional norms, but not inherently racist. But whites can experience racism. Not systemic, generalized socially driven racism, but in microcosms where power shifts to non-whites, it can occur. To suggest otherwise is to suggest that those voices have no place in the overall discussion of race-based prejudice and racism in North America, a position I find somewhat troubling. I don’t think that you can honestly even frame a debate properly without at least hearing out both sides. I do agree that white people need to shut the hell up and listen more, but that need to listen up, and pay attention and think critically, doesn’t automatically preclude them from having something to contribute to the conversation; nor does it automatically invalidate their experience(s). Being white, and experiencing racism, are not mutually exclusive.

  • Dizzy Gear

    im so sick of this, racism can go towards any race of people. reverse racism exists when the discriminators become the discriminated. I could go on all day but I hope someone reads this and thinks for one second “yeah I think its time to let racism go” America should have been a country that looked passed racism a long time ago. racism = senseless hatred.

  • Christabel

    Wow I don’t know why I even look at the comments. People who are using dictionary textbooks to define racism, or claiming that the author is redefining racism..hmm. Have you people actually studied racism? Read any sociology texts on racism? Studied colonialism, where racism originated? Taken anti-oppressive studies? Read academic texts about racism and oppression? Or perhaps read more about POC’s experiences? Clearly not. Because what this author is saying is correct. Whiteness is the most powerful structure in the world. The most powerful and influential countries are mainly white dominated, and the poorest third world countries are mainly racialized ones as a result of colonialism. As this author said, racism is far reaching, and is obviously over most of your heads. Yes, white people can experience individual forms of prejudice and discrimination, and that doesn’t make it okay, But racism is more complex than that, as this author outlined.

    • april showers

      Wait, racism originated with colonialism? Seriously? I think you need to study history and economics a little closer and on a longer scale. Just sayin…

    • toffee

      Preach. So many people missed the point of the article and did exactly what the article said you shouldn’t do.

    • wes

      Sociology class is largely a joke composed of theories that the professors have never tested, the dictionary has much more authority.

  • Bella Robinson

    It is very real and when people make comments like “that’s what all white people say” it is clearly racism. One loses all credibility when standing up for racial issues when they CLAIM reverse racism does not exist, as its not a free pass for others to continue their bad behavior. ALL RACISM IS WRONG. Also claiming that no white person has ever had similar experiences is so absurd. Stopping racism does not include doing the same thing to other races that you say have been done to your race. Many other groups, races, genders and occupations are treated just as badly, so I think it is down right silly to go on and on about who has it worse, rather than joining together to create change for EVERYBODY.

  • Fool

    And this is why feminists aren’t taken seriously.

  • Vondruke

    First “Reverse Racism” isn’t when white people feel prejudice against people of color, or even when one race does it to their own, or if someone says something positive that’s racially biased even if it’s statistically true (e.g. If you’re asian, then you are great at math); it does not exist at all because racism is racism regardless who is doing it to whom and with what motives.

    Second, all people feel this with varying degrees at some time in their life. Saying it’s mutually exclusive to people of color is ignorant. Just because I’m considered white, I’m male, and a middle classed American.. that I must never feel discriminated against.. that I’ve never been looked over or judged because of superficial characteristics that I was born with, because it’s not as bad as those with color… then you’re wrong.

    Thirdly, does one type of group experience more dramatic and is far more prevalent than other groups; of course. Is there a deeper history, filled with violence, deep seeded hatred, and human rights violations.. yes. But to say it isn’t real, is just silly and on the verge of making things worse.

    Fourthly, people should listen and not make it about themselves.. but the same could be said about those who are expressing themselves.. it’s also not about them. If they would say, “Apples are the best in the world there are no other better fruit”, It’s unfair to ignore the other person when they say, “I’ve had oranges, and they’re great as well”.

    This is the sort of article that is going to justify more white guilt, and indignation in our society. Which in the end just exasperates more turmoil of race relations and doesn’t help bridge any divides that may or may not be present.

    Otherwise, I agree with everything in the article.

  • feekoningin

    I think we have a good attempt to make the case, but it’s off mark. I agree there is no such thing as “reverse racism,” but for a very different reason. When people are violated by someone of another race or ethnicity because of the racial or cultural difference, that’s racism. Period. I agree that many’s PoCs, as you call them, are victimized by systemic racism. But as a mixed-race person, I can say minorities also engage in systemic racism of their own. It’s just as pervasive and just as hurtful. And it’s not limited to one individual engaged in a bad act. It’s a proliferation of ideas and behaviors.

  • basicknowledge

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism

  • James Doat

    Try being a middle-aged white male and getting a college scholarship, even with a 4.0 GPA in my undergrad studies it’s nearly impossible. Ageism, sexism, and racism, all institutionalized and directed at me. In fact if I was gay I’d have a better chance of getting a scholarship, but sorry boys, I’m hetero. Seriously look into it sometime, and you’ll be surprised. The OVERWHELMING amount of financial aid is reserved for women, minorities, and kids straight out of high school, and there you have it, systematic, institutionalized racism, sexism, and ageism all directed at a middle-aged white male who simply wants to get ahead In life.

  • frozencanadian

    Now I agree with part of your article but not all of it. I’m not going to disclose if I’m a PoC or not but I have been involved in situations in my native land and abroad where it was not what I had done but where I was that caused the issue. For example I was in the southern states and went into a coffee shop and ordered a black coffee which in turn got me thrown out of the coffee shop for being a racist now I didn’t know what I had said that caused this uproar but I was educated my the manager of the coffee shop after the fact that I can’t say the word “black” it’s no cream no sugar did you know that? I didn’t. Now another example I was officiating a sporting event when I made a call that was the right call but I ended up being chased around and having my life and my family’s life threatened. I ended up getting a police escort all the way to the airport to leave because the threat was very real and they were going to kill me. What is that?

  • Christi long

    I was bullyed in school cause I was one of the only white kids…. I gusse none of that happened.

    • toffee

      Completely missed the point of the article. -_-

      • Paul McClancy

        Racism doesn’t have to be institutionalized. That was the point Christi was trying to make.

  • toffee

    I didn’t have to scroll down too far to find someone complaining about affirmative action. This might be a record.

  • Vivid Sammy

    There is no such thing as reverse racism, there is only racism and everyone is capable of being racist and it’s always bad for anyone and everyone. What you are talking about are people who are delusional believing they live in a perfect world so they don’t have to change and think about difficult things like racism/sexism/whateverism

  • LILO

    I’d just like to point out that there are ethno-cultural groups of people who are Caucasian, and still suffer from systemic racism. The Roma, most obviously, but also Turkish people, and many Eastern European nationalities who are considered uncivilized by other Europeans…

  • Robin Bass

    The definition of racism is simply this (from Mirriam Webster): poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race: the belief that some races of people are better than others. Prejudice is: an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. Based on these definitions, racism and prejudice are not limited to any one group based on power any more than skin color or religion or sexual orientation.
    On the other hand, discrimination, is: the practice of unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other people or groups of people. Discrimination is what one group in power uses to keep another group from having equal access to rights. I think the author may have confused racism with discrimination. Anyone can be racist. However, only the group who has power can discriminate against those who do not have power. The powerless in society cannot discriminate against the powerful and keep them out of power.

  • Esperanza Lydia Orozco

    I feel kinda split by this, story of my life. I am part Mexican, part Anglo-American. I experienced some racism for it though there are older members of my family that were alive to witness signs in stores that said “no dogs no Mexicans” long before I was born. But in growing up and getting into relationships I learned that many white, rural, working class folks are also experiencing institutionalized bias against them as well when in the media, they are portrayed as ‘stupid white trash’. Portrayed as uneducated, bigoted and violent people, the media portrayal of them is almost tit-for-tat with stereotypes about PoC. Is it reverse racism? Well, the media is predominantly owned by straight, white, mostly conservative men. You know, big business. They love pitting the little people against each other’s throats and watching racial tensions rise while poor people of all races don’t notice that they are all getting screwed. Does racism exist? Yeah. Do sexism and patriarchy exist? Yeah. Does homophobia exist? Yeah. I have dealt with all three. But each of those is a way to divide the oppressed groups. A house divided cannot stand. Am I proud to be chicana? Yeah, I am. But I think anyone who thinks that rural, working class, white people don’t experience very similar forms of oppression hasn’t really thought this through, not that I really have either.

  • Patricia

    It is extremely easy to get bogged down in words and definitions but I beleive that most of these comments clearly explain the heart of this article. White privilige is prevalent and no one who is white wants to admit that. If they did there would not be comments on how nonPOC’s individual experiences with prejudice equate to that of a POC life. The drastic need to be in control and entitled to everything is exemplified throughout the comments. As a lesbian POC it is exhausting having my experience or life constantly equated to what are really very minimal in comparison to my life struggle. The funny thing is that nonPOC don’t understand they can escape from that “horrible situation” easier than I could in America. Actually I can’t escape because no matter the money I have or the clothes that I wear if I and a nonPOC go into a store or drive a car at the end of the day they are white and I am not. In America that skin is a golden ticket I can never have. So maybe this is news but the phrase told to POC from the moment that they are born “You have to be twice as good to get half of what white people will be given” is the truest thing I have ever known and it is why whether you want to call it “racism” in a majority elitist strict definitional meaning, it will NEVER exist or equate to the “racism” in my world. That is what the bigger picture of the article is. In the world of racism that I have lived with everyday of my life, reverse racism can’t and doesn’t exist because even in that instance where those “scary black men” surround you or call you deragotroy names pretaining to your precious white skin, you as white person in America always have the power to be the decider of their fate and if you think that is not true you are not only ignorant to your privilege you are also ignorant to reality.

  • loonylovegood

    Alright, then can someone please tell me what it’s called when a white person doesn’t get a particular job at a Native Alaska corporation because they’re not the right race? What do you call it when a non-white person calls a white person a “dumb white cunt” or “stupid white bitch” or “fucking white whore”? Oh and my favorite…what do you call it when a group of Native Alaskans beat you with in an inch of your life because you’re white, all the while yelling taunts at you and your whiteness?

    Because, you see if it were white people doing this to any other race on the planet it would be called racism. Yet here you are, writing an article belittling it down to a loss of privilege because white people will never know or understand racism because it’s impossible to be racist against a white person. You tell that to my scars, bitch. You tell that to the women who have been raped men of color because they WERE white!
    How dare you belittle racism against white people to a loss of some so called privilege! How dare you tell me it’s impossible just because your privileged ass hasn’t experienced it! How fucking dare you and everyone else who writes this tripe and propagates the belief that it can’t happen just because we’re white! This just excuses any kind of discrimination against white people out there that happens. This is saying that it’s okay to hate someone because they’re white. It’s okay to treat them like shit because it’s not racism. This is taking away my RACE and erasing my culture!

    • Tristan Thomas

      Thank you, finally a white female who isn’t brainwashed by all the liberal PC bull shit; I am sorry that you had to experience all that hate just because you are white. Racism has been going on since the dawn of human history and unfortunately it may be with us for the future as well.

  • Juan Manuel

    “Race” is a social construct created by those with power to identify “the other”. The people you mention are not discriminated in spite of being white, they’re discriminated because they are not considered “white people”.

  • Juan Manuel

    Yo, Noah! Build another arc before white people’s tears drown us all.

  • Steve Real

    You obviously havent lived in the real world…of course there is no reverse racism(What kind of media trained definition does your television tell you that is?..being especially leniant on someone because of thier race?) There is racism, and it’s accepted and expected of the herd to allow racism as long as the victim is either white, christian or male. All of your whining about why you dont date white guys and how the world is so white leniant is simply the anger of someone who is “almost’ pretty, and who in the television trained herd that you embrace can be desired…as long as you will date anyone and everyone who will have you. I’m sorry about you getting your feelinngs hurt by a white guy, but as long as you focus on racism as your excuse, you are proof of racism.
    You havent known enough people to say that “white guys are this” or ” black guys are that”.

    You ARE able to say that in your experience white men havent desired you, for whatever reason, or that in your experience the black culture sees you as a great commodity…a white woman who accepts what MSNBC tells her to accept.
    Jesse jackson once said that walking into an alley where black men were, was scarier than walking into an alley where white guys stood. Well he should feel that way…look at facts and the disparity between the likelihood of being attacked by the two groups. Look at facts and your opinion goes right out the window.
    You have not only sold out your race, you have sold out your country and even humanity by painting such a racist veiw of the world so dishonestly.
    If I were black I hope that I would be man enough and smart enough to call BS on your silly rich girl rantings.

    By the way, I have and know many more stories than growing up in a mostly black high school and getting chased once or twice. I am not christian, all white, or even a cow for the conservative part of America that we steady attack and belittle.

    Television paints blacks as cooler and smarter despite reality and FACTS proving differently…do you know of three television shows where there is a truley mixed class where the white guy is cool and the black guy not? even as far back as the 70′s (the dumb white cop on sanford “Whats going up, brothers?” to the steve Harvey show,,a cool white guy, romeo, being chased by the less than pretty white redheaded girl, with a stupid white friend named “blockhead”. .so on. Can you reverse the scenario and name three shows that picture the white guy as cool and the black guy a nerd??…two?…any?? of course not.
    Accept people as individuals and celebrate the differences or stereotype them, but as long as you are cowlike enough to pass that joint, I would be that white person you are so intimidated by for telling the truth.
    You, vomiting what you steady vomit, are proof that racism is alive and well in America. You also do not represent a good feminist or woman…simply another cow that couldnt get the guy she wanted…I’m no beauty King either, but I do think for myself, beyond the television..you should try it.

  • elmo

    So what is it called when blacks target whites for viloent crimes based upon their white skin? Also isn’t it rather insulting to blacks that this author is saying they don’t have the capability to be racist? Is she saying they are different and incapable?

  • elmo

    I was once a super liberal. Born and raised to fight the power and free women and blacks from the tyranny of the white skinned devil. Then the real world hit and guess what? There are terrible women and terribke blacks and terribke whites. I’m not black or female so I don’t know what’s its like. But thise who are not white don’t know what being white is like. Bad news is even for the grouo thst is supposed to be the most privileged the world is a hard cruel place. I think this idea that all whites are responsible for racism got confused because most of the wealthy who actually can create institutionalized racism were white. It isn’t their skin folks its their money. Just because whitey rich man has money and power doewnt change a thing for the 99percent of us white folks who struggle everyday. You want a fair world divide the wealth not the people cause their white.

  • That one white person

    Reverse racism doesn’t exist because racism is the same no matter who the perpetrator is.. You don’t have to be in a position of power to be a racist nor do you have to be in a good position financially or otherwise. If you are bias or actively discriminate against anybody, in any form, that is racism. It’s people like you that play it down and cause frustration and hatred amongst the white community and then wonder why there are such problems, stupidity…

  • april showers

    Malcolm in the middle

  • Jon Fite

    It doesn’t help that the term “Reverse Racism” is extremely stupid to begin with. You you know what the “reverse” of racism is? FAIRNESS and TOLERANCE.

    • sgtmian

      no … that is the OPPOSITE. the opposite of racism is tolerance. reverse racism means racism … in reverse.

  • Jon Fite

    I’d also have to agree with the criticism against the article. I do sympathize with her annoyance of whenever there’s a discussion about people’s experiences with racism, and then some idiot comes in with the “reverse racism” shtick to spoil it. But let’s be honest, she really is redefining what word “racism” is.

    The term “racism” is defined in a certain, widely accepted way: “Poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race” / “The belief that some races of people are better than others.” It’s supposed to be a general term that can apply to many different situations. There’s no dictionary that includes a position of power being involved, because there’s a specific term for that, “Institutional Racism”. The notion that White people can’t legitimately experience racism is laughable at best, insulting and kind of racist itself at worst. Now if it was a White guy trying to proclaim he was a victim of “Institutionalized Racism” then you have free reign to laugh at his stupid ass, because those are the people that probably invented the term “Reverse Racism” in the first place.

    Let’s use a less heavy issue as comparison, internet piracy. Any debate is over this issue in inevitably ruined by people trying to label “Piracy” as “Theft” and the discussion has to stop, because for any debate over Piracy to be worth a damn, there needs to be a fundamental understanding that “Piracy” is a specific legal term and so is “Theft”. Piracy isn’t Theft, Piracy is Piracy, and Theft is Theft. If you’re unable to talk about Piracy without calling it Theft, then you shouldn’t be involved in the conversation in the first place.

  • Tishauna Starr

    the article didn’t specify it, but i’m assuming they mean institutionalized racism as oppose to individualized racism. those are very different from one another and i believe blacks are capable of the former but definitely not the latter.

  • Dana

    As I said to A naive article below: What the writer is trying to say is that racism and bigotry are two different things. Racism is always bigotry, but bigotry is not always racism. Like all Catholics are Christians, but not all Christians are Catholics.

    No one’s saying that you’ve never been hurt by bigotry. They’re saying the system is still stacked to benefit you and represent you more than people of any other skin color. Are you really going to sit here and deny that? I hope not.

    As I will add now to make this its own comment: I, a white person, hereby disown any attempt anyone else here makes to defend white people against this article. The government, the military, and the church all side with me because of an accident of birth and a melanin deficiency. Yes, it hurts me when a person of color hates me for no reason. No, my entire life is not going to be ruined over it. Live as a Native American or a black person in the United States and then get back to me. I have it EASY. And if you’re white, so do you. I do not need to be defended here. The writer is absolutely correct.

  • Jael A. Williams

    I think people are getting racism and bigotry confused… oh so very confused…

  • wombleranger

    Wow! Just how naive are you? This article appears to written by someone who is maybe 15 years old.

  • Harvey Elwood Jr

    It so sad that the pain many people feel blinds them from appreciating
    even a perceived pain of another, True or Not. And I’m sorry I’ve been around
    too long to know that all people are capable of all things. The very one crying
    against the pain of other is perhaps the one working to make their pain worse
    then those expressed by others – How juvenile. Let’s grow up people and become
    bigger than that. I’m sure it may take some of you a little longer – But I strongly
    suspect it will happen for you as it does for many others as we grow and
    mature. Harvey Elwood Jr. – Orangeburg South Carolina

  • Harvey Elwood Jr

    White folk are just as entitled to express themselves as they feel and no one has the right to try to prevent, deny or marginalize just what they believe to be true from their perspective. No One.

  • Realist

    Boy kills himself after being bullied for being white. Who are you to claim reverse racism doesn’t exist? You’d better check your privilege, marginalizing this poor child’s experiences like that.
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2283777/Boy-9-hanged-bullied-white.html

  • Jael

    Why is the thumbnail pic with this article the back of someone’s head who is weariong a kippah?

  • Tristan Thomas

    I’d like to drop off one of these types(Sara Luckey and her liberal pos ilk) in the shittiest part of the ghetto, say along MLK Blvd, and let them experience a place firsthand where racism supposedly doesn’t exist. I don’t know what reality the author of this article lives in but white privilege died in 1865 and that is why so many foreigners still strive to come here because they wish to leave the truly ‘OPPRESSIVE’ countries from which they come from. I am a white person and I am very worldly (mostly from the US military) and have experienced racism from other races and cultures because it is simply “human” nature. Do you think when the Roman legions marched into Germania they were ‘altruistic’ to the native inhabitants of that region?

  • David Clark

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people.”

    Uh… no. What you described is a very sad kind of racially biased SYSTEM but that is not the definition of racism itself. Racism is any kind of racially charged prejudice. Because all humans are the same, we all have the ability to be racist – implying otherwise is the same as putting races in different categories, thus making you a racist yourself. The logic doesn’t stop existing just because you want to prove a point.

    Also, just because a person’s own suffering has given them what they feel like is a reason to hate another ethnic group, doesn’t mean its not racism when they do it. Racism is racism no matter how justified or acceptable you think it is, and until society as a whole makes ALL racism unacceptable, we’re gonna have a massive problem.

  • Roderick Bateman

    Look at all this anti-whitism. In the 60′s, anti-whites forced ALL and ONLY white countries to bring in millions of non-whites. Then anti-whites forced ALL and ONLY white people to “integrate” or face consequences for being “naziswhowantokill6millionjews.” Now anti-whites are praising and counting down the days till ALL and ONLY white children are minorities and extinct EVERYWHERE. That makes it genocide. “Anti-racist” is a codeword for anti-white. /watch?v=lKDeyuM0-Og

  • wes

    It is only institutional when people don’t give a crap and make excuses for it, non whites never have anyone seriously suggest they deserve to be killed or have media personalities bring up past history to mitigate and justify it.

  • anon name

    Why do you call them “white people” but insist on being called a person of color, or a “PoC” yourself?

  • Speaksvolumes

    Of course it’s not “reverse racism”, you silly, silly girl. The reverse of racism is no racism at all. Racism is racism, regardless of the race of either the victim or the perpetrator.

  • http://destroyedforcomfort.com/ Rani Bakr

    A looooooot of clueless white people in the comments here. >_<

  • I’m sorry, please stop yelling

    You know, I’ve hit a point in life where it is actually a dangerous thing thing to call a person racist. As a black woman I have experienced hate directed at me, assumptions about my education level, and lots of “not to be racist, but…” comments. But when I stand up for myself I have received quite a few “I’m not racist, you are for saying that.” Hate is wrong. Its bad. But the defensiveness makes it even more frightening for PoC. I can’t say a damn thing because I could get in trouble for rocking the boat. I’m tired. I’m sorry the white people don’t get it. Cause they don’t. People don’t assume you have no money and are going to steal. People aren’t afraid of you. People don’t assume that your children have different fathers. It sucks to be treated bad. Why take this as a reason to prove you have it just as bad/worse then PoC? You can yell at me now.

  • ceruleanblue777

    Nope. Just a lot of white people not swallowing the PC b.s. anymore.

  • JackDman

    That’s because the United States is just as anti-White a country as Canada!

  • So Tired

    “There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people.”

    Ever heard of NAACP? The National Association for the ADVANCEMENT OF COLORED PEOPLE. Ever heard of Newton’s Third Law? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. An association that promotes the advancement of colored people by definition works to oppress and subjugate white people. You can’t advance one group without oppressing the other.

  • Guest

    sd

  • Guest

    “There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people.”

    Ever heard of NAACP?

  • You’re an idiot

    To diminish the situations an individual faced based on their skin color AT ALL is RACISM. To say to a white person “you’re unfortunate life circumstances really aren’t that unfortunate. You’re white.” is total racism. Obviously reverse racism doesn’t exist. The name “reverse racism” is stupid in the first place. Racism is racism. It does not need to involve the integral parts of society in order to be considered racist. If a white person walks up to a black person and calls them a n****, it’s racism. If a black person walks up to a white person and calls them a racial slur it’s ok?? I see everyone as EQUAL regardless of their skin color. That means EVERYONE.

  • DatBus

    This is an enormous bunch of crap. It helps NO ONE to support the idea that any human being, or group of human beings “can’t” be racist. This article is narrow, biased and very naive.

  • DatBus

    The
    idea that any group or individual could be exempt from the possibility
    of racism has to be the stupidest concept I’ve ever heard. This all stems from Critical Race Theory which entered the academic world in the 80s. The
    “systemic” definition is designed to assign all responsible to “white”
    folks while excusing the behavior, conduct,
    attitudes AND systemic racism of all others. By upholding imagined racial separation and pretending all non-whites have no power (AS IF such sweeping generalizations could be made) they created the most racist definition of racism EVER. Forget the “reverse” part, racism is racism and trust – it works in ALL directions.

  • readarticles

    By making such large generalizations the author is engaging in the very behavior that they seem so determined to combat. It’s counterproductive.

  • John Rhoades

    The biggest flaw in this article isn’t really it’s intent. It’s the execution. The sentiment that white people in the USA shouldn’t try to one-up the racism experiences of other races is perfectly valid. Holy crap, we do have it better! Not news, of course, and I agree that white folk trying to put up their experiences with racism alongside the disenfranchised comes off badly.

    However, the author uses entirely the wrong language to express that sentiment. She puts the word “racism” through the wringer to try and get it to fit into one very narrow definition that allows her to say “Reverse Racism Isn’t Real”. Sure, if racism means “prolonged discrimination against an ethnicity that is enforced by society as a whole”. However, that’s not what anyone thinks racism means and if you try and contort the meaning in this way people aren’t going to see what the intended message was, because you’ve distracted them with things that are obviously false.

    Racism is racism. Look it up if you need to. I’ve experienced racism. I’ve been racist. I’ve caused racism against my race by being racist towards another. Nothing overt or intentional, mind you, but as the song says “Everyone’s a little bit racist”.

    As long as I’m here, let’s talk about the word “privilege”. I’m sick of hearing it. It’s the wrong word. I’m not “privileged” to be treated fairly and not have a bunch of presumptions made about me because of my gender or skin tone. That’s baseline. That’s expected. That’s the goal. That’s the condition we want for everyone. When you say that “such and such is privileged”, what you mean is “that person’s getting treated fairly” and “everyone else is being crapped upon”. By giving that situation a negative word like “privileged” you make it sound like you’d rather drag them down too than fix the problem. It’s not about “privileged” and “unprivileged”. It’s about “fair” and “unfair”. I’m treated fairly. A black woman is not. No privilege involved.

  • Danielle

    As a “PoC” (as you refer to it in this article), I find this article extremely offensive. To me, this is the epitome of a “White Person Trying to Apologize for Ancestors”. I am not sure if you have experienced this situation, but I have been in many a situation where my white friends say things like, “You can’t say that in front of Danielle”, meaning, there is a “PoC” in the room. “PoC” (I like how this term lumps all nonwhites together, by the way) do not need to be tiptoed around and treated in a dainty manner, like children watching a graphic movie. We do not need white people to defend us. If anything, that is the definition of “white privilege”: using your Western superiority to protect and shelter “PoC”. Sorry that you are guilty about being white. How about instead of giving your white friend a verbal beatdown after (s)he explains a traumatic experience about race, you stop minimizing people’s problems and putting traumatic events in a hierarchy. You, an outsider, are not the judge of how bad someone has it when that person experiences problems due to race.

  • Matt

    Guarantee that if this sheltered white girl grew up in a black neighbourhood she would have a completely different opinion.

  • Justine

    This was an amazing read. I am going to share this for sure. I am a teaching assistant for an Introduction to Psychology course and we teach on the concept of White Privilege. As I teach at a predominately white college, the response is many times is students trying to say they have been a victim to “reverse racism”. And while I try to make the point that you have made here, I find that it is not nearly as eloquently expressed as you did here. Thank you for calling other people out on their bullshit, because that really is what it is.

  • Harry

    I will be the non-white person telling you “you are wrong”. Any person can be racist. That whites enjoy white privilege because the system is rigged for them is institutionalized racism which is essentially worse than individual racism. But to reiterate, when anyone of any race or culture or skin color develops a hate for people of X color, race, culture or religion and act on it- that is racism. I have fought racism all my little life and I will not condon it when it comes from those who look like me. Your very narrow definition leaves off the hook Puerto Ricans who are racist towards Dominicans, Dominicans towards Haitians, African-Americans towards Native Americans, etc…
    The way that you propose it, not so well summarized from US racial theories on institutional racism, does not add to the discussion on neither to the end of racism.

  • Chris

    Boo. People like you disgust me. Racism can and always will go both ways. People who promote this view are essentially saying that any “racism” that white people are subject to, which is very real, are really just them crying like a spoiled rich kid who didn’t get his iPhone? I guess anybody really does get an audience on the Internet..

  • Omelio Alexander

    I would say I object to it being comparable in strength and in the end I think its coming from a different place and I am big on identifying intent. Racism against colored people is specifically about colored people being lesser. “Reverse racism” like harassing a white person in a colored neighborhood is a measure of revenge. They may both be a matter of prejudice but rooted in a very different motivation. One is rooted in someone being less than you the other is rooted in finding someone guilty of prejudicing you.

  • will

    Yep that was the dumbest article I’ve ever read.. Racism goes both ways and until you’ve lived in the south you can never really understand

  • dgatwood

    What you are describing—culturally ingrained racial biases—is *not* what the word “racism” means. The word you’re looking for is probably “oppression”. The dictionary defines racism as prejudice against another person based on the belief that your own race is superior. It need not be systemic, enshrined in law, or otherwise pervasive to be racism. It is *just* as racist for a member of a minority group to hate a member of a majority group as it is for the reverse to occur.

    More to the point, the term “reverse racism” is bogus, not because some minorities do not hold racist attitudes towards non-minorities, but because so-called “reverse racism” is just plain old ordinary racism.

    I do understand your point, which is that caucasians (at least in the U.S.) will never experience racism to the same degree that minorities have experienced it, but there’s a better way to word that: Although members of the majority group might feel unsafe because of racist behavior in places where they are in the minority, they can readily escape into the 98% of the country where they aren’t in the minority, whereas the reverse is not nearly as true. And that does make it less serious for the members of the majority group.

    With that said, that does not mean racism among minority groups can be ignored. The problem with doing so is that true racism in either direction does more harm to minorities than to the majority ethnic group, simply by virtue of the numbers. If there are ten people who can give you a job and two of them are in your ethnic group and eight aren’t, and you hate the other ethnic group (even if they don’t hate you), you’re not going to want to work for someone in that group, and you probably aren’t going to do your best work for someone in that group, which seriously limits your opportunities for advancement.

    But worse than that, your prejudices are likely to cause a similar prejudice in the opposite direction. To use the earlier example of a white kid being chased through a non-white neighborhood, he or she ended up getting a very negative view of the minority groups who were in the majority there. People tend to inherently become prejudiced against people who hate them. Therefore, if a significant portion of a minority group acts in ways that suggest that they distrust or hate members of the majority group, then even if you instantly eliminated any bias against that minority by the majority group, that prejudice would resurface all on its own.

    That’s what makes claims that “reverse racism” doesn’t exist so very dangerous; by ignoring racist attitudes by even a few members of a minority group, you effectively turn racism into an unsolvable problem. Racism has to be fixed all around, or else you won’t ever make any lasting progress. That means stomping it out quickly and decisively, whether it’s by a member of the majority group or a minority group.

  • David Green

    Okay. I’m not white, but this article is so detrimental to equality. I’m not even going to get into the grammatical errors riddled throughout the whole thing. Anyway, reverse racism DOES exist — call it affirmative action. Take advantage of it while it’s around, ’cause it shouldn’t be. We’re all capable of great things…

    Ughh, reading this makes me sick. Spend your time educating those less fortunate, regardless of skin color, not ranting on how white people are making everything so much worse off. Please check out this link and get in touch with me if you really want to make a difference….

    http://www.daveramsey.com/blog/20-things-the-rich-do-every-day

    Making this country, and the people who live here, so much better isn’t really all that hard.

  • Theodore

    “Reverse racism” is nonsensical in the grammatical sense, but any race can be racist. You’re feeble argument is laughable.

  • Vassie Welbeck-Browne

    A very accurate, good and honest article with many responses that clearly reveal our broad lack of understanding of, and dishonesty about racism. However, there are many responses that are on point…so there is hope.

  • Father Theo

    Racism is a set of social theories based on ethnic differences. We know Whoopi Goldberg encountered racism growing up because of her reaction to seeing Nichelle Nichols on Star Trek. Holy cow, a black woman on television and she isn’t a maid! Perhaps our white readers can share a similar experience. Or not.
    Or how about the cowboy and Indian movies I grew up with, with the Indians constantly attacking the wagon trains or stagecoaches, painted savages all. Of course our white readers can talk about similar experiences growing up with Indians and settlers movies where the whites spend all their time killing and attacking Indians. Right?
    Or maybe not.
    You see. That’s where the “power plus prejudice” part comes in. People of colour are not in any position to shower our culture with self-serving images of our enemies. Just about every second black male depicted by Hollywood was a pimp during my time of growing up. That’s cultural propaganda. That’s racism in action. The very idea that divides us, that there is any fundamental difference between people based on colour, is a white idea. When people from the groups discriminated against under this idea get together to fight against white privilege, that is a consequence of this idea as much as it is a consequence of white privilege. The racism that whites encounter from people they have traditionally oppressed is in fact the same racism they created themselves. Without the racial categories created under white privilege and enforced by white-controlled power structures, there would be no racism for whites to face because race as a concept would not exist.

  • Josefina

    rac·ism
    noun

    1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
    2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

    You’re welcome. Straight from the dictionary.

  • mmhmm

    This post is a perfect example of reverse racism…and this is coming for a “POC”

  • Guestuphobia

    Hi Sara.

    I really hate the term ‘reverse racism’ because it makes things needlessly complicated. When actually speaking to a PoC, I remain sympathetic (I have been to the Birmingham Alabama civil rights museum so I do have a level of understanding – certainly on a historical level and on the level of staring down a KKK outfit on display) but unfortunately, I am not sympathetic to the ‘prejudice/power’ paradigm. DISCLAIMER: I am debunking this based on rational thought rather than any experience of suffering from ‘racism’, and simply because we don’t have enough rational thought in society. END OF DISCLAIMER.

    This definition is inherently false, based on flawed marxist philosophy and irrationality. For example.

    1) The dictionary and legal definition of racism is as prejudice based on one’s heritage or genetic makeup (to be succinct). We can’t change our minds about this based on political thinking.

    2) If racism is ‘prejudice + power’ then technically prejudice from white ruling classes (such as the chattering classes) towards white working classes (for whom they express regular contempt sadly) could be defined as ‘racism’, but that would be nonsense. Because both are white (unless they differed in nationality).

    3) Racism between non-whites towards one another is another facet of racism that exists and is – I am sorry to say – very much alive (e.g. The black vs Latino gangs in LA) yet neither has the societal power card in their deck.

    4) Racism between white people based on ethnic or national background is alive as well. In 2009, a white English girl was beaten up by a white scottish man on account of her accent. Her injuries were so bad that she was partially blinded and still suffers from health and eyesight problems to this day. Six years earlier, a white Kiwi boy wearing an England top in Edinburgh was attacked along with his father by a white scottish man on account of perceived nationality. Though they share the same race, one could mistakenly assume that it’s not racist because they’re all white, and because both English and Scottish power exists in the UK, neither has power to oppress, but the law says plainly this is defined as a racial attack, because it is based on heritage (nationality rather than genetic appearance).

    5) In most countries, ‘majority rules ok’ seems to be the norm for humanity. White countries see white people as norm, black countries see black people as norm, etc (though this may change with time and human progress). In Zimbabwe, white farmers are threatened, attacked, forced from their land by the black government under Mugabe, who has the magical prejudice-power analogy, so by that evidence, black people can be racist under the P+P=R equation.

    6) If (for example) I murdered a PoC (another term I dislike as much as ‘reverse racism’) for dating my white cousin, I would by definition be a ‘racist’. If (for example) I was murdered by a PoC for dating HIS PoC cousin, HE would be definitively a ‘racist’.

    7) The re-definition of racism makes things needlessly complicated. I think calling other forms of racism ‘calling you out on your privilege’ as abhorrent, certainly if it were a real-life example of the above, yet sadly that has indeed happened courtesy of the socialist activists and ‘anti-racists’ in response to terror attacks in the UK, describing them as ‘expressions of frustration. As an atheist, the fact that religious groups (particularly Islamic groups, and Jewish Zionists to a smaller extent) are calling mere criticism of their religious texts ‘racism’ in an effort to silence those, is something I find profoundly worrying. Certainly this re-definition does nothing to solve such prejudices but condone them, which sets a precedence to excuse behaviour from a group of society which not only threatens those targeted, but treats that group as children, and that, ironically, is racist.

    8) I mention Marx because his philosophy of the proletariat vs the rulers is pervasive in much of societal thinking, to a damaging level. It has led us to believe that any have-nots are oppressed and therefore should have free-reign to do/say anything they like to their ‘oppressors’.
    This thinking led the bolsheviks and communists in Russia to believe they could do what they liked to the bourgeoise, resulting in many counts of properly sadistic violence (see ‘red terror’), and the murder of the romanov family in cold blood. It led to Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Party believing that the Jews were oppressing them, with horrifying results. It is also the reason for Misandry existing within parts of the feminist movement. The stereotype of feminists as ‘man hating’ (which is real enough for some mainstream feminists to be bigoted – even somewhat oppressive – towards trans-women), is a combination of Marxism, elements of Victorian prudishness, and a knee-jerk reaction to the AIDS scare of the 1980s.
    The point to this is that the idea that ‘if group X is oppressed, they shouldn’t be restrained in any way whatsoever, and group Y are fair game to them’, is a disastrous policy for humanity. History is evidence of this. Social justice warriors applying it to racism (and sexism as well) is a naive and foolish idea, and will only lead to trouble one way or another.

    Personally, I understand that we humans in general have more work to do to accept one another for who we are, not what we are. This is true for western society, but western society isn’t alone in this respect. Human progress will take care of such thinking and confine it to the dustbin of history. Pointless redefinition of a term and rooting it in a marxist (therefore philosophically failed) mindset, will not.

  • Claitun Bigzbee

    Black people are overly sensitive about race and white people are defensive. The world will be a better place when black people and white people can let go of the past.

    • wordsonfire

      I love that “black people are overly sensitive.”

      the world will be a better place when people stop pretending that this is “in the past.” And maybe instead of saying that we are overly sensitive attempt to access what it feels like day in and day out to have the experiences. It’s really exhausting.

  • Tim Seekins

    This is bullshit. Let me tell you of the horror stories me and other whites have experiance and witnessed during the majority of our youth at the hands of blacks/gangbangers. Every Holloween groups of blacks by the hundreds prowled the streets and preyed upon white people. It never made news, never made headlines, but me and my white friends(and their parents) were well aware of it and this doesn’t even scratch the surface of how deep(and accepted) reverse racism has gone. I suffered a bad concussion and have epilepsy to this day because of head trauma from being attacked by a bang of black people. No one spoke of racism against us or cared. We had blacks rioting at the Oceanfront causing mayhem and many white people died. No one spoke of racism-it was just mass murder. No one cared. Years later I saw on the new that three white men had beaten a black man at the Oceanfront and it was considered a “hate crime”. Racism towards whites has become accepted by the majority. The racism is also subliminal too. Referring to themselves as “Black men” and us as “White boys”, perputuating a myth that they have larger penises that we do, claiming they are a stronger/dominant race than us. Wearing tattoos placing pride and emphasis on their culture and race is fine, the only thing is-is that when we do it, it’s considered racist. Are white people the only people that can be racist? Does it not count when you look at statistics of black on white crime vs white on black crime and realize the ladder doesn’t hold a candle to the former-yet reverse racism isn’t true? This article is enough to make a white man throw up.

  • Janet Mary Estelle Hutchings

    Hahahhaha this juvenile article makes me laugh. Of course “reverse racism” doesn’t exist. Because there is no “reverse” to racism. Racism has only a couple of systematic examples globally. I believe that racism has no system, and although America is a leading example of an exceptional systematic racism, that’s just it; its an exception.

    Racism is racism. I believe it doesn’t matter what color you are. If you hate on someone simply because of their skin color or nationality, you’re a racist person. It doesn’t matter who or where you are, because you’re always going to be a minority somewhere.

    Lets say there are three people in a group. All three of these people are working together in an office in Canada The first is Chinese, the second is Ethiopian, and the third is caucasian American. Now, you’re going to tell me that if the Ethiopian said to the American that they didnt like their third colleague “because she’s Chinese” that it isn’t racist? Racism happens EVERYWHERE. And as far as I see it, they would all be “minorities” in Canada. But they’re also all people who deserve respect

  • Lifthrasir

    In Africa there is terrible discrimination of white africans/albino´s. Same race, different/white skincolour. Showing how biased this whole debate is. Here in the Netherlands there is racism and there is discrimination, which has economical consequences for those being discriminated against. Racism is being hated on the basis of your skincolour. Somewhere a dangerous mixup seems to have occurred. Although racism often is coupled to discrimination, it does not need to be. Being sort of racist is most likely build into our brainwiring. If it is build into the brainwiring of our primitive brains we have no control over it. Thus all groups in society are subject to being racist as well as racism. It has to do with the need to defend your land against the neighbour who might like to have the resources of all that you worked hard for. Thus based on survival, would make it logical it is primitive brain stuff. The whole article above is nonsense. Just remember one of the worst slaughters in history. Hutu´s against Tutsi´s, both black. Or the wars in Congo or Sudan. And yes whether majority or minority feelings of superiority, resembling the supremacism of Hitler with his illusions about the superior Aryan race, believing current germans then were that race, because of skincolour, always play a part. The real issue however is atrocities committed in the past, apologies to be made, honoring of treaties and possibly reparationpayments for done harm and discrimination within societies. whether multicultural or not. Although often forgotten India still lives with a castesystem, where one group, called the Dalits are absolutely nothing. And all are coloured people. As a dutch person who landed in this debate by chance, when expressing solidarity to ban fracking everywhere, i am horrified at the intensity, the hatred of this debate. Which by some natives in America, Canada seems to be targeted at all Whites, all europeans. Calling them the perpetrators of all wars on this earth. Having destroyed cultures that were all loving, peaceful and very spiritual, in harmony with the earth, never committing ecocide. It takes little to debunk that myth. There is no return to some idyllic paradyse, Eden in the past. There is only a decision, a choice to be made in the present. Hatred or love. Either we learn to live together in rainbowcolours and together oppose that minority of not even 1 % with their evil plans for all of humanity or as far as i am concerned. this earth better remove us all with more tsunami´s, storms and earthquakes. For how little gratitude have we given for her abundance, that gave us all life.

  • Alison Mercer

    so this is about the exact meaning of the word and that is what the author means. i see how rasccism is everywhere and i grew up all white town when i was younger i used to think when i found out about racism wow it doesnt exist here. lol i laugh how naive that was and all the racism against native people. it is sickening . it didnt exist cause everyone was white in my town but i heard all the racist and sexist things i mean jokes oh and gay that was really really bad all growing up too ! and there was a black girl adopted and she was fascinating for me to look at she was so dark i just had never seen anyone like that . but that isnt racism i was curious . and i remember being at a friends house whose parents were friends with a doctors family who moved to our town from south africa . anyway i remember being there and hearing conversations and i realised holy fuck these people hate black people . i tried to talk to my friend about it and she picked up for them do much but i think she realised yeah it is racism . but it was strange to me cause at first it was denied i was bad for saying they were racist how dare i and lol my friend didnt like me it was like i 3as insulting but they hated black people . i wish i could remember certain things they said , no doubt highly racist and i was reading a book about nelson Mandela and of ourse shocked at how people were but that was how i learned anything about i guess there are a lot of isms i learned reading that one! they hAD leftr south africa brecause the blacks were taking over and a bunch of other shit . i remember arguinbg with my friend . finally it came dowm to just listen to them them talking. i remember my friend had already hesard alot of these conversations and i guess she took what they said as right or true kind of scary because for one how could you not question the cruelty of some of those things. but she hadnt read thre book iread and i guess her mothers friends back to the how dare i insult such good people a dr after all! anyway she had never heard of apartheid or much else except what came out of drs. mouth and it upset me cause it was real example of what i had read about . it was sickening. my friend listened some more and was like yeah they are racist lol and they arent such nice people. but she didnt question it at first and it makes methink how easy it is fr someone to become racist or should i say prejudiced . and i was mean insulting good people . well i AM whiter than white physically . i do not tan. irony there how everyone is a tanning freak . but am i an example of a white person talkiong bout my racist experience. i am but i was disturbed by the stuff i heard and even more disturbed at the lack of questioning what they said . i remember they talked about the blacks moving in and trying to take over etc. they absolutely hated black people and were so free about it is why i heard any of this in the first place! of course people of any color can be racist . but officially even when it isnt supposed to be it is still howe people are treated . even sadder the place i grew up in was where the last indian beothic now extinct was captured. other native groups yes but they were slaughtered to the last one . oh and to add insult there is a hideous beothuck sculpture cant rwember where but wehn i saw it i oculd only think irony and it pissed me off too . kill them all and make a prejudiced or stereotypical indian in homage to the fact of complete genocide ? and say nice things. so weird. so my white person experiences are of shame or anger at the racism of other white people lol. i mean how could htese people have the statue i saw no mention of genocide just a nice thing about the indians which used to be here .i mean how coyuld it not be an insult. i know the specific tribe is extinct so they couldnt be annoyed but god it was sickening to me. again i t was years ago i saw that but how could nobody see the awful irony of it. like punish the tribe that is already gone . i felt ashamed and didnt see how this could be done without well shame lol. so i guess this article made me thinkof allm of that but my exact point i dont know. im jusg a white chick thinking about racism and of course my own personal experiences of after thinking proudly how there was no racism i became very attuned to racism everywhere. on so manylevels if you can seperate it inot levels. i mean out in your face nigger jokes , that is how thwy were told to things that didnt openly celebrate racism but the underlying tune was horribly wrong. like a lot of closet racism is that a wayt to put it ? i do believe if a bunch of kids if a dif race came after me and were saying things to me then it is racism or prjudice and as bad as any clolour chasing any color even though i tihnk i gret it . officicially racism isnt supposed to be but it is oh boy if i experienced in the white(remember the genocide) place i grew up in how prejudiced racisst sexit hompophobic etc imagine in other places where it is supposed to be officially non racist but no it is very racist. why so many black people and poor [people oin prison in the states . in fact why so many people in prison anyway . so many issues . but i believe racism is alive and going on everywhere . idiotsz would say black peole commity more crime no that is not it. legal system helps white people especially white people with money. hell im upset aboutr being told usa is land of the free. make me choke laughing or cry. doesnt change anything but the states is a police nation . yes i am angry at all the lies i learned and have had to unlearn as i am older . the world is a very racist prejudiced do . evil in the name of good kind of place . maybe i need to read about some good people again like nelson mandela simply because it shows me how some people really do rise above and keep their spirit in the face of true official racism or whatever bad situatuin they were in. i mean if i went to prison for something i actrually did i dbe bitter and lost so easily. i hate the romanticised assholes ofm history. i need to believe in the lol goodness ofd humanity as a whole which is sort of not what i believe. so i am APPalled at humanity period which is a waste of time . pretty much the world is run by mostly white psychos (I know it is a small world but it is also a big world there are a few black dictators for example in an all black placey belief and no matter what your roots get soem power and it is abused. yeah i got issues with humanity period but it changes nothing so i just realised i need to read about more people who did the right thing in history. not bullsshit history but the real good people lol. ive read far too many bad stories and realise it only depresses me. i know there aresome good stories out there and why this little article got me so all over the place i dont know .but it all ties in .

  • E.G.G.B.E.R.T.

    I stopped reading the moment I saw the “power+prejudice” definition being played.

    Get a dictionary. If your reason for refusal includes the phrase “old white men”, it’s invalid – by that argument, I can insist that feminism is inherently anti-male.

  • Lifthrasir

    Refer them to the page on Wikipedia about racism. At the same time blaming all Whites, all europeans for all wrongs in all societies, all nations is in my view not the path to walk. Our history is so much longer, then the past 2000 plus years. What went on before that is not even clear. How did the Neanderthalers disappear when the african men started migrating up north? Ultimately we have little idea about the origin of our differences in colour etc.

  • Lifthrasir

    Just check out the definition of racism by the UN. No need for your specialized jargon.

  • Lifthrasir

    Therapists no longer uphold that you need to root out the cause. You need to integrate traumastories into your nervous system. Slavery was a multienterprise between some black tribes or all black tribes in africa and white slavetraders. Just as in the America’s it was between indian/native tribes and white slavetraders. And yes when you belong to a certain collective, by all means apologize for past deeds done by your nation, make repairpayments, make a statue to remember, never forget, but most important get over racism xenophobia in the present. Multicultural, celebrating diversity is difficult but also so very exciting. Just dive into interracial marriages and you will find out how racist most races are.

  • Lifthrasir

    Wrong. Robbery targeted at a certain race, is based on racist attitudes.

  • JC

    There’s only one problem with this article, and that is: “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching. It is the prevalence of racism within social structures and institutional norms, along with implicit and explicit enforcement by members of a group, that allows racism to run rampant and unchecked. America is a country seeped in white privilege, and our social structure is built on colonization and forced slave labor that then turned into further systemic and ongoing oppression of PoC. We have a culture that presents whiteness as the norm and all else as ‘other’ or different. White is presented as the beauty ideal, the main face in the media (unless we’re talking about criminals, then PoC get unfairly misrepresented), the standard, the regular. It’s a structural problem that affects the perceptions of jurors in criminal cases, admissions to colleges, funding for public schools, welfare and food stamp programs, the redrawing of district lines that affect where we vote, who we see represented on T.V. and how, what schools people have access to, what neighborhoods people live in, an individual’s shopping experience, access to goods and services; it’s extensive and a part of the fabric that let’s whiteness remain dominant in American culture.” The people who need this article the most have no idea what any of that means. They live in a immediate and self serving bubble with neither understanding nor appreciation for the power of institutionalism and the ability to define the norm. The expectation that EVERYTHING be about them and their perspective, to them, is a God given right; and everything else is blasphemy. They also lack the acumen to distinguish between prejudice and racism. White people do not experience racism, but they do experience prejudice…EVERYONE DOES!

  • Ken G.

    Your claim that racism (and racists) stems from POWER is plain wrong.

    Racists can be of ANY color and believing that one’s race is superior to another is called racism. If you are a “PoC” and you believe that you are better than whites, then you are racist.

    As far as your claim that white people cannot be victims of racism- that is racist

    Welcome to being called a racist. I get called racist because I’m white. You are being called racist because you think you are better than me.

  • thatonewhiteguy

    Interesting read although dont completely agree with all views held in the article , While i do agree westernized society is inherently racist (its getting better but we have a long long ways to go) i think the concept of reverse racism in itself is kinda racist , racism in its definition is racism no matter what race it is directed at or who its comes from

  • John Olson

    Racism is the assumed superiority over others on an institutional, social, systematic, and economic level. In other words, racism is prejudice plus power. So the definition of racism is already tied up in institutions, to draw a distinction between racism and institutionalized racism is as unnecessary as it is redundant. However I will say that institutional racism is a specific attribute of racism, in the sense that it is particular to the passing and execution of laws that perpetuate racism.

    • Lenviev LR Nguyenvu

      Tell me what is the definition for racism in the end.

      “Racism is the assumed superiority over others on an institutional, social, systematic, and economic level. In other words, racism is prejudice plus power. So the definition of racism is already tied up in institutions, to draw a distinction between racism and institutionalized racism is as unnecessary as it is redundant. However I will say that institutional racism is a specific attribute of racism, in the sense that it is particular to the passing and execution of laws that perpetuate racism.”

      If this definition applies, I think it’s fitting to use the term “reverse racism”. Because we can’t discount acts of prejudice against whites based on skin color and ethnicity, and since there aren’t no “races” that can be assumed superior to white, “racism” is not the term, but “reverse racism”. Either way in my opinion this article fails, though the author managed to deliver her points.

  • Stephen Perkins

    White people certainly have used racism both historically and today to accumulate wealth & concentrate power. Today there are clear examples of institutionalized racism within the workplace, educational system & housing. There certainly is white privilege in Europe, North America and South America. Having said that, it is important to observe that there have been people of color who have been complicit in perpetuating racism. And what it comes to ethnic cleansing both whites and people of color have engaged in such practices against people who look like them. In Korea, for example, women were forced to become sex slaves by the Japanese. And in the former Yugoslavia genocide was perpetuated by and against people who essentially looked the same.

  • Mark

    Wouldn’t reverse racism be acceptance? Racism is racism regardless of who is on the receiving end.

  • Sakeena Hakcett

    Racism is racism regardless. A hatred of a race or believing that ones race is more superior than another is equally immoral. Being a woman of color I understand the author’s point, however I do think they’re somewhat single minded.

  • Yes, I’m Black.

    There is no such thing as “reverse racism” simply because the word ‘reverse’ implies that the in order for it to be flipped there had to be an original victim. Blacks are not the original victim. Blacks can be racist. Whites can be racist. In America just because blacks have experienced racism to such a serious degree does not make it acceptable to call the situation “reversed” when something happens to a white perosn because it is far from it. What white people call racism simply doesn’t justify what true racism other races faced. Notice I said ‘race’ and not blacks because once again, blacks weren’t, in fact aren’t the only race facing discrimination. To call it ‘reverse racism’ would be like calling an asylum a concentration camp. The comparison doesn’t do the original term justice. It is far from it.

  • Batmanas

    From my computer’s dictionary.

    racism |ˈrāˌsizəm|
    noun
    1. The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
    2. Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief

    So, dear article writer, you are wrong because your definition is wrong. By the actual definition of the word, ‘reverse racism’ is actually just racism, because it is a prejudice directed at someone of a different race based on such a belief (as defined in point 1).

    Please learn what words mean before writing a bullshit article about the nature of a word. If you want a word for what your describing, you should use ‘institutionalized racism’, something that most countries don’t have anymore..

  • Court

    Although I feel like this article is well written, I do not agree with it, especially from an academic standpoint. I had a friend who was white, got a perfect score on the SATs and was valedictorian of his class and he was denied entrance into Yale, Harvard, and Princeton because he was white. He was not “culturally diverse” enough for these institutions and instead of his entrance being based on what he earned it was based on the color of his skin. Not only that but there was an African American girl who constantly picked on me in grade school and I constantly took it, so much in fact that I came home from school almost every day crying. One day I decided to stand up for myself and you know what she did? She went running to the principal exclaiming that the reason why I was singling her out was because she was black. I also agree that this article was very one sided. Also, there is no such thing as reverse racism…racism is racism no matter what nationality or ethnicity you are.

  • Al

    I don’t know if anyone is reading these comments, but the problem is that the proponents of this sort of scenario have redefined what racism means to suit their own ends. Saying that racism exists when x conditions are met, and minus those conditions there is no racism, is a truism. The problem is that the conditions this argument posits are those that in reality are the ones required. In a weird way, this argument makes those it is trying to protect even less powerful.

  • Jessica H

    lol this article is total bullshit. racism is real for people of ANY color not just BLACKS!! There are areas where you can go and it is prominent of one race and you will be called many things including racial slurs if you are not of their race. This is just another article of an African American trying to play the race card when its not the 60′s anymore. I do understand the part where its saying when a poc is commenting on a racial experience or visa-versa the other race tends to want to comment back with a similar story witch is Ridiculous. This whole racial shit is just getting old in general. black white purple if your gunna do a crime your gunna pay for it. This shit needs to end, I thought we were out of this era a long time ago but apparently not?.. I don’t understand it..there is a lot of racist people out there don’t get me wrong but they aren’t all white people, there are racist’s everywhere in every ethnical background. But there’s also a lot of great people who don’t even look at race, that’s what makes this so sad and sickening that this bullshit is growing larger everyday and is going to end up turning into something horrible:/. END Rant…

  • mandelatheman

    It is sad that Whites are under attack and may not survive. I see completion of our GeNOcide in 3 steps.
    1. Flood all White countries with millions of non Whites
    2. Intermarriage contributes to an exponential decrease in White births
    3. Opposition to step 1 or 2 is racist or illegal
    Anti-racism is the enforcement of my peoples GeNOcide

  • Jason Hops

    It’s hard to see White GENOCIDE when you’re an anti-White.

    So let me put it this way: if ALL Black countries and ONLY black countries were being FORCED to “assimilate” with a flood of non-blacks, until there would be no more Black countries, the genocide would be obvious.

    Yet this is exactly what is happening to ALL the White countries and ONLY the White countries. It’s genocide, straight up, through social engineering.

    Anti-racist is a code word for anti-White

  • Second City Saint117

    As a white female I have to say that this article is Anti white….I have a husband and 3 sons.

    The anti white policies that they currently face are nothing short of genocidal.

  • Kittzilla

    Before you use a shortened form of something, EXPLAIN IT FIRST!!!
    I had no idea what PoC was.

  • Jkjljmt_Pqprpstt

    Japan is 98.5% Japanese. Japan does not let foreigners vote and kicks them out all the time. Japan is RICH and has a horrendous colonial history. Yet no one is Demanding the Japanese in Japan, be replaced with a Blended humanity to end “racism”. They only Demand this of White countries.

    This is the common ground on which anti-Whites say we must all agree:

    What is non-White belongs to non-Whites. What is White also belongs to non-Whites.

    Anti-racist is a codeword for anti-White.

  • blackalaureate

    thank you so much for this!!!

  • It Really Does Exist

    Much to your contrary belief, reverse racism does exist. My high school was mostly black and Hispanic, and I was one of the few white women who attended it. I was constantly called “cracka,” “Nazi,” “white supremacist.” They used to make fun of me by calling me a slave driver, then attempting to beat me “like they were beaten.” I’m a 3rd generation Polish immigrant. My great-grandmother’s brother and sister were killed in the Holocaust. My family never owned slaves, or practiced any type of discrimination. We were discriminated ourselves because we weren’t part of the WASP collective when my grandmother was a little girl. But apparently I’m evil just because I’m not dark-skinned. Reverse racism does exist, not matter what you say.

    • Denver Goddess

      When I was 19 years old, I ended up in a women’s’ homeless shelter for 3 months. All I did was show up with white skin and some black and Mexican females there asked me if I was a Nazi. I did nothing, said nothing, wore nothing other than regular clothing.

  • i agree with all of you

    I was just reading through the article and these comments and at first, I was feeling flustered and sad. A lot of these comments seem to be coming from kind folk who care about their own and others’ experiences… yet, there is a lot of bickering. Many of these comments serve to shove back defensively at another comment which was also made in defense. Realizing this, I was left wondering… are all of these people actually in disagreement with one another?

    I do not think a single person whose comment I’ve read speaks in support of any act of racism, bigotry, prejudice, or what-have-you. So, then… wherein lies the disagreement?

    Definitions are merely words. They are clarifying and it is often important to be clear about them, especially when dealing with policy. What is of paramount importance, however, is that these words do not cloud the common truths and hopes that many of you commenting folk seem to hold.

    I do not reckon that any of you are arguing that lived experiences are not real. I do not think that any of you believe that anyone’s experiences with what they feel to be some act of racism/prejudice/injustice can/should have their meaning taken away by an utterance or institutionalized statute.

    Perhaps we might go about forming definitions mindfully, then, while keeping in mind that the goal in defining is not to discount anyone’s experiences, but to simply find a word for them. Perhaps “reverse racism” is a poor choice of word, because it implies that a suffering member of the institutionally and inter-personally suppressed minority can do the exact same thing to a member of the more privileged majority in a setting in which this member of the majority is indeed the privileged one. This is indeed a problematic implication. Institutionalized racism is a monster of an issue and anyone who experiences it should not feel that their experience has been dismissed by someone else who has been exposed to… well… something that should perhaps be defined differently.

    Perhaps “prejudice” is, may/should be defined differently from “racism” if racism is to imply dynamics of power and institutionalized inequality. However, it is important to remember what this separation of experiences into two different word categories does not do. What it does not do (or at least, should not do in theory) is strip anyone of what they have experienced. Prejudice is still real, racism is still real. This dividing up of definitions cannot- and should not- dismiss anyone’s hurt.

    No one should have to fight in defense of their experiences. Your truth is your truth and your hurt, whatever it is, is real! We simply need to find a common language– and, given that we all do not seem to be denying anyone’s truth, that should not be so frightening/defense-provoking an endeavor (though it is okay and quite understandable that it seems to have been so thus far).

    Anyhow, I just wanted to echo out a statement of hope that felt clarifying and unifying when I first thought/wrote it. I felt moved to do this because, when I read these comments, I felt that there was so much hurt, so much love, so much truth, all just striving to be known.

    With faith in the humanity of you all,

  • Will

    I more or less agree with you, if your main point is that racism against whites is not nearly as bad as racism against PoC’s (in America). But you’re pretty wrong on several points.

    First, it is still racism, whoever the victim – racism is prejudice and discrimination based on race (skin colour in most cases). Just because the racism directed towards whites is not institutionalised and not as widespread doesn’t mean it’s not racism.

    Leading on from this, “reverse racism” doesn’t make any sense. Racism is racism, it doesn’t matter who perpetrates it or who the victims are. You can certainly have different degrees of racism and there is clearly a difference between individual racism and institutionalised racism, as your article points out. However, calling it reverse racism implies that racism can only be directed towards people of colour, which we all know is not true. Visit the middle east if you need proof.

    Finally, the most appalling part of the whole article: “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges”. Personally, I’ve never been a victim of racism. I’m white so you’d expect that. I don’t think that I have been privileged to not be racially abused my whole life. I consider that to be a basic human right. There are certainly privileges that I have received because I am white and I think that is an appalling fact of society, but not being racially abused is not one of them. The whites you are talking about who “complain” about “reverse racism” in many cases have been seriously abused – do you think I’m “privileged” to not have had this happen to me? I’d hate to live in your future if you think so – if you think that that should be commonplace. Just because people of colour have been denied this right for centuries does not mean that we should now take it away from those who haven’t. We should be making sure that people are not denied this right at all.

  • Farrah

    This article in itself is racist. The term “Reverse Racism” implies that “whites” aren’t a race of people. I can assure you that racisim is alive and prevalent in Canada but I won’t go into detail and give you examples of the terms I’ve heard. Specifically slurs I’ve heard people of colour use against whites.

    “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges. And while it may feel bad to realize your privilege is crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted can be taken away from you, it is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience reverse racism.” …….seriously???
    Your article is hilarious. You should really consider a career in stand-up comedy…journalism clearly isn’t your forte.
    People of colour and whites receive the same education, the same access to post-secondary education, the same access to financing of post-secondary education, the same access to jobs, the same access to promotions and pay equity. Here in Canada we have laws that protect people from discrimation. We have a tribunal in Ontario (where I live) called The Human Right Commssion of Ontario that hears cases of reported discrimation against various things one of them being race. Whites do not receive any “white” priviledges that people of colour do not receive.

  • variable scope

    Saying that instances of racism on a micro scale are not racism is obviously an invalid claim.
    I agree that reverse racism isn’t real but only because reverse racism would logically be the same as normal acceptance; what you are referring to in this article as ‘reverse racism’ is actual racism, just from people of darker color towards lighter color;
    that is not a minor detail- just as you have shown in this article, semantics are important.
    Institutional racism exists everywhere on the globe, if you would like to argue that it is more prevalent in America than it is in China, I’d be interested in hearing your argument.

    We both agree that racism directed specifically at black people in the US is prevalent with a more widespread impact on a macro and micro scale; but racism in the US affecting whites also exists on a macro and micro scale.

    The problem isn’t ‘reverse racism’, the problem is racism. It affects all people, of all colors, worldwide and it is a problem we need to overcome.
    If on a sinking ship, pointing fingers and placing blaim does nothing to stop the ship from sinking; it’s an act of ego. If the goal is to stop the ship from sinking, the hole in the ship needs to be fixed and the water needs to be removed.
    We’re now aware of the problem- we’re halfway towards a solution.
    You’re an awesome writer and you’ve discovered a topic that you care deeply about. You have written a well thought out article that argues with a passion that made it an article that was interesting to read. Have you considered writing a follow up article that investigates ways of eliminating this problem- one with actionable items that people can do in their everyday lives?
    If you haven’t, you definitely should; knowing that you wrote it would be all the more reason for us to give you more positive recognition.

  • natalie

    I had someone copy and past your “argument” to about how there is no such thing as reverse racism. I am going to post my response to this. Because saying all of this is ignorant and is very closed minded. Racism exists regardless of color.

    >>>>>>>>>

    I agree There is a prejudice towards all races and stereotypes to all that can either grant advantages or disadvantages that “rig” our social structure through our media, policy’s and schools.

    However if we are going to get into definitions of what reverse racism is, it isn’t reverse racism it is reverse discrimination and from what you are describing this is truly what you are talking about.

    reverse discrimination
    : the practice of making it more difficult for a certain type of person (such as a white man) to get a job, to go to a school, etc., because other people who were treated unfairly in the past are now being given an advantage

    This is the definition from Merriam Webster.
    found here.
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/reverse%20discrimination

    Also your “definition” of racism is wrong this is the definition of racism.

    Racism
    : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

    : the belief that some races of people are better than others

    This is again the definition from Merriam Webster.
    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism

    Merriam Webster defines the meaning of words.

    If we are looking at this from this aspect, yes there is discrimination against people of ALL colors, PERIOD. Just because you are a PoC does not mean that you do not develop prejudices against person of another color for that matter WE ARE ALL PEOPLE OF COLOR!!! We all have some sort of pigmentation to our skin. we are not translucent. And by putting a stress on everyone’s color you are further segregating all humans (sorry I am sort of a smart-ass about that because it is true, we all are colored and we are all one race we are all human…I digress)
    In this aspect yes reverse racism exists because it is all racism it is not limited like you propose.
    Yes reverse discrimination exists in our world today, that is not to negate the fact that yes people that are born white, have a social advantage. But to say that whites are all privileged is ignorant. And to say that violence and racism is not directed towards whites is also ignorant; there is not a bubble of there are no problems and whites just don’t have to deal with discrimination or racism.

    So what we really have here is RAMPANT RACISM from everyone towards all colors of people. Because it is human nature to judge.
    The real thing we should be debating is HOW DO WE END IT and create an equal environment for our children’s future………..

    >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

    Ok so that was my response, please note the definitions in there from Merriam Webster. Because those are the real meanings and terms you are looking for. You can debate existence/non-existence of said terms till you are blue in the face. however I do suggest instead of just arguing that racism doesn’t exist towards whites because you can. I really suggest you look at the rising amount of violence towards whites and also realize that racism is racism no matter who it comes from.

  • Nonames

    To be honest, the Internet isn’t the place for proper discussions on the matter, but anyway, I hate the term ‘reverse racism’ (far better to call it ‘racism’ & make it simple). However, though the racism=prejudice+power is an excellent definition of INSTITUTIONAL racism, it is a useless definition of ‘racism’ per se, and has no evidence to support it (but plenty of evidence against it).

  • Lono

    The author’s premise is a critique of a particular race and if anyone
    from that race doesn’t accept the author’s premise then it is only
    further evidence of the validity of said premise.

    The uncomfortable dialogue on race needs to continue, but faulty reasoning works to detract and discredit. Ditto for the less than clever cursing and malapropisms.

    I’m embarrassed for the author.

  • ajd

    Thank you for this article. As a white ally, I do work educating others about the fact that there is racism, but not reverse racism. You did a great job of explaining about prejudice plus power. Power is the operative word. Yes, a PoC can not want to work with me, call me something derogatory and yes this may be acting prejudice and it can hurt….but it’s not racism. I still as a white person have systemic power. What I have found helpful in educating others on this is to invite them to take themselves and their egos out of this, and try to think bigger, i.e. systemic. People’s emotions get in the way and they get triggered when talking about this and learning seems to stop.

    it’s like the white people are looking for empathy and understanding about their experiences and its just not the time to do so, when a PoC is talking about the racism that they have experienced. By adding your experience of prejudice or discrimination (acting on that prejudiced thinking), it invalidates the real racism. It is akin to telling someone their trauma is not real, and that only exacerbates a person’s trauma. It’s just another form of violence that people in the dominant group enact over others. And yes, even if you are the only white person in the room, you are still part of the dominant group – systemically.

  • Maura M.

    I’d like to first say, that this is a good opportunity to engage in a dialogue, and it’s a touchy subject. So, I want to try make this a healthy dialogue. Though it’s frustrating that lots of white people don’t understand the effects that racism has on people of colour, I think that it might also be important that they have spaces to be brought into the fold. If people are feeling defensive, they aren’t going to respond. Do the majority white population need to take responsibility for the unfairness of systemic racism? Yes. But how?

    I am not a fan of hand-holding. But time and support are necessary. The William Bridges Transition framework begins with the premise that the key to sustained change is recognizing and addressing the emotional and psychological effects of change. When applied to racism, the systemic causes of racial inequity have left history haunting us with stories that have yet to be heard, much less understood. So for change to happen, we need to have an ending point, to let go of the old way. Then they have to go through an uncomfortable in-between stage, and if people are alienated at that stage, they will revert. If they make it through that, they can start a new beginning. My point here is, if our psychological needs are not supported, we can’t let that reverse racism thing go.

    Another idea I wanted to bring up is where the ‘calling out racism’ thing comes from. I think I read in a book by James Loewen that colourblindness and reverse racism are concepts that were developed as a white response to the civil rights movement. The civil rights movement was a response to white racism, of the mid 20th century. Calling people out for racism is a response to colourblindness by people of colour, and sometimes white people. For anti-racist activists, I think it’s a good thing to know. I personally think it’s important to give a little more than just calling people out, because then it reverts to what’s going on here. Are people learning in this discussion, or are they just defending themselves from a perceived attack? That’s why I like James Loewen, because he has taught a lot about history and racism, and allows people to really recognize the damage and systematic white-washing of negative parts of history.

    The last issue that I want to bring up is something that people have said a lot already. That is the ambiguousness of the definition of racism. So, if racism = power + prejudice, it is counter-intuitive to think that people of colour can’t be in situations where they have both prejudice, and power. It might not be on the scale of the white power, but it can and does happen.

  • Leita Yolandi

    I got jumped at a club and my nose broken because I was “whitey fru fru” I think judgement is wrong in ANY form. Weather it is because of sex, color, sexual orientation, nationality, income any of it. Hate can bite me!!

  • Really?

    Nope, Prejudice on the basis of skin colour or race is racism.

  • Lix Velvet

    Actually – I live in a very odd, double position – because police Stop and Frisk me on the regular, store security follows me and to “white” people I am perceived as non-white – so I’m fucked no matter where I go!

  • Lix Velvet

    White privilege is only true for the 1%. Dr. Cornell West does a great job, in his book Race Matters, of explaining how we are having a class war in this country. The 1% rules over the rest of us and then keeps us divided by convincing us to hate each other. By us continuing to insist that “white is right” or “black is right” we will never unite and face the real enemy which is the system that oppresses all of us who are not rich as hell. So, sorry for being poor, and sorry for being hated by BOTH blacks and whites – it fucking sucks – and sorry for talking about it cuz I guess that makes me a “bad person” too – I wish peace for everyone – I am a child of the 1960′s with a consciousness that developed during the 1970′s – my ideal is Peace Love and Freedom – FOR EVERYONE – I’m also really tired of black people throwing rocks at my head, pulling guns on me and threatening to beat me up for being a “fag” a “man” or a “trannie” – to quote Rodney King “Why can’t we all just get along” – FOR REAL?!

  • Shabazz

    There’s no such thing as reverse racism! “Reverse racism” is an oxymoron and ridiculous. Racism is the belief one race is superior to another, so to reverse it would be to NOT believe one race is better than another. And as for white/caucasion people calling black/Asiatic people racist, stop it!

    Please stop letting people tell you blacks are racist. Black people can not be racist. Racism is when one group of people has enough wealth and power to injure another group. The truth is, real racist dictate and write policy.

    With the understanding most (not all) black/Asiatic people grew up worshipping a white/caucasian Jesus, it would be asinine to refer to someone black/Asiatic as racist. I have never seen or am aware of a picture/statue of a dark complexioned Jesus in a white/caucasian church. Are you? That’s a form of leprosy the truth must cure! People use the word racist and prejudice synonymously AND erroneously!

    Finally, “white supremacy” is also an oxymoron, at least where nature is concerned. Any caucasion claiming to be superior is a fool. There is nothing supreme about recessive genes making incomplete/deficient/ill-functioning proteins resulting in higher degree of birth defects, poor hearing, poor vision, infertility, bone problems, genetic diseases, skin aging and behavioral issues

    • FlotsamSam

      Sigh. Two points I agree with: the oxymoron references.

  • racist

    So when I couldn’t apply for a scholarship for underprivileged kids because I was white (even though a first generation immigrant from a poor family) that wasnt racist?

  • Gregor

    What everyone seems to be arguing over here is the definition of racism. Google defines it as,

    -”the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.”

    I believe that arguing that t reverse racism doesn’t exist is hurtful to movements pushing for equality. The google definition of racism is widely held in common vernacular, so when people are stereotyped because of their race, which almost everyone has been, the only thing that they can think to call it is racism.

    When people in agent groups encounter articles, like this one, that seem to imply that their own experiences with stereotyping aren’t real problems, it makes them more resistant to social progressiveness in general.

    Is there systematic oppression of white people? No. Is the systematic oppression of POC a major problem that should be dealt with? Absolutely, but arguing over the definition of racism isn’t helping in the slightest.

  • Joshua

    Wtf is this anyhow? Reverse racism? If ANY race is discriminated against than that is racism! I don’t really care what color you are. In fact if you look into history racism has been part of every color.

    I also see this article extremely bias and one sided. In fact the author Sara Luckey needs to start reading something about the topic instead of spewing opinionated nonsense.

  • Ughhhhh

    Huh. Sounds like another “colorblind” white person. -_- you would think as someone who understand the persecution of PoC you wouldn’t try to erase the history and past of PoC. As much as you want to hope all this persecution is in the past. You’re wrong.

    • Open your eyes

      Huh. Sounds like another “you cant be racist against whites” asshole -_-
      She shared a story of here experience of “Reverse-racism” as some ignorant people here call it and you dismiss her as a “‘colorblind’ white person”. She’s not saying we should erase history, she’s saying that people need to stop bringing up what our ancestors did whenever the topic is race.

      Yeah, white people in America of the past owned slaves, but you know what? Black people did too, but nobody makes a big stink of it.

      In my 20 years of life I have seen white people discriminated against more than any other race, the media just make a big deal when its a non-white.

    • ughhhhfuckingidiot

      so you want to keep racism going forever? lol i live in south africa were white people(especially men) can’t get any job because of the previous apartheid, in any position a white man no matter how skilled or qualified or experienced. I’m from Russia originally and live there for over 10 years, yet white people can be racist towards and treated unfairly even by the government because of some random other European’s doing? not even my forefathers lol >,>

    • starlightsynesthesia

      No one’s trying to erase anything. We’re just not holding retarded grudges against specific races and on individual people because of their race in present day based on people that don’t even fucking exist anymore.

  • Kevin

    The biggest problem I have with this editorial is that I see racism as having a different definition. Racism:prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior

    The article seems to think the following about racism. Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people

    The primary difference is that article requires “power to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias.”

  • JR

    Wow, just wow. Peoples of all colors can be racist. Tired of the word being misused all of the time now. The race card is played out. Yes, black people can be racist. Go work in a factory full of illegals from mexico….never mind, over your head…ever get jumped because you are white? No? Then you have no idea. Am i racist? No, cause i don’t believe one skin color is above another. I cab be biggott3d in my though.

  • Truthteller2

    “Reverse racism isn’t real because we live in a culture that supports and enforces whiteness as the norm and PoC as other.” This is why there isn’t a White History Month or a White Entertainment Channel. Lol

  • Jane

    Im almost homeless due to affirmative action hiring in Canada.

  • Jane

    What about all the homeless white people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • chizou

    I never heard someone chime in with reverse racism… but using your example, if a white kid grows up in a black neighborhood and he gets his ass kicked every week because of the color of his skin, how is that possibly not racism? How is that possibly not race induced? This is completely contradictory to the dictionary definition of racism

  • La vaca que ri

    So, this is probably the most stupid thing I’ve seen today… Racism is racism! Saying that there is reverse racism is the same as saying that only white people discriminate, wich is not the case… Racism is the discrimination based on one’s race, and that’s it.

    That beeing said, I belive the racist is you, Mrs. Lucky who wrote this fecal and undimensional chronical

  • Samantha Eaton

    I do believe on some level reverse racism can exist. Yes I understand the systemic oppressions POC’s have to put up with, but when I have someone tweeting how much they hate whites (all whites) and wish to #killallcrackers and #deathtowhiteys then you have to admit its racism in some level. OK I do understand that the whole systemic and societal thing isn’t there but just because your oppressed doesn’t give you a ticket to dish out hatred.

    I’m trans and I found it absolutely disgusting that some of us were hating cisgender (non trans* people) under the #F*ckCisPeople hastag. Yes I no doubt understand what transphobia is through first hand experience, but dishing out hatred is dishing out hatred. I believe this to be cis-phobia (in some sense).

  • Andrew Fung Yip

    Thank you for explaining why it only exists as prejudice against whites but not racism.

  • George Li

    I’m Chinese and I can tell you reverse racism exists. Many of my relatives make racist comments against white people. Reverse racism only doesn’t exist in the minds of social justice bloggers like you who think the “oppressed minorities” like me are paragons of virtue who can do no wrong.

  • knucklehead

    What an article! Both childish and uninformed. The writer defines racism from what she needs racism to be in order to be politically expedient for her carefully constructed narrative and completely irrelevant to the world in general. Yet another middle class pseudo-liberal who has no real idea whatsoever about any life outside her own privileged social group where white has to equal privilege and power and black has to equal lack of the same. What is needed is education, not indoctrination. There is a world out there that the write doesn’t even know exists.

  • nah

    Alright little white kids, I get the anger at this but I think you’re a little bit missing the point/overreacting. White kid getting bullied because he is white = racism, I don’t understand the debate about that in the social justice community to be honest. If you’re bullied, fired, passed up for a job, etc etc solely for your race no matter what race that is, it is racism. HOWEVER the reason this article was written in the first place is because in discussions about institutionalized racism (which lets be honest is completely real), white kids like to come in and make it about them and like 98% of the time their experiences with racism are no where near as severe. The conversation doesn’t always have to be about you-which is pretty much the point here. Living in the United States, if you are white you will probably never have to deal with anything like most non-whites do which is why your experiences generally are considered unvalid-they were likely singular events whereas most PoC have a lifetime of these events.

    Racism is racism, but it exists on a spectrum and most whites’ experiences are on the low end.

    However it is highly hypocritical when certain social justice bloggers for example use the fact that their experiences are more severe as an excuse to hate all whites and generalize every member of a race based on some ignorant/rude douches. Which I’m guessing is where the “reverse racism” argument comes into play most often.

    Basically white people need to realize the conversation isn’t about them simply because their experiences are few and far between unlike PoC’s generally

    And PoC’s (by which I mean PoC social justice bloggers) need to get it into their heads that racism is racism and if you’re hating on someone just because they’re white you’re at fault too. Also as “A naive article” posted, the argument that racism is only ever white against PoC is actually really stupid considering other cultures and other majorities within said cultures and-best example I would say-Arab Terrorists many of whom are guess what are taught to be anti-white.

  • Juan Valdez

    The first sentence says it all, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ON THE INTERNET…

    YES, YOU DO… Unfortunately that time is spent searching for opinions and stories of others that match what you want to see. You are NOT LEARNING ANYTHING. YOU ARE SEARCHING FOR PEOPLE WHO CONFIRM WHAT YOU WANT TO BELIEVE.

    This (article?) is narrow, conclusion selective, and sad. It is the work of a narcissist who is trapped in their own world and determined to see everything as they choose.

    My God, you need to go outside and look around. Stop getting your entire world view from people on the internet who are more than willing to play victim.

  • BlueMoney

    Another young, sheltered white liberal sheep who disengages her brainwashed little mind and proceeds to run her mouth about subjects she knows NOTHING about (and wouldn’t dream of living within a light-year of any neighborhood where she might get first-hand experience of what she speaks of.) Don’t feel bad though Sara… I was “luckey” enough to grow up in a nice, safe white neighborhood just like you did. I also had teachers feeding me politically correct BS for 12 years of my life, just like you.
    Then I left that neighborhood, and got some real-world schooling. Maybe you will too.

  • Joseph Joseph

    The thing about racists is that often, they dont think they ARE racists. I spent some time in the mid west, and I have to tell you. Most of the black people would not tolerate a white person saying nigger. For a black person to say it was fine, but if a white person said it, them was fightin words. Thats racism. There are definitely different standards for both whites and blacks. I am not going to call someone and Afro-American because that implies they are something other than an American. I do not and will not associate with people by heritage. I do recognize a difference in someones skin color as a mechanism of description of appearance. I reserve the word nigger most often for people who think it means black people. Those people truly are niggers or as the word means Ignorant people. I suppose a bunch of niggers will find this to be offensive. That hardly matters. Those people are racist bigots who do not understand the meaning of the word. I love all of my friends regardless of race, creed or color because they are truly good people. I dislike people who associate them selves as being Arian, Jews, Arabs, Native ect.. I can only deal with someone who is a human first and foremost. The thing is that people who associate with being their race become racist as a matter of fact. They tend to take people of their race over others. This is how genocide happens. Reverse racism is a real thing, and in my opinion it is the only reason why the people with black skin are still behind. Their self perception in many cases holds them back more than anything else. If you identify with yourself as being your skin color then you will be. Funny thing. I was in China and everyone assumed that I could not use chop sticks because I am white, but I love eating with chop sticks. I hate how Chinese discriminate against me because of the color of my skin. They think that because I am from America that I have no deductive reasoning skills and cannot perform simple mathematics. Also that I will have no significant skills in chemistry or even a basic understanding of physics and that I will read and write at an 8th grade level. Ha!

  • sickened

    white people need to stop speaking about how a black person’s experience of racism is as though they’ve experienced it themselves. this article is written by a privileged idiot. I mean, you are right, reverse racism doesn’t exist. It implies that racism applies only when whites are racist towards racial minorities which is bullshit. Racism isn’t just about who has power. Racism is thinking that someone who is a different ‘race’ from you is somewhat less than you simply because of that perceived difference. This can go in any direction. I’m sick of white people telling me that I can’t be racist to other white people. I can. I’m not but I can. Of course it won’t have the same impact but it still is racism. Hate is hate. Racial discrimination is where power comes in and trust me, if I have power I can definitely discriminate against you. If I was an employer, I could choose not to hire you; if I owned a bar, I could bar you from entering. Hate is hate and while it might not have the same impact on that white person as it will if the positions where reversed it is still a very bad thing. We cannot expect to move forward from racism if we give credence to a certain ‘type’ of racism and say that’s true racism. No, all racism is bad.

    It’s like people have forgotten what racism is. It’s a very, very simple thing at the core and people need to know exactly what that is. It is about a perception that your race is better than another. That’s it. End of.

    • HZ

      I’m black and I believe the article’s author has the right to speak her opinion from her pov and I have no issues with what she said. I do have an issue with you calling her an idiot. That’s uncalled for.

  • Jack

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine”

    That’s weird because no official definitions of the word mention power being a necessary catalyst for racism to occur. Sounds more like you’re pulling it out of your ass or spouting bullshit you read on tumblr

  • Doublestandard

    I am going to agree with the person below. It is not having your “privileges” taken away when you are more qualified for a job, but because that company needs a certain % of minorities, you didn’t get it. It isn’t a privilege when you had higher grades than someone of a different race, yet they get more scholarships, or gets admitted and you don’t. I have seen this too many times.

    You are right though, technically there is no reverse racism… that is because it is just racism. Giving someone else a chance over a more qualified person, just because of race… is Racism. Legal cases getting more media attention because the victim was black, while the same case with a white victim are ignored is Racism.

    The fact the words reverse racism have to be used to describe a different type of racism, is in and of itself, Racist.

  • Native

    “Reverse racism isn’t real because we live in a culture that supports and enforces whiteness as the norm and PoC as other.” Actually, this is an amazingly racist and ignorant view of America. Hundreds, even thousands, of communities in this country are made up of PoC, or have such a large contribution from PoC that they are in no way the Other. You must come from an extremely white and privileged background to make such a statement. Have you never been to Miami, San Antonio, western South Dakota, and one of thousands of First Peoples communities, watched Univision, or BET, looked at a pop music chart, been to New Orleans, been to Los Angeles, walked around El Paso, been to a community meeting at a public housing community in Queens. I could go on and on. I currently live in a political district with over 110 languages being spoken in it, my state representatives are Black and Asian, respectively, my city councilman is Black, my Democratic party chair is South Asian. Whiteness is not the norm here. But it is in your racist houses of critical race theory, the academic institutions with their whitebread professorship, yes, that place where these ideas come from, that place is racist. But that isn’t my neighborhood. You have never been in my neighborhood, where you can go 3 blocks and not hear English being spoken. And where we have our own community power. And where we look out for each other regardless of the color of skin, because hating someone or thinking about that person in some negative way because of their color or ethnicity, or anything about them, is wrong. Even if they are white. Its all racism. And it doesn’t need Power, it merely needs to be hatred that aspires to power or towards and expression of Power.

    “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges.” No, they are not. That may be true in some specific case, but once again the reduction to generalization is a tool of the oppression. Your mindset is that of the racist. You are defining for someone what their experience is, at that is at the heart of racism. If the sentence is _____ people are ________ and its not some statistic about heart disease or obesity or affluence, its probably racist. You are incredibly ignorant if you don’t think someone being abused individually and systemically is not a victim of racism. If I am beat up for being Indian, and then I go to the police, and am disregarded because I am Indian, or a slut, or Black, or……white, and that is the actual reason, then its still racism. There is no reverse racism because if a decision is based on race, its based on race. Its just plain old racism. This is where the idea put forth that racism requires power or it is ‘merely’ discrimination is bull shit. The minimization of racist actions is at the heart of white racism, and is the manner in which institutionalization persists (oh, its not racism….we only hire people from Ivy League schools because of their college ranks…bullshit, its racism). These people trying to separate racist actions and minimize discrimination to alleviate their own prejudice is the heart and soul of racism. Yes, PoC can be racist, or have you never actually been around any PoC? Are they to be denied their ability to make their own decisions? Are they some noble savage? How dare you.
    I grew up in gang infested communities. I grew up in communities where people of color are business owners, everywhere. We had power, we still do. Your definitions of racism can not take that away simply because you want them to. We are not some powerless sponges absorbing white Amerikkka’s negation of our importance and existence, and we are also not absorbing your biased reflection of that idea, essentially saying the same thing by refusing us the ability to negate, to hate, and to have an impact with that hatred.

  • Ben

    What a phenomenally ignorant and facile argument from a very stupid and narrow-minded person. A six-year-old child could pick holes in this.

    Sara Luckey is not only tacitly racist on a superficial level, but also on a deeper one which most Americans are when discussing this topic i.e. racism isn’t about the differences between black Americans and white Americans, to consider it such underlines your own bigotry. Or is that patriotism?

  • Jbc

    Even if your argument was sound I think that you would need more data to back it up. I was denied a competitive scholarship at a state school because the decision making board decided that they “desired a more diverse candidate”.

    I am white and male. The scholarship was not race based but I lost it because I was white. That is institutionalized and far reaching if you ask me.

    • August

      You’re assuming ” more diverse” means “not White.” Diverse can also mean a whole host of things not related to race or gender, like “has extensive work experience,” “overcame personal tragedy,” “came from an economically disadvantaged background,” etc. It can be one of those things, but is most likely a combination of multiple factors that determines whether a candidate is diverse.

      • Jbc

        I’m not assuming anything. They were clear that because I was white and male that I had “distinct advantages” over the other candidates making me non eligible for the scholarship. This happens all the time.

  • Thomas Brown

    I get tired of other people trying to rob me of my own experience, just because they’re trying to lay some academic theory down as the only acceptable way to look at things.

  • Sally

    EXACTLY. It’s just plain RACISM, no matter who it comes from. Duh.

  • Dock Drumming

    Let me break it down for you guys. I really don’t know where the term “reverse racism” came from. There is only RACISM, and ANYONE (black, white, yellow, purple, etc.) can be one.

  • Dock Drumming

    Fantastic response. I agree %100!

  • JAES

    I’m going to repost what I answered on my friend’s FB thread:

    Please excuse me for a moment. I am going to rant, (yes, I realize some of this rant was expressed in the article) and then I am going to shut up. Thank you for your patience.

    Racial bias & prejudice, as far as I know, is the same thing as racism. And that can be displayed by anyone of any color towards anyone else of any color, within an ethnicity or between ethnicities. Yes, within the Western-influenced world there is “white” privilege (for as much as “white” or “black” actually describes anyone vs. describing a fked system of inequality meant to make 1 group of people feel like they could treat any other group not looking like them like pieces of crapola). That does not mean that people on the privileged side cannot experience racism from the non-privileged side. It does mean that their experience of it is nothing close to as degrading as what the other side has experienced in this country because of the fked up color-consciousness imposed by the founding European colonialists; it also means that any PoC’s prejudices/attitudes stem from this system of inequality, and these should be understood in that way. It does not make ANY of it right or justified, and it doesn’t mean that someone shouldn’t be able to voice that they have had an experience. It does mean that this person, if from the privileged side, SHOULD be educated verbally in a polite, thoughtful way (because we put out into the world what we want to receive) so that they have an opportunity to understand that the experiences are not equivalent. Otherwise, the loaded silence about the whole “racism” thing in America continues, these issues continue to be swept under the rug, stereotypes and misunderstandings continue to perpetuate and NOTHING EVER GETS HEALED OR SOLVED.

    I am saying this as a 1/2 Caucasian, 1/2 mystery meat adopted person who checks “other” on the Census & other stupid demographic forms because I’m sick and tired of playing into the bullshit socio-political system in this country.

    Shutting up now. Peace & a Happy Holiday to all.

  • Not looking at comments

    The comments here are going to be insane, aren’t they? I am sorry you will have to slog through it. I just want to say, well done, and thank you! I’m not a PoC, but I try to be a thoughtful and empathetic person and an ally. Thank you for giving me such eloquent phrasing to express my frustration with Clueless White People ™ and their derailing of the conversation. I sometimes feel like I have no place speaking up or criticizing them, since I also don’t have that lived experience. Thank you for reminding me that calling out bullshit is always appropriate. Thank you thank you thank you!

  • guest

    some valid points in here (the structural aspect of racism made sense), but no, I don’t see how a white person being treated with mistrust, contempt, hatred or disgust by someone of a different race JUST BECAUSE they are white in skin color or culture is not RACISM…obviously this person has not experienced that, or feels so superior that it didn’t bother them!!

    inflammatory/false to claim that is just a white person reacting to their loss of “white privilege”

  • Faisal

    What rubbish you are clearly lying if all of what you said is true something would’ve been done before now don’t chat shit. You think blacks are bad come to bradford in the uk aka bradistan us pakistanis rule innit. No white man looks us in the eye haha they look down at their feet when they see us, or man gets straight robbed mate. Ye ill freely admit I’m racist I HATE white people you lot are scum of the earth the whole lot if you. The only good white person is a dead white person I mean look at all the shit you’ve done in the world. Crusades, slavery, taking over half the world, the holocaust, the atom bomb, what have white people NOT done to deserve it? I don’t give a shit if it wasn’t you it was your ancestors so what you reap what they sowed, sorry that’s life it’s unfair.

    • Sherlaine Badenhorst

      you racist !!! :)

    • starlightsynesthesia

      Yes, and you (Faisal) are obviously an evil piece of shit, and I legitimately (and realistically) hope that one day soon, government surveillance analyzes these messages, tracks it to who you are, and literally sends you off to a recreated Auschwitz specially designed just for *actually* truly racist, malevolent scum like you. You are the only one between you and I that deserves “it”. You lot are the scum of the Earth, the whole lot of you.

    • No.

      Faisal, you are mentally ill and need to get help. That’s all I am saying. Take it from a psychologist.

    • Chuck U Farley

      Inventions too… you forgot that!

    • digitalruckus

      faisal mate, i live in Preston quite a ways down south of Bradford and you’re absolutely spot on. but i’m black not asian and the white people here are the same. you’re not racist, you just don’t like whites which is fair shout. people are failing to realise your last point which is what this is all about they reap what they sowed still today

  • A Voice

    prejudice does not equal racism, and I think the difference between them is where people get lost.

    Everyone, no matter what their skin color, has at one point experienced prejudice from someone with a different skin color for what ever reason, which is entirely deplorable and a shame. But, structural racism cannot be reversed by a minority group.

  • Eric Adcock

    This author is totally ignorant of the world around her and is blinded by her ideology and preconceptions. Which is fine but spouting this tripe as gospel truth makes her also an idiot.

  • ANGRY

    This article made me angry as I am a white woman that has experienced racism on a constant basis my entire life. What privilege do I have that “others” as you refer to them do not? I grew up in a poor household and was looked down upon by people that had more than me. When you are a poor white person you are not a part of the group of power that supposedly exists you are at the same economic level and disadvantaged level as everyone else.
    Now, how dare anyone say that what I have experienced is an individual experience when I know of many people that have experienced what I have. There is obviously an issue in regards to the way people are raising their kids to feel about white people regardless of who they are as a person. My son who is mixed was at the park last summer and he went to play with a little black boy in the sand box. He was trying to get is attention and asked him if he wanted to play and touched his shoulder. This child could not have been more than six or seven years old and he said don’t touch me your white. Reverse racism is real because todays black people are raising their youth to hate, bully, and discriminate against all whites. It is ruins the work that others have tried so hard to accomplish. Now you have a generation of whites that were not raised to be racist were taught in public schools to be ashamed of being white only to have black people hate them now and verbally and physically show it without any consequences. If the white person tries to fight back they are labeled a racist and will face more consequences. So I ask you if you were in my shoes and have been bullied, discriminated, and hated by one race of people would you become predijuced as well or would you still look for the good in each person regardless of their race. You know what I do I STILL do. I will NEVER hate a group of people because of individuals that spread hate and are too stupid to realize that not every white person is racist or has ancestors that used slaves. My family did not come to America until the 1900s I have the records. So do I deserve this treatment. NO I DO not and neither do the descendents of slave masters because GUESS WHAT they are not slave masters. You can not control being black like I cannot control that I am white. SO WHY DOESNT EVERYONE JUST GET OVER IT ALL.

  • A Flawed Article

    A Flawed Article. Firstly, this article fails to define power in any meaningful way. Maybe white people are overrepresented in powerful institutions, but it is a logical flaw to therefore jump to the conclusion that there is such a thing as ‘white privilege’ or that white people somehow are favored in society at large. The first thing to notice is that powerful positions are NOT democratic enterprises in the sense that everyone has the equal right to these positions no matter what. Rather they are a matter of who is the best qualified to hold these positions, and it just so happens that a large part of those qualified happen to be white, so it is natural that many will be white. Secondly, I strongly disagree with the notion that racism has to be connected with power to be valid. Apart from the fuzzy nature of the word ‘power’. Most authoritative sources, including UN, define racism solely as ethic discrimination. And this is of course rife against white people in this world as much as it is rife against blacks, asians or other such “races”. Take a look at Zimbabwe or modern day South Africa under the present ANP and you find that anti-white racism is widespread and even officially sanctioned in the case of Zimbabwe. And yes, obviously it is present in western countries, because there are always ignorant dumbasses who happen to be black, asian or hispanic as there are white counterparts. Indeed, it may be part of human nature to look at people from the lens of collective stereotyping rather than by looking at peoples as individuals. And while the term reverse-racism itself may be flawed because there is only one direction of racism no matter who it’s aimed at. To claim that there’s no racism against whites is purely ludicrous.

  • learn to love everyone

    Racism is a state of mind. Really, what we are talking about is discrimination which is a behavior.

    Let me just help you extend your career. Today, it might be socially acceptable to post an article stating that Caucasians can not be the victim of racism because they are Caucasians, but several years from now society might wake up and get tired of the inflammatory speech. Do yourself a favor and delete this article.

    All i see in this article is hate. The same thing i see from people like you all the time in major corporations, churches, etc. What else would explain your unrelenting desire to minimize any complaint of discrimination, the BEHAVIOR that you’re ultimately out to stop, because the victim happens to be white?

    I have news for you, in 2013, this crap effects everybody. If don’t think that white employees are discriminated on by minority bosses because of that same white privelage crap you keep mentioning, then think again. It happens every day.

    Profiling? I’m white, male, and live in the south. By the way, i went to private school. I tell you these things and you don’t think i know what’s going through your before you even say it?
    Now, let me correct your stereotype. My family went into debt to put me in private school because public school was not safe for me anymore. I graduated college with a liberal arts degree, and lost most of my high school friendships because of my progressive political beliefs.

    When i see these emotional, nearly anti white rants, i ask myself why are you focused on white people and not their complaints of being a victim to the same behavior you are? Discrediting them only discredits yourself. You can’t know that they were born in to any more privelage than you were, but you profile them on your article lol. Quit being anti white and start being anti racist, because one day political correctness will migrate to a more equal view and articles like this will still be lingering around on the internet.

    Attacking a behavior is what progressives do, attacking people it’s what racists do.

  • Harry Seaward

    Liberals always see the world as they want it to be, not as it is.
    You are fubar lady.

  • Martel

    I grew up in your multicultural utopia. It was common to see whites getting beat up while the attackers shouted racial slurs. Even my immigrant friends perceived it as normal to only discuss whites in negative terms, especially white women where seen as nothing but “meat”. I know someone who has been murdered by Arabs & Blacks who called him a white pig while they kicked him to death.

    According to the political establishment, which hold the views you represent, this doesn’t constitute racism. My experiences and the experiences of many others are continually mocked, trivialized and omitted from political discourse. You as a writer have contributed to the status quo, and it will never be forgotten.

    Vive Le Generation identitaire.

  • Michael

    Racism is the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races. Or prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.
    Meaning anyone can be racist anywhere at any time. Also the definition of race a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group. There that needed to be made clear for eveeyone

  • Supremo Lagarto

    Racism is when a person judges an entire race of people with an unfair, usually negative, sweeping generalization. That is all that it means and the author of this article has attempted to hijack the definition in order to make a generalization about all white people. Which is that all white people got together and created a system to exploit minorities. Most white people are not racists, though a minority of them are. A lot of black people are not racists, but a few definitely are. There are some (not all) black people who believe that it is okay to attack and rob white people because they believe whites are all oppressors. The same minority of people view speaking in correct grammar, gainful employment, and education to be “for whites”. A minority of black people are racists. Saying that this is not the case or that white people who have been discriminated against are just “whining” shows a lack of imagination and empathy for other human beings.

  • Eccehomo

    LOL White Liberal Guilt. Obsessed with the supposed oppressed.

  • Sherlaine Badenhorst

    Sara Luckey please do some more research from other countries before you post internationally.

  • steven noyb

    Go to any topic on Israel in a news section, with comments.
    Try to defend palestine and watch how long before they call you racist, while calling you a nazi.

  • Random person

    I disagree. In South Florida, for instance, it’s impossible to get a job unless you know very fluent Spanish or are actually hispanic and people constantly treat whites like trash. However, whites are the minority in south florida, so perhaps the argument is invalid.

  • Ryan

    Kill yourself you anti white SLUT. I hope you get anally raped by an HIV infested Nigger you white genocide WHORE.

  • brian

    This is racist on its own saying no one can be racist against whites me and my brother where spit on and was told no white boys can have a 1st string full back postition on our football team we went to a school where white pop was 10 percent and we had alot of friends but we also had alot of people who talked shit bc we where white so ya you are a racist yourself maybe instead of being on the internet all the time go out and live a lil what about the white genocide in south africa

  • brian

    And one other thing all races has been inslaved one time or another I mean go ti schol do you not remember the british ilse when the romans came NEWS flash blacks where not the only slaves instead of dwelling on somthing that has been fixed why nitbhelo people who are slaves RIGHT now like woman in the sex world or sweat shops of poor children in china and India I mean I know there is racism is still around and I am ashamed of it and I hate it but to say that if your white it cant be racism thats so mean and rude im native american and I know what your thinking everyone says that but I was born on the rez in Oklahoma and have a cdib card if you dont know what that is then you dont know any way my people had our country taken over race is almost at extinction at least your race is growing and is flourishing

  • FatherOf Dayear

    You feminist cunt I have been openly hated against because I’m white, you obviously didn’t go to public school or have lived in a town with a majority of minorities, if you’re white you are hated universally by other races, fuck you you privileged bitch.

  • trey

    The phrase “reverse racism” in itself is racist as it implies only white people can be racists. Anyway, I’m a far left wing guy in Canada and I’ve become sick of this double standard. I’ve also become tried of white people seemingly being the only race concerned about teaching their children racism is wrong.

  • Lana_89

    Seriously, there is a difference between individual struggle and racial struggle. Many white people get this confused all time. As a black female, I would never compare my hardships with anyone else (white, asian, whatever..) So why should a white person do the same? It’s nowhere near comparable. Not saying one person’s problems are more difficult than anyone else’s. But these issues usually can’t be measured on the same scale. Instead of whining and saying “it doesn’t exist they’re making it up”, learn more about another cultural groups history and why certain patterns exist.

    • Patrick Rhoades

      You have experienced racial oppression Stereotyping and racism by definition any race can experience racism from any race only those experiencing prejudice that has power behind it based on race can experience racial oppression. Racial oppression is what I think people are confusing for racism. 2 different things that are seperated by the application of power which many are using that explanation to say white people are confusing racism for bigotry which is wrong because bigotry doesn’t require race and reverse racism is actually when a program meant to help discriminated minorities discriminates against the majority so this redefinition of racism requires the creation of 2 words to be redefined 1 to be created and another to be destroyed to change nothing at all which is highly illogical in every way as there is no reason to do so.

  • zak

    For starters, I noticed that all your white people examples are about Americans, well shockingly enough, just because being racist to white Americans doesn’t exist (in your eyes anyway) doesn’t mean that white people in other countries aren’t victims of racism. In Australia, particularly the small aboriginal dominant town that I live in (I am white) is extremely racist towards the white population, I was gang bashed a few months ago by 6 aboriginals when I was walking home because it’s a “black neighbourhood” and I “didn’t belong”. They got a slap on the wrist and nothing more because if they got jail time they’d just play the “it’s because I’m black” card.
    The Australian governments gives out aborginal-only payments such as ABstudy, there are certain jobs in Australia that only aboriginals are allowed to apply for.
    (Assuming your ignorant mind doesn’t know what an Aborigine is, they are the indigenous peoples of Australia)
    There are many more examples of “reverse racism” (which is a very ignorant term btw, implying that the normal and only racism is racism towards blacks)
    If you seriously don’t believe white people can be a victim of racism than you are fucking stupid.

  • An Onymus

    This has to be the dumbest article ever written. Im not white or black. Im native american. Reverse racism is very much alive. Our people had our country taken from us. The blacks were sold into slavery by their own people. And yes its horrible what was done to their people. But the blacks who live here today are a different people. They are rude, dumb and try to con everyone. The whites bend over backwards to appease them for something that happened to the blacks ancestors. These whites werent there. I wasnt there when my ancestors land was taken. It was a horrible act but I dont blame the “white man” for that. Joe shmoe couldnt give it back today anyway. Yet the blacks get college funds just for them. Tv and movies just for them. Their own dating site. Let a white do that and feelings get hurt quick. I work in a place where they have to hire variety. This means a black guy who isnt qualified for his job gets paid more than me because his skin is black. But you know what? I get promoted next week to hiring staff and im gonna hire qualified individuals. Not skin colors. Our schools are lessoning their grading standards because the blacks cant keep up. My daughter wont get the education they deserve because? Lastly, they should be thankful for the events that led them here. Where would they be otherwise? Jumping up and down in some hutted village with a spear in their hand. They are welcome to go back to that if they wish.

  • JDavid

    Wow, I bet most of these people are defensive White people who just want to feel like races are turning against them. I don’t see White people walking down the street getting avoided because of the stigma that’s been put on you.. You know how this article prove her point because you guys were ready mostly talking about Black people. Last time I checked White man and woman are still the most sought out group in the world.. I think you guys need to stop acting like a White slave period is coming and just face the facts that you as an entire race have it better.

  • Legally white

    What definition of racism are you using? Racism doesn’t have to be institutional, systematic, supported by the government, or done to the minorities. It just requires belief of superiority due to race, and/or aggressive behavior against people because of their race. Everyone can do that.

    Do you think sexism against men is possible? After all, they’ve been the privileged gender for centuries, therefore they can never complain about sexism now. (I don’t really believe that, people. Just illustrating a point.) That is what your article comes off as, except with races rather than genders.

    Also next time you hear about an incident, before you dismiss it as not racist, imagine it happening to someone you love. It might change your perspective…

  • Legally White

    … Ever heard of affirmative action?

  • Ashley

    This article is beyond ignorant. I can’t fathom to even look at it anymore.

  • ayyyy

    I love the article as it explains most of the things that debunk reverse racism, but i wish it was a tad bit less belittling. I myself well understand reverse racism isn’t real and wanted to show my friends why, but i found myself getting defensive reading this article! Please please please remember the objective is to educate and not make someone feel less than or stupid for not knowing.

  • Tom Palumbo

    Before whites could even begin to fathom ‘reverse racism’ I think it’s critical they understand the meaning and implications of white privilege. There is a difference between prejudice and discrimination.

    Sign me,
    Middle aged white guy.

  • So much pretense.

    This is absurd. The notion that there is some monolithic power structure which oppresses people of easily specifiable groups is impossible to defend. Power relations and social expectations do not exist as general features of a flat and static landscape.
    There are entire ways of being which are foreclosed to people for their whiteness and for which their participation yields taunting and ridicule without much ado. Thus, people feel comfortable making jokes about sexual prowess (as though white men – but even more so Asian men – should understand that there exist no rights to self-determination if the particular struggle you find yourself engaged in is a sexual one), musical ability, and authenticity of expression (see contemporary discussions of whites in rap or older discussions of white jazz and blues musicians) along racial lines.
    Historical reasons for these ways of understanding race are entirely beside the point: there now exist power structures which oppress and turn that critical, self-hating gaze (which this article treats as the sole province of PoC) inward for people of every possible shade of skin.

    Now allow me to quote the article for a bit of rhetorical (though not less serious) fun:
    When somebody is talking about racism they have experienced, that conversation is not all about you, nor should you expect it to be, so stop with the derailing and just listen and learn.

  • RealityCheck

    The REAL reason “Reverse- Racism ”

    Is Not Real:…is because there is no such thing as “Reverse – Racism”

    (It clearly insinuates that the vast majority of racist actions are perpetrated by white people, and should be termed racism, and that all acts done by any other race toewards white people is somehow “REVERSE” implies that all racism is white racism, anything else is just other races “reversing the normal state of things” and using racism against white people as some sort of revenge for acts of racism by white people

    THIS IS LUDICROUS AND BLATANTLY RACIST

    RACISM IS RACISM PERIOD.there is no reverse.

    +Skin colour of the perpetrator does not matter, An act of racism is not any better or worse because the person who did it is one colour or another, its still inexcusable.

    Would you call a Latino Man refusing to hire a black man, for no other reason then that hes black..”Reverse – Racism “?

    If awhite man has never done anything racist in his life, then gets stomped by 4 black guys for no other reason then the color of his skin… would this be considered

    “Reverse-Racism”?

    How is is there any difference between;
    if 5 white guys single out a Chinese man, and beat that man up, just because of his race and skin colour
    and;
    5 Chinese guys, singled out a white man and then beat him up,based again, solely on race and skin colour?
    How could you call one a Racist attack, and the other a “Reverse – Racist”attack just because of skin colour?

    It does not matter what colour of skin the victim of racism has.

    Do you really believe that ONLY WHITE PEOPLE are racist, and that all the the other races you have labelled as “PoC” do not, have not, and can not behave in a racist manner?

    You realize you are making my own point over and over again in your statement right?

    5 white guys single out a Chinese man, and beat that man up, just because of his race and skin colour is not an action and behavior just as racist as it would be if

    5 Chinese guys, singled out a white man and then beat him up,based again, solely on race and skin colour?

    White people have the same rights,and responsabilities as anyone else in this world.

    They have the right to be treated equally, and they have the responsibility to treat others equally,,

    no one should be treated differently because of race and skin coolor, to say that white people can not be the victims of racism, due to the fact that they are white, is not only clearly a ridiculous statement, but also a very real racist one, for obvious reasons.

    Your use of the term “PoC” is a another example.

    +++And due to past experience, Im sure a few people reading this will want to make the point that this term was coined by white racists, realistically many years befiore any of them were born.

    Ok, well that means those people back then, whatever color they were, were behaving in a racist manner, and should not have.used the term.

    It does not mean that just because a bunch of white people behaved badly a long time ago, that its ok to assume that most white people today still behave the same, or have the same opinions regarding racism, because they have the same skin colour.

    that’s a far cry from treating people equally by their actions not race, they are not their ancestors, and should not have to be judged by the actions of others.

    Ths means that you have actually behaved in a racist matter using this term, as it clearly is an offensive and racist term (judged by your actions)

    Why is it that all other races fall under your term, but caucasions,.. are we not people with a skin colour? Are we not entitled to be treated the same as all other races?

    Are you claiming that only the races that you consider fall under your term “PoC” are the only ones that can claim to be victoms of racism?
    Do you really believe that

    I fail to understand the term “reverse racism” at any rate.

    Racism is Racism, regardless of what race is being victimized.

    Please help me understand your logic, because it makes little sense to me, because I can see no other way to describe your above statement other then as a clearly racist opinion.

  • AmericanShouldbeaRace

    lol my work pays PoC more then whites, and certain work can only be done if you are African-American otherwise you dont get to work on the higher paying jobs because and i quote “Black people talk a certain way that make other Black people want to talk to them. So if you are white, you are not allowed to work on this particular project.” Isn’t this racist towards whites and blacks?

    This article is poorly written. I understand where you are coming from, I really do. But saying White people are not allowed to be subjected to racism, in itself is racist.

    also wouldn’t reverse racism be Egalitarianism?

    I think you are a racist against racists. you are trying so hard not to be racist, it’s just funny.
    Dont worry maybe someday you racist little mind might be able to understand what not being racist is really about. Until then maybe just keep your labeling of people of certain color to yourself. Thanks!

  • Chuck Gettle

    You are suffering from delusions of intelligence.

  • mdabs

    is it racism if someone adamantly tells me “white people are stupid…white people are both f**** up and deaf…”?? as seen on the tumblr post: http://barriobruja.tumblr.com/post/62692361298

  • http://www.pearshapedcomedy.com Anthony Miller

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs”

    So Hitler wasn’t racist when he wrote Mein Kampf in 1923-25 but only when he got to power in 1933. No he was RACIST ALL HIS LIFE. Racism is an idea it is not to do with power. Mussolini, Franco and Hitler were all totalalitarian dictators but their regimes utilised racism to extremely different degrees and using different mechanisms. Hitler purged his internal population of its racial scapegoats systematically using concepts of eugenics which had never been taken that far before by anyone. The whole system was driven by one man’s ideas. Mussolini on the other hand exported racist colonial ideas by invading Abyssinia – but he didn’t practice mass genocide on a population. He cooperated with Hitler’s genocide program for reasons of self preservation rather than idealism. Franco’s Catholicism on the other hand kept him at a political and neutral distance from Hitler and Mussolini so while his regime was hugely oppressive it found other non-racial scapegoats on the whole and didn’t go round invading other nations.

    It was because Hitler was living in a country that was economically crushed and oppressed that he turned to racist ideology. Socially he was at the bottom of the heap and this is how he justified to himself his racist ideologies about other races. Similar things happened under slavery and segreation in the US.

    The Nation of Islam didn’t believe that they just needed to be separate and different from white people – they believed in the theology of innate black superiority over whites…that white people are a sub-human genetic mutation of pure black people. When some (a very very very very very very tiny) minority of black people talk about Obama’s wife not being “properly black” this is the ideology they reference. That is why Malcom X caused a schism and had to convert to Sunni Islam. Malcolm X advocated the complete separation of African Americans from white people. This is called black separatism. He changed his mind – realising this ideology was unhelpful and racist “I was a zombie in those days” he said at the end of his life. Today of course the Nation of Islam is a joke with numbers less than 20,000 but at its height it had hundreds of thousands of members who technically at least were all supposed to believe that:

    “The Blackman is the Original Man. From him came all brown, yellow, red,
    and white people. By using a special method of birth-control law, the
    Blackman was able to produce the white race.”

    Perhaps this extremism was a neccessary part of the evolution of greater social integration but it did happen. And there are black racists – it is not helping black people to not admit it. I dont think you know any black history either. I think you are probably just another cynical white woman abusing black people to their own political ends.

    If you ask me the whole concept of privelege black and white and male or female is racist/man hating. “Any time a PoC starts to talk about their experiences with racism, a white person chimes in to derail the conversation and talk about their
    own experiences with ‘reverse racism.’” This is idiot for “I want to talk but I dont want to listen” or “rather than win the argument I want to censor out other people’s views” and it’s deluded. The whole concept of privelege is based on censorship. When in reality the problem is we need as little censorship as possible except for explicitly racist views like those the NOI and Hitler used to preach.

    If you need to mess about with dictionary definitions of racism its self you’ve lost the argument and are on dodgy if not dangerous ground.

    prejudice does not equal racism = dangerous rubbish

    Racism is prejudice based on race. Hitler wasn’t a bigot in 1919 and a racist in 1933 – he was a racist all his life.

    That’s not saying concepts like institutional racism and affirmative action are meaningless and worthless but simply spitting the word racist at anyone you dont like with power is counterproductive. And sadly this is what much of the race relations industry actually does. After all it was invented by those who are empowered so why wouldn’t it operate along male racist woman hating lines?

  • Paul

    This article is disgustingly ignorant.

  • shan

    you got beat man. accept it

  • allynnova

    It was very comforting knowing that whites have so much power back in the days when I was living in my car–especially in the winter months–or before that when I could not find work as a programmer… NOT!

  • DAVE

    you are an idiot to say that racism can only be experienced by a select few and only in a select way, is racist itself !!! come to detroit and experience racism on many fronts from stupid uneducated black folks always assuming the white man is holding them down to the arabs that wont hire anyone but there own kind because they dont belive in mixing the races in buisness or in love or life period. and no im not racist im white and my loving wife is black and we both have the same view its not an opinion its a fact of life in detroit everyday . THE PROBLEM IS STUPID PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO NEVER EXPERIENCED REAL LIFE SITUATIONS OF REAL RACISM CANT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND WHAT REAL RACISM IS OR HOW IT AFFECTS YOU INSTEAD YOU TAKE PART TRUTH PART EMOTIONAL GARBAGE YOU GET FROM TALKING TO SO CALLED FRIENDS WHO SAY THEY EXPERIENCE IT BUT NEVER REALLY DO AND PART TWISTED FACTS TO SPIT FORTH YOUR OWN LITTLE PERSONEL MANIFESTO OF WHY ITS OK FOR YOU TO FEEL THE WAY YOU DO , WHEN IN REALITY YOU JUST BECAME ANOTHER DUMMY SPITTING CRAP OUT THERE MOUTH THAT THEY CANT BACK-UP PERIOD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Freckles

    I am guessing you have never had your front tooth broken because you are “a white devil b—h” or had you hair set on fire because you’re a Honky. I have. I have been spit on, and slapped for no reason. I have actually gotten over it since then. I am an adult, and I don’t hate anyone. The one thing that I DO hate however, is the fact that it is NEVER racism, if you have light skin, you should get the crap beaten out of you, then you should apologize for your “privilege” I live in MN. Here there was one white guy beaten by 50 blacks. the man has permanent brain damage. The poor, oppressed group that beat him should have some sympathy, though. They have ancestors that had to pick crops. All one has to do, is notice how the media treated Trayvon martin case vs. The Autumn Pasquale case, to see the truth. Instead of simply believing what you are told to believe.

  • Camryn

    Actually, the definition of racism is “poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race” or “the belief that some races of people are better than others.” So your “systemic” argument doesn’t really hold up. HOWEVER, you are correct that it’s wrong of white people to jump in and try to make it all about themselves. If white people experience racism (it would just be racism, not “reverse” racism which makes zero sense), it is not to the same level that minorities have experienced it, so yes, we should shut up and listen to others. But, I will add that just because white people don’t experience it on the same level does not make it okay to be racist toward them or anyone. You do not fix racism by being racist.

  • Just saying…

    People saying reverse racism is real: people who were looked down at on the way to work just because they’re White.
    People saying reverse racism is not real: people who are beat up, put in jail (sometimes even killed), harassed, disrespected, and not given opportunities they deserve JUST because of the color of their skin.

    *Look, I have nothing against White people or PoC, but when Whites are comparing their hardships to the hardships of PoC, they’re NOTHING. I believe that had it not been for all the bad things that White people have done (and are still doing [looking at you, Guantanamo Bay]) throughout history, we would not even be here right now. Yes, we would have racism, but definitely not on the scale we are on right now!

  • CJ

    I can’t help but find the term “people of color” inherently racist seeing as it creates a binary of “white people” vs “non-white people” whilst ignoring the individual cultures of everyone lumped into the “PoC” group? You may as well just call us “non-whites” for all its worth.

  • liz

    thank you for your insight! as i white person myself i am grateful for the privileges that we have never had to fight for, (with exceptions to equal rights for women),

    and i am tired of seeing how some white people can’t seem to let go.

    something similar happened when a group created the site “black girls rock”,a place where young african american girls can see strong intelligent role models of their own race, instead of what the media always puts across, some one immediately made accusations that this was reversed racism, by exuding white girls from the group, also stating that if there was a site called “white girls rock” that would be considered racist. I’m not saying that it wouldn’t, but we have so many sites, tv programmes, movies magazine covers and much more, where all we see are white women!

    for there to be equality, the party who has been higher in power, for lack of better wording, needs to stop, allowing the time for the other party to reach them.

    if we as continue to demand our rights as white people, then PoC will, instead of gaining rights and equality, be further victimised with accusations of being racist themselves.

    we have so much to learn!!
    thanks for your thoughts!

    (check out this link!)

    http://thegrio.com/2013/11/05/whitegirlsrock-twitter-backlash-ensues-after-negative-hashtag-erupts-during-black-girls-rock-show/

  • Nope

    You want to talk about racism? Lets talk about how badly Native Americans have been and STILL ARE treated. Lets talk about how people always target Asians and get away with it. Oh, and lets not forget how ASIAN slaves built the railroads. You, author, are an idiot. There is no such thing as reverse racism. Racism is racism regardless of the color of skin of the person its aimed at.
    And lets not forget the recent Above the Law article that chronicled the racism in law school entry against European Americans (aka white), Asian, Americans, and markedly Native Americans. Caucasian LSAT score of 12, Asian American LSAT score of approx 1, Native Americans LSAT score approx 166+. African American LSAT score 157. How is that not racist?? To quote the article “Checking the African-American box on your Baylor Law application is worth $9575/year, all else being equal; Hispanic heritage is worth $7023. In other words, if you were a white with your heart set on a scholarship to Baylor Law, and a magical genie offered you the choice of increasing your LSAT score by 4 points or changing your skin color, you’d be better off financially with the latter option.”
    And lets look at college entrance stats. When I was applying to college 10 yrs ago, my friend made a very blatantly pointed out that since he was black and I was white, my ACT score had to be 5 points higher and GPA 0.5 points higher in order to qualify for the exact same scholarship. How the fuck is that not racist against every other skin color than black??

  • None

    Stereotypes are racist.
    Don’t start this.

  • Brian Black

    Ok, lol, I’ll bite, but no diatribe, I’ll just point out contradictions in CRTs definition of racism.
    CRT calls for government intervention against groups based on their perceived affluence, and at the same time says racism is limited to those who have power. How is using a monopoly on force, the government, to enhance a minority and lower someone of the majority not racist? And how is turning race into a zero sum game, where some are patronized and denied agency and others are discriminated against and also denied agency a solution, and not just a play of prejudice against everyone based on stereotypes? And wouldn’t this imply that those lobbying for these laws have the philosophy that minorities are too inferior to accomplish anything without assistance inherently built into it, through objective interpretation of their actions?
    The biggest question; why have everyone so miserable and at the lowest common denominator allowed by planning, when we can have true meritocracy, as Dr. King described. Either that meritocracy is feared, or someone benefits from installing that fear and adherence to planning.
    Thus the author is correct, the definition is rendered null and void since all who abide and promote superficial hatred will attempt to use systemic power structures to do so, whether they be cultural, social, political or economic. If we continue down the path of excusing our own logical failures by pointing out those of others, we will not only all become hateful, disenfranchised and alone, but also be slaves to the very systems of power we tried to use, costing us not only our freedom, but the insidious death of everyone’s culture as it becomes “politically incorrect” to practice culture even in private. We don’t need to attack others to provide for those who are downtrodden, we can do it by taking responsibility for helping others rather than using force and pretending that we did.

    A society where the cultural violence of a mandated social safety net isn’t required, because we have the goodwill of each other. Let’s make it happen.

    Whoops, I ended up ranting…

  • Anthony wightman

    Absolute bullshit you ant-white racist liar. If someone is murdered for being white in a people of colour hood then reverse racism exists.

  • Dr137cyoutube

    Biased article is biased. Hypocritical article is hypocritical. Saying whites can’t feel racism is INHERITLY FUCKING R-A-C-I-S-T.

  • Chris

    You must realise this is bollocks. Why do identitarians tie themselves in rhetorical knots trying to prove blatantly ludicrous notions?

    We are all human. We can all be racist.

  • Fred Powell

    Read the article again. She did not say that a minority could not be racist! What she said was that did not constitute reverse racism. And what is wrong with a black being a racist? If I were black I would be a racist and proud of it. The blacks have been treated like @#$% for decades in this country and that is after slavery was banned. It is still going on. When that guy gets of the plane in China he is the minority so his racism is inconsequential. He has no power to legislate, no power to arrest, to power to deny a job, no power to refuse service to, nothing.

  • Fliptrx

    No matter what race you are, if you are a racist , you’re a racist !!! Racist doesn’t mean just discrimination against African Americans, it means Racist period…ain’t always about you baby !!!

  • TheChiefDude

    Using the definition supplied the author is by implication saying a small group does not build their own social construct. Also, the author is denying there is something like a counter-hegemonic response. And finally smaller groups as they gain more acceptance and power do not seek self-vindication sometimes by doing what was done to them. Now reality says all of these occur, so what is the author’s point?

  • mia

    I learnt more from the comments than this article.

  • mia

    I just posted and it says my comment is ‘awaiting moderation’. Who the hell exactly is moderating this and letting Ryan comment the disgusting way he did?

  • Lost_in_the_Sauce

    Racism is defined:

    poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

    : the belief that some races of people are better than others

    “Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 26 Jan.
    2014. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism.

    I recognize your point
    about a system of oppression and will grant that it does still exist to a
    greater extent for PoC. I will, however, argue that to say reverse racism
    doesn’t exist is obtuse and will offer the following:

    1) I lived in many
    places where it was dangerous to be a person of my race. I learned to be
    ashamed of my race because it was dangerous, people beat me up as a
    child because of my color. You say this is not racism?

    2) As an adult: I have
    applied for many jobs in my field and had many job interviews. I have not
    received an interview for any position where I identified my race on the
    application. Perhaps this is coincidence?

    4) My best friend in
    5th grade was black, his name was Shahar. Any time he wanted to guilt me into
    doing something for him he accused me of being racist.

    If you ignore every
    other argument against you point of view please consider this one:

    4) If EVERY post about
    racism elicits a response about reverse racism, how can you pass that volume of
    data off as “individual experiences”?

  • Competent person

    racism- poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race (source: merriam webster) Clearly, this does not discount prejudice felt by white people. Maybe institutional racism, but not plain racism. And another thing. If I were to call a black person the “n word” and flip them the bird in america, and then do the same thing in, say, Mozambique, would it suddenly stop being racist because that person wasn’t a minority? Of course not. So make sure your terminology is correct, Miss Luckey, because you are clearly not talking about racism against a majority in just a country. “But wait!”, I hear the claims. “White people are in a position of power over the rest of the world with America being a powerful white, patriarchal nation!”. Not true. The two most powerful groups of countries are America and the EU… and China and North Korea. Both of which are predominately ASIAN. So really, you are only claiming racism against white people doesn’t exist.

  • Rashaun Stovall

    This sounds silly. I guess I learned NOT to trust blogs that pretty much start with “I live on the internet, every waking moment of my life is on the internet….”

  • Willa

    Hello, I really respect this article and I believe that it is completely justified. It is in no way okay for ANYONE to try to bend someone else’s painful experiences into a tool with which they can express their own less-painful or less-relevant events. However, having said that, I believe that it is also possible for anyone to experience racism. Yes, the vast majority–almost every occurrence–of racism is against PoC, but that does not mean that it can not happen to white people as well. Again, it will rarely, if NEVER actually happen to white people, but to write off every occurrence of a white person complaining about racism as a temper tantrum for losing rights they had gained through white privilege is straying from the path of true acceptance for everyone.
    If people want to live in a world that is essentially “color blind” and where everyone is equal no mater what their skin color, than why write off racism against white people as something less than racism against PoC? This is NOT to say that some white person whose hair is touched is experiencing serious racism that needs to be addressed immediately, and their life has actually been ruined, but it is to point out that there may be cases where people of ANY skin color are discriminated against, including white people.
    While it is almost laughable to think about some white person being discriminated against, it CAN happen. A small child on a playground may be excluded and bullied because they’re white, just as much as a small child on a playground may be excluded and bullied because they’re NOT white. Both of these events are equally painful and I think we can all agree that no one would want that to happen to either child, but to say that just because they small child is white their pain is irrelevant seems wrong. To dream of a world where all racism is gone is a dream that many have, but unknowingly prevent because they are unable to accept that people who are white, just like PoC, may experience racism.

  • Sara Luckey

    This is the origin of the term.http://www.racialicious.com/2011/03/03/for-your-womens-history-month-loretta-ross-on-the-origin-of-women-of-color/

  • haksdha

    I agree that race is nonexistent but we cannot deal with this problematic idea by dismissing it. The vast majority of people still see race as a thing that exists in and of itself. We need to move away from race as a real thing and start discussion on the repercussions of having such an idea :racism which is what’s happening now.

  • ShannonSzukala

    This author is a idiot.

  • starlightsynesthesia

    I’m going to offer some constructive criticism here. “But dudes, that shit is not racism. It is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience reverse racism.” We can totally refine, all day, the apparently broad and vague term “racism” into a socially and politically correct definition that caters to your just cause until it can’t possibly apply to a certain group of people (white), only meaning something systemic rather than individual, but that does not change the fact that individual, nonsystemic/countersystemic acts of racial discrimination, i.e. racism at its most basic definition, whether it be nonsystemic/countersystemic, are just that: acts of racial discrimination/generalization, i.e. racist, an adjective/adverb that can be converted into the noun ‘racism’, which you semantically refuse to acknowledge. No, the word ‘racism’ does not imply that it must be systemic. It simply means just that: racism. Sorry, but reverse racism, *is* racism. It’s just not systemic racism. Reverse racism is not systemic, perhaps–though it’s becoming so and I know it will be systemic in less than a quarter century if social justice warriors have their way (they’re not concerned with sharing what’s on the table, only turning it)–but it is what it is: racism, and existent in isolated, though ever more frequent instances. “LOL reverse racism” and “reverse racism isn’t real/doesn’t exist” skirts the point and is just as absurd as someone implying “reverse racism” is just as bad as systemic racism against PoC, and thus you completely undermine your own integrity, your own fairness, truthfulness and ingenuousness, and ultimately cancel your reasoning out to anyone who has a (justifiably) emotional response to your hypocrisy in this regard, regardless of the validity of the facts (which I acknowledge) that you’ve stated throughout this article.

  • Patrick Rhoades

    Yeah but this girl is far from alone in this opinion in fact it is taught as fact in half of american universities but for it to become fact 4 words need to be change 2 need to shift definition a new word needs to be invented and another has to be destroyed since it has no definition anymore that is why her opinion comes with such harsh backlash it is illogical. Also she has been set up to fail in sociology in half of american units and all international unis since they only teach facts not illogical new age opinions with no logical basis for existing.

  • Try Again

    the idea that it is an impossibility for me to be on the receiving end of racism as a white Canadian is ridiculous. this article is short sighted and self involved. All people are subject to judgments and generalizations based on race; the article itself vilifies white people for trying to find common ground with others, and tries to put up boundaries and draw lines between races.

    • Sara Luckey

      Specifically denote that I am speaking about the U.S. multiple times within the article.

  • Rich Holland

    LOLOLOLOL this article is totally based on fiction.

  • Dutch Baumgardner

    When a group of people with just one thing in common make up but 2% of the population (Black males ages 16 to 26) perpitrate 80% of the violent crime and crime in general. When this same group aspires to do as much damage to another group simply because the other group has but thing in common (white people) then this is reverse racism. So then when this white group for reasons of self protection avoid the black group this is called racism by the black group. Well, this is not racism. I personally been robbed twice, shot once, scammed 3 times all by Blacks. I wass walking to a cornor store in NYC. two black males were leaning against a building. I walked past ignoring them, I just was going to the store and for no reason one just off and cold cocked me, hitting in the right eye, His friend said “Why the F— Youd do dat!” as they took off running. They permenantly damaged my eye. So this being said I love it when I hear that these animalistic, ignorant, lazy, lying, scamming. uncivilzed animals are killing each other off in nner cities at like one an hour. Keep up the good work. You all get exactly what you deserve. Until you-all start acting civil then do not expect anyone to offer you a job over another race, or housing or anything.

  • Tyler

    White male here. Just to let you know I enjoy both my male and white privilege. I will fight to ensure my dominate position in society, won for me over the centuries by my white ancestors, is never eroded.

  • just saying

    you need help girl…

  • haksdha

    I agree with this first part of that comment but not the second. The reason people (mostly in America and England (and not really anywhere else) hate Islam is because of ignorance. You wanna talk about the very small percentage of Muslims that are killing people then you have to talk about the much, much larger percentage that condemns these attacks and not taint all Muslims with the same brush. As I mentioned above, Muslims are not the only ones guilty of ‘terrorism’.
    Even then you have to talk about the people who go into school and start shooting people, you have to talk about the armies of the West invading Iraq and Afghanistan and killing innocent people under the pretext of protecting both their own citizens and the citizens of the country being invaded, you have to talk about how your governments have and still support regimes that lead to loss on life on an epic scale.
    Don’t you agree?

    • starlightsynesthesia

      Yes, I agree. Especially having been involved with the Iraq War myself, I was very much against the whole situation.

  • Goatmon

    While I agree that racism that affects people of color is definitely more relevant to these discussions, it’s really insulting to suggest that racism only occurs when it is part of systemic power structures and that a person being mistreated because of their color is only racism if they aren’t white.

    That is literally racist (no really) and you’re not really doing anyone (Yourself included) any favors by presenting your arguments in this way, because this is just going to annoy the shit out of white people and make them not want to listen to you. Given that white people are the only audience that actually need to be told this stuff, that’s really not a good thing.

  • glenrod

    if you truly believe that, you don’t live in the real world. a world where I KNOW people who have been beaten because they were white. go on youtube and look up a song called my d*ck is prejudiced, then flush your head down a toilet for being so dumb and naive

  • Jamie W

    interesting article, though i do have a problem with the author saying that anytime a white person speaks in a conversation about racism that effectively their opinion is invalid and they should not have spoken. Only when several sides to a debate are explored can everyone learn from it. Most white people, in fact most people in general, cannot see a problem until they experience it (or in the case of reverse racism) THINK that they have experienced it.

  • Hate is never okay

    Your examples of when white People call out racism on themselves was very mild. I’ve known children who have gotten daily beat downs on their way to and from school not “chased”. Children who weren’t allowed to attend their vbest friends birthday party because they were white and the parents friends disaproved. Interracial families get this the worst. You going to just post a clever “LOL” picture when an interracial child tells you that their mom got verbally assaulted by their own family because she was white? Hate based off of the way you were born should never be permissible do not write off anger and violence like this as “lesser” because it is preformed on people with a low melanin count.

  • Logic over emotion

    I find it highly comedic that the entirety of this article is a giant generalization, which is the founding principal of racism and stereotyping. Not only that its highly ironic that this article is in fact racist (hey, at least you got one thing right that reverse racism doesn’t exist, because its simply racism), because you generalize white people as a whole and claim that white people can’t suffer racism. You make the false jump that because in general white people have it best, that none of them can suffer racism. You even go so far as to describe what affirmative action is almost to a tee in your definition of what racism is and don’t even realize it.

    Maybe you should have just stuck to the premise that there’s uncaring idiots out there who make inappropriate comments, and they are uncalled for without making the huge leap that because of said people, and the generalization that white people have it better, that there exists no racism against white people.

    • LearningCurve

      I think you miss the point. Look how she has defined racism for you in the article: “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching. It is the prevalence of racism within social structures and institutional norms, along with implicit and explicit enforcement by members of a group, that allows racism to run rampant and unchecked.”

      Racism does exist in the USA, and it is to the benefit of people with white skin. Does that mean that white people are never discriminated against? No. But that is a reflection of discrete actions of prejudice, and not systemic and institutional bias.

      • both ben and jerry

        “Look how she has defined racism for you”

        I usually let the dictionary define words for me, and there’s nothing in there about this “prejudice+power” bologna

  • jj

    White privilege is just a simple-minded excuse to hate people based on their skin color. No need to justify your hate when white privilege does it for you!

  • katietaylor

    Spoken like true white guilt. We get it. You’re not racist. Congratulations. There is a huge difference between admitting to white privilege and pretending like its “impossible” to have reverse racism. My best friend in high school got shot. Last thing said to her? Her black boyfriend said the words were “stupid white bitches.” She was shot by a random passerby because he was angry they were in an interracial relationship. You’re right, getting shot in the chest because you’re dating a black guy isn’t racist at all! Come on, don’t be an idiot. I’m about as liberal as they come. White privilege is a thing. We need to eradicate white privilege and treat everyone equally. Yes, very rarely does any white person experience racism. I don’t know what it’s like to experience hate because of my skin color. But saying it’s “impossible” is downright stupid

    • Totally Accurate

      The reason this is so difficult to pin down is that people rarely share these experiences until someone says something like this. I was in inter-racial relationships and most of my friends in my circle were white. I also went to mostly white schools. I never had an issue with dating white. There weren’t many black women to date there but when they got there, they wanted to date a white guy. The fact seems to be that people want to date outside of their race, to some degree, and that white privilege is real enough that many races seek to “breed out” their own race in favor of being white. There are genetic pitfalls to that the people try to avoid by being selective. But the fact is, the people most likely to harm someone for an inter-facial relationship is an angry person with a gun who’ll shoot because of it.

      And in my personal experience, the person likely to do act violently over something that is non-violent, walking by, is a black person. I’ve had someone attempt to kill me with poison because I wouldn’t give them a key to my home and let them “hang out to get away for their girlfriend when they wanted to”. He was going to kill me and take the key, even though it would have only been for a while. These conversations are for people who are thoughtful. But most, without time for this, just say “they’re crazy.”

  • Mojo

    The problem with the reverse racism discourse – itself a problematic term as racism is racism and nothing else – is that structural arguments are advanced in opposition to micro-accounts. Recent scholarship, particularly feminist (e.g. Butler) puts such thinking at odds: structural racism might explain so called reverse racism, but it can never justify thinking whereby individuals are racially reduced into man-made categories. Similar arguments can for obvious reasons be raised with regards to misandry; when a man is belittled, denigrated and denied voice for the sole reason of being man, that is sexism. Not reverse sexism, but sexism. Misandry.

  • Bill

    Leave it to a white woman, the most coddled creature in existence throughout history to give a lecture about privelage

  • Murray Rothbard

    I love how the only argument you made was redefining a word to fit your laughable political agenda.

  • A Disgruntled Reader

    The author is obviously some white guilt-tripped liberal trying too hard to fit in with non-white people. You can literally see all the same shit coming from some social justice warrior on tumblr. The same people who go around telling everybody who even slightly disagrees with their opinion to “chehck yehr privuledghe!” despite obviously having time to play the victim and act oppressed for sympathy points online. No, there is no such thing as reverse racism. There’s racism, and it can be experienced by anybody regardless of skin color. You need to stop whining and crying about not being happy with your given skin color, sexual identity, whatever the hell you’re bitching about and see that if you have access to the internet, food, and shelter, you don’t know what real struggle is. There’s people living in poverty in other countries and you have the nerve to cry about your feelings being hurt. It’s pathetic.

  • haygis

    grow up and go open a book.

    • starlightsynesthesia

      Same could be said to you, kid.

  • haygis

    i was going to post a reply, but then i reread what you wrote, and realized that you wouldnt understand. hahahaha :)

  • haygis

    no they dont. naming something is not creating it. racists keep the race divisions going.

  • haygis

    and yet whiteness is still the norm by which all other “races” are expected to conform. why is that?

    • Chuck U Farley

      because they won… what else do you expect? seriously?

  • haygis

    no, not kill whitey. but definitely whitey needs to be re-educated so they can learn about what it means to be a real human being.

    • Chuck U Farley

      really? the same race that gave you math, written language, civilization, and all the modern comforts you enjoy through invention… that race? Ingrates

  • Totally accurate

    This article is completely accurate. Institutionalized racism happened first. Animosity toward that happened next. Animosity toward a white person isn’t racism, it’s animosity for disingenuous denial that institutionalized racism exists. When whites were brought to America to work as indentured workers, they weren’t slaves. When PoCs were brought, they were. When have whites ever been institutionally enslaved, bought and sold?

    • Totally Accurate

      I read the following article and checked the sources enough to change my mind and change my politics: http://topconservativenews.com/2012/03/americas-first-slave-owner-was-a-black-man/

      And now I’m a Conservative. Reverse racism doesn’t exist because racism exists with one’s own race against one’s own race. And it’s documented above. So that means racism doesn’t exist as against “only black people by white people.”

      I’m done with the race card. Although I’ll get a really hard time about now. I know I will. Because I said I didn’t believe in Affirmative Action once, I just let it slip and at a bar. It’s true, I don’t. But I’m not saying it around drunk people. That’s just wisdom.

      • Totally Accurate

        I changed my position again after thinking it over. Nowhere in America has a black judge ordered a white man enslaved to black owner for life. Racism is one-directional. From white judges, supported by white citizens, against black citizens. And other white citizens use those judgements to further racism against other races. Even though a black person had the first slave, if the article cited is accurate, the black person never had white slaves. If the white people in that town had used that legal judgement to enslave other white people, that’s be the same thing and it’d all be be equal. But they didn’t. They only used that legal judgement to enslave other black people.

        That makes them racist. It doesn’t make the black person racist because he never had white slaves. Reverse racism doesn’t exist in America unless you find a place where black people have white slaves supported by black judges protecting their right to keep them as slaves. And then, for four hundred years and a world-wide slave trade running around buying white people to ship them to black slave owners in towns where black judges are ruling that black people can have white slaves. There’s no such thing as Reverse Racism in the United States.

  • Totally accurate

    When has racism against white people ever been written down as a law enforced by a country built by enslaved white people?

    • Totally Accurate

      I found the facts that contradict my own statement. I’m correcting my own ignorance now. What black people call “racism” is really just hatred. Because racism was “committed” by both black and white people against their own races. But according to information I found online, the first people to do it to black people in America, were black people. So I’m “reversing” my comment above because I received a good education and “learned to learn” which means I’ll never stop looking for the deepest truth I can find. I have integrity enough to “tell on myself” if I find something that fixes a false impression. And what’s funny is the “truer” things actually feels “truer.” Now that you’ve read this here’s my source:

      http://topconservativenews.com/2012/03/americas-first-slave-owner-was-a-black-man/

      And now I’m a Conservative.

  • locket

    Ignorant, that’s the only way to describe the author of this article.

  • White Power Howard

    This article is so whack I don’t know where to begin. Non europeans are treated l like endangered species and we all know it. You’re theories directly contradict known FACTS like a how many universities have racial quotas (policy to admit a certain number of brown people, despite more qualified white applicants) that was struck down by the supreme court for being unconstitutional. But a quick look at college demographics confirms that they still do it. Every major company in the interest of “diversity” will hire at certain percentage of brown people even if there are more qualified white candidates. Affirmative Action IS institutionalized reverse racism you dumb Hag, don’t you dare try to tell white Americans to shut up about their own experiences.

    • Totally Accurate

      You’re right. I even corrected one my comments. Here’s something to help get to the truth. This is only for people who believe in reading first and then “feeling” as opposed to the other way around:

      http://topconservativenews.com/2012/03/americas-first-slave-owner-was-a-black-man/

      • Totally Accurate

        I take it back. After thinking about it, you know what? The article proves racism is only a white problem. Why? Because the article, let’s assume it’s historically accurate, says a black man from Angola started slavery by enslaving a black indentured servant. Read it for details. It says a court ordered the servant enslaved. Then white people used that to enslave servants. But… not white servants, only black ones. Did black people then use it to enslave white servants? No. Why? Because the courts had white judges and they ruled in ways that only meant that black could be slaves, whether owned by black, white or anybody. That means racism was started by a white judge who couldn’t care less about what a black African did to his black servant. And then the white judge couldn’t care less about what a white person did to their black servant. And that was the start of legalized racism. Reverse racism can only exist if a black judge orders a white servant enslaved to a black owner for the rest of his life. And no one opposes it. Reverse racism doesn’t exist in the United States.

  • Joe

    What you are saying is totally on point. However, telling people that they aren’t allowed to talk about something that has happened to them because it happens to a larger group on a larger scale is fundamentally flawed logic.

    What about men who are raped? Are they not allowed to tell their stories when the conversation comes up because, as you say, “your individual suffering is just that, individual. The individuals acting against you do not have the institutionalized power to actively oppress you in every facet of your life”?

    • Sara Luckey

      Men who have been raped are victims of rape culture, as are women that are raped. White people experiencing individual moments of racial prejudice or bigotry are not experiencing systemic or institutionalozed racism. They are experiencing a separate and individual thing. Rape and racism can’t really be compared here. But the quote you’re referencing and the point of the article is that when white people complain about racism they’re experiencing, it is their white privilege that allows them to conflate their singular experiences with racial discrimination or bigotry with systemic and institutionalized racism and to consider that.

  • ajaf

    Ok so i’ve read the article and a lot of the comments and while I agree with a lot of the points it makes, I can’t help feel like its been based on a false premise, mainly that “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs”. To which I take to mean, and correct me if I’m wrong that racism only = prejudice + power. This definition is not supported by any dictionary i’ve ever seen or heard and flies in the face of standard public meaning of the term (granted you could argue that the definition itself is a product of a racist culture). Moreover, i’ve never read any foreign definition that suggests that power is needed for their to be racism. The idea that racism must be backed up by power would make the phrase “institutionalized racism” redundant. If there was a society of majority purple people that oppressed the minority orange people and then the next day the power dynamics switched, we wouldn’t say that all those purple people stopped being racist because they fell out of power. Just because Nazi’s are no longer in power doesn’t make them any less racist?? While, I agree that institutionalized racism does exist, I think this redefinition of racism is under-inclusive and seeks to marginalize peoples differing experiences and turns what could be a productive discussion into a pissing contest about who’s experiences suck worse or count.

    • Blaze

      This explains it perfectly and non-aggressively. Racism and institutionalized racism are both a thing, and yes institutionalized racism racism is a terrible tragedy, but that does not make the racism an individual person faces any less tragic.

  • Jeremy

    I would like to start by saying I am white just to get that out of the way. I have been accosted by people of my own race and by people of color as well. I was of course called every name in the book at the time including ones pertaining to my race. Also my religious backround because I am jewish and I have curly hair. I have never heard of the term reverse racism until this article. But I know for a fact that you do not have to be a white person to be deemed racist. I see the authors point that if I walk past a police officer next to a black person the chances are I am less likely to be stopped than him/her. But that’s not to say that the police are NEVER hard on white people.
    The police in America do not care what race you are as long as you fit the description and they will treat you with brutal force and get away with it. I notice a total acceptance of racism towards hebrews despite the fact that it is known that we have been enslaved and murdered in the millions.There’s no Hitler grant for jewish college students and no sorry you’ve been persecuted by people and enslaved by everyone grant. There are countries deemed Muslim, Christian, and all other religions but for some reason a thing called zionism is a threat to the entire world because it states that jews should have a country to themselves. I cannot sit back and say that there is no racism in the system but if you’ll notice the democratic and liberal controlled media are working to demonize not just white people but any of the accused.
    We live in a country that preaches innocent until proven guilty but enacts guilty until proven innocent. George Zimmerman was not white, first off, but I would definitely say that the trial turned into a white vs. black thing. It was an outrage that a jury of his peers reviewed his case and under the laws of his state he was proven innocent on charges of second degree murder. When you read an article that says if only the prosecution would have argued manslaughter the whole time maybe Zimmerman would be in prison right now I ask at what point was that man considered innocent by the press and the public? I have to be outraged that the system that was set in place hundreds of years ago proved a man innocent instead of guilty. Why?
    There are real issues in this country that need to be adressed and quite frankly racism is not one of them. There will always be racist people but the majority of the public is against racism. There was a time in this country when black people couldn’t go to the same restaurants as white people, couldn’t drink from the same water fountain, get in a white persons way, sit in the same section of the bus, go to the same schools, work the same jobs, and a slew of other things. There is nothing like that today in fact certain rights are given to the people who have been opressed in the past that white people can never get because they are white. Is that not institutionalized racism? Mothers have more rights to children than fathers is that not sexism? There are laws in place that will ruin a business if they discriminate on the basis of skin color, weight, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc. I can’t deny you a job as a typist because you have no fingers. It is that ridiculous.
    So, sorry that you get mad when white people jump in on conversations about REAL racism. I have never been denied anything from the government because of my race but I could be. There’s not enough DIVERSITY in our workforce so give the job to the black candidate. That’s not racist towards the white person. If any thing it is gonna be considered racist towards the black guy because you only hired him because he’s black. A white person and a Native American have the same gpa but give the scholarship to the Native American. Racist. Racist. Racist.
    The internet is another way that people say racism is still abundant but the internet is a mixed bag. Anyone can post anonymously on the internet so of course you’re gonna get what people could never say in real life. It is also a place where true feelings can be posted but I guarantee you not many white people would accept the racial slurs in everyday life but might say them when they are really pissed off at another race. It is an insult not proof that all white people are racist at their cores. That’s all. I have been all over the place here but I guess my main point is racism is a two-way street and reverse-racism is a bullshit term.

  • Megan Lepore

    There is a difference between prejudice and racism. Anyone can experience prejudice, but racism adds in a power differential- and that’s what makes it more dangerous. No, prejudice doesn’t feel good- but it is not the same thing as actual, institutionalized racism.

  • alexis

    This entire article was complete and total nonsense.

  • Anonymous

    I am white and have experienced more racism than any of my friends of other races, and they have all been inclined to agree with me numerous times. How are you going to tell me that I have never experienced racism? So it’s not racist when my whole French class had a discussion on how only white people are pedophiles? It’s not racist when my actions are summed up with the term “white girl”? It’s not racism when I hear how white people have no lips, are ugly, etc, just because they are white? I found this article ignorant and saddening quite frankly. I cannot believe this is what society has come to. We traded in one racist era for another.

  • Anonymous

    And I would also like to point out, that in today’s society, racism directed towards black, Asian, Hispanic, etc., is largely individualized as well. An Asian person might experience racism from one or two people, just as I as a white person has experienced, but a majority of society accepts them. Apartheid is over, Jim Crow is over, Societal racism as a whole is over. Get over it and stop whining. Your ancestors didn’t work so hard for you to bitch about something that EVERYONE of EVERY race experiences at one point or another. Just be grateful that you can sit wherever you want on a bus, can get scholarships just because you were born a minority, and get equal pay and job opportunities.

  • Carrie

    It raises some good points and I enjoyed the read but I think the controversy comes from “reverse racism” relating it to white people. Although I understand the concepts represented in this article racism is stopping an individual, race, or group from reaching their full potential through actions or indirect actions. This can be attributed to any culture, society, ethnicity or race. I agree white privilege is there due to institutionalized racism but i disagree that what you call reverse racism does not exist and that it is an individuals way of being egocentric.
    This article makes people react and more importantly raises important issues but denying what you call reverse racism which i call jut racism is like saying the Titanic didn’t sink. Its just not true.
    I agree people are egocentric, everyone is. It’s a way of relating to someone else by bringing in an experience similar to one being described. it may be rude or inconsiderate but its the way the human is built to connect to another person.
    Although a good read i believe this article is two dimensional and racism, reverse racism, and institutionalized racism are all far more complex than this article portrays it as.

  • neither ben nor jerry

    Ah yes, the old “prejudice+power” load of crap.

    Here’s the problem with your theory: Government power isn’t the only kind of power in a particular situation.

    Example: Please google a video of Reginald Denny being beaten nearly to death with bricks, and explain to him your theory that only government power matters in the real world.

    There are many situations in which a white person can be over powered and mistreated just for being whitey in the wrong situation or wrong part of town. (A part of town which the white author of this article probably wouldn’t move to, or even drive through at night, because she’s afraid she’d be attacked for being white.)

    And as we saw in the Zimmerman case, even being “half white” and accused of killing a black person, is enough to get the President to comment, the media to make up lies that you said “coon”, and the rest of the country to demand that you be convicted, even though the only witness (John Good, witness #5) corroborated your story.

    I believe that’s called “reverse racism”

  • both ben and jerry

    I believe that the definition of racism is “prejudice based on race”. But I guess you are free to invent your own language. We’ll call it “bologna-ese”

  • JohnSkookum

    “There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to oppress and subjugate white people. ”

    Bullsh¡t. The ONLY legalized institutional racism left in America is that practiced against white people in the name of affirmative action.

    • Atomiklust86

      Which disproportionally benefits white women the most…

  • Jen

    A real thank you for making that well thought out comment

  • Antago Dynamaur

    THANK YOU so much for saying this, as I was going to have some emotional evaluation after becoming enraged by her words. The comment you’re replying to is downright blasphemy. I follow various Hindu and Buddhist principles and can say for certain that it’s offensive particularly to the soul to suggest that “whites” in America cannot comprehend, feel, or experience “true” racism: So, in other words, real societal discrimination, pain, and expression belong exclusively to the African or Asian poets while Caucasian poets are just cheap, inauthentic knock-offs. God’s Spirit will do the deciding on who experiences what, not Alizabeth; and her comment is and of itself a truly racist remark to the souls living in a Caucasian experience.

    • Alizabeth Szilagyi

      To quote my own words: “I agree that anyone, regardless of color, can be and act racist” and “anyone can experience racism and/or be racist. I also believe that institutional racism exists, or white privilege” and “I clearly said people of any race can feel racism. I simply drew a line between racism and institutional racism, which I believe is the larger point in this article is addressing.” I believe there is a difference between racism and institutional racism — you don’t.

      So, if God’s Spirit does the deciding on who experiences what, how can you decided that my comment was a “truly racist remark to the souls living in a Caucasian experience?” Or is the technical difference “on” and “to”? I’m sincerely curious.

      • Antago Dynamaur

        Nice try, Alizabeth; I am unsure where you are quoting your words from, but my post was specifically in response to a post you have made that did not include this miraculously supposed self-redeeming quote of yours. You specifically said that the “institutionalism of racism” means that a “white person can never experience true racism”. Your sarcasm is as offensive as your original comment, as it’s apparent you have no concern for others when they express how you’ve hurt them. Oh, but that’s right—it’s all a little game to you, isn’t it? You don’t have to own up to your mistakes, because in your competitive little world, “you win”. You are racist.

    • ansa

      No, white people don’t experience racism. They can experience discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes. You should look up the differences between all these terms. They aren’t interchangeable.

      • Antago Dynamaur

        May God have mercy on you.

      • Tyrone

        Prejudice is a form of racism you moron. In fact racism definition means anyone can be racist.

      • Alion

        prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.

        I agree that white people do not experience institutionalized racism in our culture. But racism does occur. Your definition of the word “racism” does not coincide with the dictionary or the majority of our culture.

        • ghanderman

          the dictionary definiton of racism does not concur with the entire sociological, social psychological, evolutionary sociobiological, political science, history etc fields of academic disciplines….what the dictionaries leave out is that prejudice + power = racism. you can be prejudiced against natives, but unless you have the systemic backing of society you are not racist by definition.

          here, let me explain it this way.

          the only way a white person in canada can NOT be racist is if they move to a country where they are the minority either numerically or politically and are targeted for systemic discrimination (which is what racism actually is).

          the only other way a white person in canada can NOT be racist, is if aboriginals gain control of all the country’s political, economic, judicial, social systems and institute policies that target white folks as a whole.

          the critical difference is power.

          same thing with sexism….men are all by definition sexist in a system that demeans women and does not value women as much as it values men.

          while women can talk smack about individual men, they are still at a disadvantage politically because men continue to dominate social institutions.

          i mean seriously, whens the last time you heard of a woman storming a mens college and gunning down 14 men simply because she hated them?

          never. happened.

          probably never will happen.

          and that, my friend, is the difference between discrimination and racism.

          discrimination is an individual action, racism is discrimination collectivized, meaning its a a collective systemic ideology embedded into the cultural norms of colonized countries.

          • Blake Okafor

            You know depending of the source a word can mean many things. Like how scientists define the word “theory” differently from lay people.

            All those sources your listed are not the be all end all for how we should use words.

            https://www.google.com/#q=racist+definition

        • Nyah

          So what you are really saying is the same thing as what the original author of the article is saying but you have different terminology. No?
          For the orig author ‘racial prejudice’ is what you (Alion) call racism…wheres articles’ author (Chel?) definition for racism is racial prejudice plus institutional power (‘true racism’ to the the author of the article)…..or what some call ‘institutional racism’. The combination of prejudice, discrimination or antagonism directed at someone because of race AND the systemic or INSTITUTIONAL racism is what constitutes ‘true racism’ to the author.
          Why are so many people on here not talking about the meanings and arguing about the validity of their feelings of pain (or whatever) because they were discriminated against due to their race. It does not at all seem like the writer of this article is suggesting that those feelings/ experiences are not valid but is seeking to give perspective to what the culture of Eurocentrism/ whiteness has done.

      • Blake Okafor

        They all pretty much have the same definition.

      • gole

        YEs!

      • x

        Actually those three words are in the definition of racism. Racism is saying the races are different, superior, inferior, doesn’t matter. Saying there is no ‘reverse racism’ assumes that racism is one direction, its not. Any race can be racist to any other race. If you think someone is more or less capable than someone else because their skin color is different, you’re being racist.

      • ThoseApples

        Maybe you should look them up yourself. Racism and discrimination are indeed one in the same.

        discrimination [dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuhn] noun
        2.
        treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit: racial and religious intolerance and discrimination.

        racism

        [rey-siz-uhm] noun
        1.
        a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.

      • jennyct

        Technically (and scientifically) there is no such thing as race. Our genes vary more within a population than between. Let’s just get rid of it. We are all human.

      • dakota

        racism and discrimination are the same thing. racism is just discrimination of race. same with sexism. discrimination is treating someone negatively due status, wealth, physical disfigurations, race, sex, percieved superiority or inferiority. yeah, using big fancy dictionary definitions is stupid, barely anyone uses the dictionaries definitions. sure we learn it from the dictionary, some from teachers, some from word of mouth. pass the definition onto different people and it changes, still recognizable but it changes when passed around.
        i would’ve agreed with chell on institutionalized racism like 30 years ago but now the tide as changed in favor of anything but white males. just look at any social issue today. always always side (or should i say kiss the ass) of anyone whos not white due to political correctness. the old white guys in power will die out and will be replaced with more diversity. its changing. slowly but surely and saying whos got a stab wound or whos stab wound is worse or whats the definition of the stab wound or who should get the medical attention for said stab wound isn’t doing shit. though admitedly i just tried to define the stab wound so i’m not helping…point still stands.

        i realize you weren’t using the dictionary definition instead of the meaning that everyone uses but i see it time and time again so i’d figure i’d include it in here. probably won’t be back to read it either but i hope i atleast get to someone and maybe change their view….or fortify theirs. one more thing i realize my grammar usage is less then spectacular but please look at it for the point i’m trying to make not where i put my periods and comas.

  • Dock Drumming

    Full Definition of RACISM

    1

    : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

    2

    : racial prejudice or discrimination

    OK, please tell me where in that DICTIONARY definition of “racism” it says anything about “power differential?”

    • Atomiklust86

      Ever considered the fact that your dictionary definition was written by a white man…?

      • Dock Drumming

        You have GOT to be kidding me. What exactly are you implying? Should each racial group get its own dictionary with alternate definitions for words? You can’t be serious.

        The definition for racism is the same for everyone because…well, that’s how definitions work and that definition can be applied to ANYONE of ANY RACE.

        • Atomiklust86

          You seem a bit brainwashed.

      • Sara Luckey

        Thank you. While hundreds of these comments are literally people posting the dictionary definition of racism, there is no discussion of who framed the dictionary definition of racism and how the langauge surrounding racism has evolved in a way white people determined and that it most beneficial to them. I appreciate you pointing that out.

  • billy

    lol ur mad cause everyone trolls online

  • Pacem Keeper

    Let me start by saying that the most powerful and premeditated danger in this article is to discount the voice of anyone who is not PoC by stating right up front that you might hear from them, but they are to be disregarded, because their voices and experiences are not legitimate. This is a dangerous and divisive tool; a way of silencing someone without having to physically stop them from speaking. This is something to be wary of, whenever you hear it, because it plays to our own selfishness, justifying the unjustifiable within ourselves; justifying our own predjudices. If you see it and think, “yeah!”, take a moment to examine that thought and what it really means.
    Next, lets be clear…racism is the intangible: someones thoughts and feelings toward someone of another race. Discrimination is the manifestation of any action taken against someone based on a non-merit based factor that originates in their predjudicial thinking that leaves them at an unfair disadvantage disregarding and crippling their ability to reach their full potential through the application of their efforts and abilities. Anyone can be racist and anyone in a position of power in any situation can potentially discriminate.
    I am also married to a “white man” and am of Asian decent (1st generation), with a grandfather that came here in the early 1900s (before the more positive Asian stereotypes that prevade society today) who received a college education at the only or one of the only schools that accepted people of color at the time (a religious college) and went back to his country of birth because he could not get hired, returning many years later with his wife (a woman not of color who was disowned for marry a man of color) and their children. My parents’ generation also experienced discrimination, but did not want to teach racism or the inclination to discriminate into our family. They did not want to be subjected to it, but also recognized the danger of being turned into racists themselves through anger and bitterness. Fast forward…a 3rd generation that doesn’t care at all about color…but does very much care about wrongness and hypocracy. Back to my husband… In his life he has experienced more racism than I ever have. He was bussed to a predominantly colored neighborhood in the 70s where he was beat up daily for his skin color. The school, principles and teachers, that were present and witnessed it would not do anything about it because this was a program of integration. He tells me that he did not know racism until that time and had grown up in a devoutly religious family that believed in loving all your neighbors and everyone was your neighbor. My experience with them validates this. He went on to not receive a position in a county that is majority colored in both population and government when he was at the top of the class in this particular field of training and there were many positions available across the county in this program. He was at the top of his class, although it was not supposed to be known, the testers, not the hirers, happened to be mutual friends with someone he knew and had commented on the fact that he would be guaranteed a position based on his class rank. Not a single white person was hired. He went on to run his own business where he could not get his applications for government and corporate jobs in the running because of policies demanding certain criteria of gender and ethnicity, even though he is the best at what he does…and I don’t say that lightly even though I am biased. When he attended a class to apply for a grant and contacted the instructor for assistance following the class, which was part of the benefits of having taken the class, he was told that unless he was a partially woman or minority owned business, he wouldn’t be given a grant, and though the instructor was sympathetic, he was just being honest. I work in a service industry and recently received a call from a school system updating their approved contractor list. There question was, “is this a woman owned or minority owned business”. This is discrimination. It offends me on behalf of all of the people I know and care about that are subjected to it, on my own behalf because I believe that I should compete on my own merits, and on behalf of society as a whole divided one from another so easily because we don’t look at our own hearts 1st, allowing us to become racists in the name of something more palatable and PC that generally doesn’t bring us closer to unity, it just supplies power to those that feed our sense of personal righteousness until we’re blinded to our own hypocracy and easily manipulated against one another…and if it makes my voice louder (even though it should not)…I am a woman of color able to apply for and get the application edge because of it…and it offends me…because it is wrong. Discrimination, racism, is always wrong…and it is always the same thing.

  • Sam

    Thank you so much for allowing POC into these “predominantly white societies” that were forcibly and violently taken from indigenous people.

    Also, yes, white people can face individual prejudice on the basis of race. No, that is not comparable to the institutionalized racism that POC and especially black people face in literally every aspect of society (criminal justice, education, wages, etc.). If someone mistreats you because you’re white, I’m sorry. But you and even I, as an Asian American, will never be in a situation like Trayvon Martin, where we are deemed to be “up to no good” because of our race. Nor can I possibly know what it feels like to be Latino and have someone ask me what construction company I work for. Prejudice is not transferable or equal.

    Meanwhile, be glad that your privilege is preventing you from being sent back to the country where YOUR ancestors came from. Hint: It’s not in the Western Hemisphere either.

    • iknwimhott

      That’s why I’m saying these white people must be god lol anyways I’m with a white man and I’m sort of racist a bit but he understands its cuz I was raised that way soooo yea y’all do get effected its like saying white people can’t get shot by bullets and die lol just cuz what lol you’re white

    • 11

      I see so many blacks being sent back to africa, thanks for that exceedingly knowledgeable comment

  • schlomo goldstein

    Why is it that only the unintelligent and anti-intellectual point out racism – or even talk about it? Blaming someone else for YOUR problems is literally the antithesis of the america dream, and it truly shows that the media has nothing to talk about anymore.

    The fact is, if you don’t like white people, don’t live in a country made by them. If you don’t like the white concept of beauty, go live somewhere that supports your idea of beauty, and if you think you deserve to be treated better because of how you were born, and not by the things you have accomplished THIS IS NOT THE COUNTRY FOR YOU.

    All too often we are told to pity those who are different and support laziness. I can assure you that this generation is sick of the race card being pulled and when we are in power you can kiss your affirmative action and quotas goodbye. I want to leave you with one question: why are there never any homeless jews or homeless asians?

  • SOMARA556

    The guilt of this author is overpowering, and deeply pathetic.

  • redeemer

    I’m an Aryan boy and I go to high school in Washington DC, which is 83% black. The janitor staff is 100% black. There’s pouring rain and I’m outside, trying to get in to the athletic building because I’m cold in the 45 degree rain. The door to the school is locked and I see a janitor, who is 3 feet away from the door. I get excited and I smile at her to motion her to let me in. She just glares back at me. I try waving–still glaring. I pound on the door upon seeing that my backpack became drenched. He just goes about her business and continues vacuuming. I run around like a mad man trying to find an entrance. I run back to find my friend, who is white, also pounding on the same door I was at. The bitch, she screamed at him, “GO AWAY!” Finally, a black boy comes running for where we are. Then, the bitch janitor propped open the door for us. Enraged, I scream at her, “What’s your f*****g problem?” She siad, “300 years slavery, cracker!” I said to her, “Hey, you listen to me! My cousin, who was a governor of Virginia in the 50′s worked to end the poll tax.” She then said, “Well you sure as hell don’t look like it.”

    I challenge Sara Luckey to explain why what happened to me was not reverse racism. More preferably, I challenge anyone else who actually has a brain in their head to do the same.

  • SomeoneSomenowhere

    Well, this article was ignorant.

  • http://XDInd.com/ Adam

    We had a discussion about racism in college. One of my classmates stated that he was racist. He stated that in general, he didn’t like black people. If he got to know someone, then it could be different, but he was wary of them at first.

    This was due to his privilege, of course. He was privileged to be one of the handful of white students at a predominantly black school. Every day, he was reminded that he was an oppressor, and he received a beating for his oppression on a weekly basis. This wasn’t just “being chased after school a few times”, this was a serious fight every few days. He would go home bruised and bloodied quite regularly.

    The idea that his abusers weren’t racist is ludicrous. He lived in the same neighborhood, was just as poor as everyone else, and had pretty much all the same problems as they had, the only difference was skin color, which they let him know was the reason they were beating him up.

    Or how about this, I was talking to an attractive lady in Philly a few years back. One of us was white, the other black. Someone saw us, and decided to yell a few things about mixed race couples and how they shouldn’t exist. Was that racist? Is it only racist if the person yelling is white? If the person yelling was black, is it ok then?

    Oh, wait, here I go. I’m a white dude talking about my experiences with racism. I guess I should just keep my mouth shut and not speak until spoken to. You know, since I can’t have anything to add to the conversation, what with my light skin color and all. Oh, wait, that’s not right, and in fact, it’s incredibly racist to even suggest such a thing.

    I will agree that there is no such thing as reverse racism though. Hate is hate. It doesn’t matter which end of the spectrum your skin color comes from, if you hate someone else because of their skin color, then you’re racist.

    • Chelsy

      People don’t get beat up for no reason. There are two sides to every story

  • http://kylebumpus.com/ Kyle Bumpus

    Meh, but this argument (and others like it) never seem to address the idea that institutionalized and far-reaching oppression can and self-evidently does often flow in multiple directions at the same time. Why is it fundamentally impossible for the system to simultaneously oppress EVERYONE at the same time? Perhaps not in the same way and not to the same extent, but making a blanket statement like “it is not valid to claim…it is reverse racism” is just, well, ignorant. The fundamental arguments seem contradictory.

    • Sara Luckey

      The far-reaching oppression reaching into every aspect of life is a study in ingersectionality. The system is patriarchy. It does oppress everyone. This article was discussing merely one aspect of patriarchal oppression. While patriarch does oppresd everyone, not everybody is oppressed in the same manner or for the same reasons and often, trying to compare oppressions can minimize or diminish the suffering of others. Which is actually the point of this piece. To get a comprehensive view of all types of oppression would require far more space than a 1500-2000 word piece could.

  • socialjusticecommenter

    To people who think reverse racism is real: Oh no, poor privileged, dominated, un-oppressed white people aww :((. It’s so sad that there are barely any white people on TV. It’s also really sad that we’re still racist to them even after we kept white people as slaves for over 50 years. I can’t believe black people are more likely to get a job or get into college just because of their skin color when white people aren’t. I especially hate it when white kids who get in fights at school, smoke,do drugs, and cuss are seen as bad and criminals but the black people who shoot up schools are just seen as the ones who went awry. And it’s so unfair that the police always suspect it’s the white guy who is the culprit. It must suck being white :// Things must be so hard for white people…

  • naadirasahra

    A lot of this is true and important information. I see one major problem; how racism is defined in the article. It’s simply not a complete definition of the term. She’s using this definition: “a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering a doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” Which is absolutely true of the world today. There is a nearly worldwide racist doctrine that elevates white people or perceived “white” traits as superior. However, the full definition of the term is found here: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism “: poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race : the belief that some races of people are better than others”
    I had the crap beaten out of me for being a white girl when I was little. No other reason than for the color of my skin. I was told that I was being attacked because I was white and I cringed when I read that my perception of this as racism is just me complaining about PoC wanting to touch my hair (which I love, btw, when people touch my hair). “Reverse racism” is nonsensical terminology. It’s either racism or it’s not.
    Do PoC have a right to be angry and to demand fair treatment? Absolutely! But as long as any kind of racist attitudes persist, the problem will continue. I am privileged in a racist system but I can still be a victim of racism.
    http://www.newsreel.org/nav/title.asp?tc=CN0149

  • Scherezade23

    Among all the ignorant comments in this forum yours is certainly one of the funniest. To say that this country as we know it was built by white people is to have a very narrow perception of history. Yes, the founding fathers were of Caucasian European descent, but their ideas were formulated from the ideas of Greeks and Arabs and many other people of color. Furthermore, the rise of the United States as a powerful nation lays heavily on the backs of slaves, as it was agriculture that provided the funds for the industrial revolution in this country. The America that came to rise as as a world power in the 20th century relied on the wealth amassed through imperialism and financial domination over many countries with people of color. Just because you want to have a fantastical view of how history actually happened doesn’t mean you get to kick out the people who helped make this country great and oh lo and behold, they are not all white..far from. And btw…http://www.edalliance.org/donate/project-ore-help-us-feed-hungry-and-homeless-jews/
    You have obviously never been to NYC where there are plenty of homeless Jews. Check out the site maybe you wanna donate a little to redeem yourself for being so selfish.

    • schlomo goldstein

      ok now compare the jewish rate to the black rate, and then compare it to their respective crime rates. I’m sure you will just blame the crime rate on whites too. Your comment did not address a single point i made, you just tried to take some of the credit away from whites, which some of which was true, but if these slaves were so smart, why is africa – the most fertile continent – STILL the worst continent in every regard? Africa has contributed nothing but a bowl and a stick, they didn’t even come up with a wheel. to say these slaves built america is ludicrous, and to say that blacks today are entitled to anything TODAY for what happened hundreds of years ago is even more insane.

      • Scherezade23

        Buddy I am really gonna need you to start working on your education, here let me help, http://queergiftedblack.tumblr.com/post/25413962820/100-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-africa
        read, inform yourself, and maybe start trying to put yourself in other people’s shoes. No one is saying that it is viable to give compensation to African Americans for slavery, though that would in fact be just since technically their ancestors performed unpaid labor. That however is unrealistic. What is real however is that hundreds of years of marginalization affect the way in which populations see themselves and behave. Have you ever heard that Jewish people as the writer Bernard Malamud describes, are melancholy and worriers. Have you ever wondered why this stereotype exists and often rings true? Because centuries of antisemitism decidedly changed the attitudes and personalities of a whole population. Why the stereotype that Jews are cheap? Because for centuries they were stripped of their belongings in a moments notice, forcing them to become careful with currency, to stock up on it etc…Yes statistics of black crime rates are higher but have you ever questioned why and how you can help to change this? I served in the service corps of the United States and worked in a 99% black school in a marginalized area of the city. The school where I taught was falling apart, there was no money to repair peeling paint and the poor and uninviting infrastructure. My students are already starting off their lives at a disadvantage, poorer schools, less funding. This means less is available to them in terms of job prospects in the future, is this their fault? they are kids!. Do you see how this could help turn some kids towards a life of crime? and this is just a tiny tiny fragment of the problem. No one is blaming you in particular for it, but the fact is, as a society, a Western Caucasian majority society that we are, we told black people for hundreds of years that they were inferior, and it would be silly to think that this wasn’t in some way internalized and that it wouldn’t cause problems down the road, you think that this damage can be erased in the 40ish years since the civil rights movement? We are just starting to level out the playing field. African Americans, Latino Americans, White Americans, we are all Americans and we have to accept that no one is gonna be leaving at this point so we have to raise each other up in any way we can and be conscious of our privilege, not just whites, but all Americans because we are all to some degree privileged and we should strive for everyone to achieve the same privilege and opportunity.

  • Guest

    I respectfully disagree with everybody; the author, her supporters, & her critics. I believe in only one concept and that is PEACE for all. When discrimination of any kind results in horrific violence, all points of view become moot. White victims don’t lose “privileges”, they lose their health. Black victims don’t lose affirmative action gained rights, they lose their health too. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict may end before America successfully deals with its continuing epidemic racism. Every life must have EQUAL significance. Her irrelevant focus of arguing one side of an ongoing societal disagreement re: the semantics of a reverse discrimination label, served only to aggravate both sides of America’s racial divide. We live in a country where everyone is right about everything and compromise and compassion for ALL

  • Guest

    (continued() are quickly becoming tangibly extinct. The only message that an easily swayed and all too often selfish slanted society should hear is ALL RACISM IS WRONG AND UNACCEPTABLE. I yearn for a day when all people passionately defend other races as they do their own. For me, examples of real HEARTWARMING HOPE would be if both high-profile Black and White leaders scream from the rooftops for EVERY victim of discrimination. All life is precious. America’s community leaders must reinforce this seemingly simple concept every chance they get. Until then, I will continue to peacefully, yet vehemently, disagree with anyone who fails to stand by all.

  • alwanderer

    I have been doing some interesting search’s during which I came upon the following among amazons “list of suggested reading” and on highlighting a phrase with in a comment, I found myself here at your site. I am stunned at your self congratulatory attitude. I’m just leaving this as a thought for you to follow..Al (not every thing is as simple as it seems).
    http://www.amazon.com/The-Un-Civil-War-BLACKS-NIGGERS-ebook/dp/B00BMHY5R4/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

  • White Male

    I was born into a society that taught me that men and women were equal irregardless of skin colour. Telling me I cannot complain about discrimination on the basis of my white skin colour is inherently racist.

    • SgtKonus

      You can, but it isn’t racism.

  • Sam

    Scenario where reverse racism takes place:
    A black judge presides over a murder trial with a white defendant.
    “The evidence has been presented, You sir, were lucky enough to have had a brilliant lawyer appointed to you, and despite his best efforts the jury has returned a guilty verdict. I hereby sentence you to life in prison for the 200 murders you committed!”
    The Judge brings the gavel down with a smack.
    The defendant, obviously annoyed with the verdict stands and yells “You’re nothing but a racist Monkey!”

    Ok, so the judge is doing his job, the defendant is assuming race played a part in the verdict and he screams a racist slur at the judge.

    Racism in reverse.

    Effectively this changing of paradigm where the now villified “white man” was in control of everyone’s fate some nations has been altered and in extreme cases has been reversed via affirmative action etc.

    My opinion is that people are people, if someone is upset and plays a race card they are an asshole, not a racist. If someone believes that their race is superior, they’re just a dumb-ass, not a racist. When a society prevents a group, whether the minority or majority from equal rights or holds one GROUP above another, then there is racism.

    Thus I propose that individuals cannot be racist, but organisations and groups of individuals can, through ill considered or blatantly idiotic planning, produce racist policy.

    If this is the case, racism (a term given new connotations by minority groups in developed nations) can be reversed on the majority ethnic group via affirmative action and other inherently racist policy. Unfortunately for the minority groups this thinking presumes that they require special treatment. Thus appearing to be underdeveloped as an ethnicity. Kind of like an intelligent child in special schooling.

    I’m also really glad to know that this racism thing seems to be isolated to the developed world. Thank god nothing like this happens in the Sudan, Middle East, Asia. Oh, wait. It’s global?

    Stupid article.

  • Mexibro

    I’m a white Mexican and I can guarantee you that whites do get discriminated against.

  • pride and proud

    typical liberal B.S. Not only insulting white people but condescending to people of color. This suggests that every person of color better watch out ’cause whitey is going to get ya! If everyone thought like this we would have quite a paranoid society. Thank goodness that we have evolved to where this shouldn’t be our number one concern.

  • silvia

    But you know that there is more about racism than the whole black / white story, right? One of the biggest racists of history was born in Austria, was white, became popular in Germany and killed many other white people because of their race. In this case not for being black, chinese, hispanic or whatever, just because they were jews. So dont tell me that a white person cant be the target of racism.

  • Lyvy

    I think that you’re saying that institutional racism is the only type of racism, which is not true. For example, my boyfriend is black and i’m white, and every once in a while there will be that one person who tells me that my BF is only with me because white girls don’t have backbones, or they’ll tell him to dump the “white bitch” and get with a “real woman”. That’s what i consider interpersonal racism, people say inappropriate things to me because of my race. That’s racism. What I don’t have to deal with though is being turned away from a loan, or a college, or a job because of my race. I’m not a target of violence or even killing because of my race, all things my BF does have to deal with being a PoC. What he goes though is institutional racism, a system of inequality and oppression because of his race. So do white people deal with racism, interpersonal racism, yes, but we don’t have to be subject to systematical oppression based on our race. So yes PoC have it a hell of a lot worse than white people, but that doesn’t mean reverse racism doesn’t exist.

  • Robert Nabors

    Just recently a college set up a “Race Equality” Group, that excluded white people. http://www.mrconservative.com/2014/03/36067-hypocritical-liberal-group-hosts-diversity-and-race-equality-event-bans-whites/

  • HillbillieNurse

    What a naive, myopic world view. Once Obama finishes off your country, you will actually have some worries such as staying alive on a daily basis. That’s the only silver lining to the Obama storm cloud – watching idiots, enjoying a free and blessed life, paid for in the blood of their moral superiors (mainly and historically white males) – actually having to claw, beg, scrape, to survive daily. Something you have never had to do. All courtesy of those you love to loathe. You so well deserve the lesson your ilk are bringing on all of us. Broil in it like you now broil in your own self-loathing and horrific envy.

  • Kyle

    “It [racism] is the prevalence of RACISM within social structures and institutional norms, along with implicit and explicit enforcement by members of a group, that allows RACISM to run rampant and unchecked.”

    This implies a pre-existing thing called ‘racism’ that features in your definition of racism. It’s like saying “Religion is the prevalence of religion within social structures.”

    Racism is the prejudice itself. Which is something you seem to believe even without realising it as you write this. I’m not denying the truth of white being considered as the ‘norm’ and society is inclined to show bias in favour of this group, but I would call that oppression BASED UPON racism.

    • Chelsy

      You are white.

  • One world

    Unfortunately, this article smacks of someone very naive with not much of a world view.
    To the author: There is absolutely racism that can come from any race.

    Racism is horrible and ugly. Not to understand that there is racism and “reverse-racism”, which can create even more racism. is a myopic view on society.

  • Mr_Scorpio

    It would be pointless the explain why everyone that objects to this brilliant article is wrong. The love of their own privileged status prevents their minds being open.

  • redhen1919

    I started to post your article on FB but didn’t because your goal is hopeless. White people will always portray themselves as the true victims of racism. They will never change and you cannot educate them. Only when they truly experience racism physically constantly on a day to day basis will they understand and that will never happen. I appreciate your attempt, but during the past 400 years whites haven’t learned what racism is and they never will because it benefits them. Personal attacks and insults are not racism.

    • Sara Luckey

      I don’t want to believe that, but I posted this how many months ago and the majority of comments coming are from angry white people who love dictionaries? Ugh.

  • redhen1919

    The personal attacks mentioned by whites are not racism. Racism is knocking on a door for help and because you are a PoC you are shot in the face at point blank range and killed by an “upstanding and decent man”. A white female asking for help would never be harmed by another person unless than person happened to be criminally minded. I reiterate personal attacks and mean-spirited statements are not racism.

  • David. H

    After surviving a hostage situation where we were beaten, scarred and called white C### daily for 6 weeks as a child to have no justice or help because the subject matter was easier to sweep under the rug I find this article a total insult and quite naive.

    In the workplace today I am told how I should roll over and die, to stop whinging and let New Zealanders take my job. If I cant keep up with other lads it is “the white cunts fault” in a factory full of different cultures the white guy IS the target if the majority of staff are colored.

    Just standing at a train station on the 23rd dec 2013 two sudoneise males attacked me over the cigarette I was smoking and because I said no they attacked me calling me once again “your dead white cunt”.
    “This is our neighberhood, you are f’d”.
    I don’t ask for it, I mind my own business and this happens weekly.

    Maybe you should ask the VICTIMS of crime and those who have been victims of reverse racism before dismissing our rights to be upset. Cause dare we say ANYTHING ABOUT ANYONE else WERE THE ONES GETTING SUED.

  • just a randomer

    I’m going to have to say your judgement are not only biased, but also flawed. There is not scientific or historical proof of your claims. Not only that, you base your claims on the INTERNET and not REAL LIFE. Many people today still do not have access to internet, so you yourself would not know of the REAL ‘reverse racism’. You might want to read up on the history of China (more specifically the Boxer Rebellion) for actual historical context on your so called ‘reverse racism’. And by the way, racism is just racism. Period.

  • Mumra

    What you are describing as racism is actually institutional racism, racism is very much an individual thing. I can clearly see you are regurgitating the CRT handbook but let me tell you something about CRT. It is bollocks. Pseudo Social Science. Where does racially motivated attacks between members of two ‘powerless’ communities fit? A person of African origin on a person of Indian origin for example?

    The best and most concise definition of racism came from MLK. Judging on skin colour rather than content of character. By this definition CRT itself, by assuming that skin colour denotes capacity for racism rather than character content, is racist.

  • Chelsy

    lol youre white

  • Chelsy

    We have to dig deeper: racism originated from the idea of judging another culture solely by the values and standards of one’s own culture, or ethnocentrism. Ethnocentric individuals judge other groups relative to their own ethnic group or culture, especially with concern for language, behavior, customs, and religion. These ethnic distinctions and subdivisions serve to define each ethnicity’s unique cultural identity. Ethnocentrism may be overt or subtle, and while it is considered a natural proclivity of human psychology, it has developed a generally negative connotation.
    Since the “Caucasian race” seems to be the dominate race on the majority of the planet, we can suspect they considered themselves more preferred than those that were considered brown, black, yellow, or red. The term “Caucasian race” was coined by a German philosopher named Christoph Meiners. Meiners’ treatise was widely read in the German intellectual circles of its day, despite muted criticism of its scholarship. Meiners proposed a taxonomy of human beings which involved only two races: Caucasians and Mongolians. He considered Caucasians to be more physically attractive than Mongolians, notably because they had paler skin; Caucasians were also more sensitive and more morally virtuous than Mongolians. Later he would make similar distinctions within the Caucasian group, concluding that the Germans were the most attractive and virtuous people on earth. The name “Caucasian” derived from the Southern Caucasus region (or what is now the countries of Georgia, Armenia) and Azerbaijan, because he considered the people of this region to be the archetype for the grouping.
    In his earlier racial typology, Meiners put forth that Caucasians had the “whitest, most blooming and most delicate skin”. Europeans with darker skin he considered “dirty whites”, admixed with Mongolian. Such views were typical of early scientific attempts at racial classification, where skin pigmentation was regarded as the main difference between races.

    So it seems that the basis of race was fueled by the idea that one particular race is more superior than all the rest. I personally conclude that the one who puts himself above everyone else has not evolved enough to understand the true understanding of human nature. Un-evolved ego plays a large roll in the history of man-kind.

  • http://commentaramapolitics.blogspot.com/ tryanmax

    In other words, reverse racism isn’t real because you refuse to acknowledge it. Your ears are only open to the stories of prejudice as experienced by PoCs and not as experienced by whites. Way to undermine yourself.

  • Loopy_Squid

    …

  • Eugena Lieu

    Sure, I may be a coarse-face, but being White is the individual characteristics by which a person or thing is recognized. This is what being White is. This is what I realized on Dictionary.com. But Black People keep coming after me with so much interest. Is there a better way to define what individual characteristics is?

  • okay so explain this to me

    “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges. And while it may feel bad to realize your privilege is crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted can be taken away from you, it is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience reverse racism.”

    Okay? I’m from Europe and here almost every white person who has a conflict with a non-white person is racist and it really doesn’t matter what the conflict is about. Sometimes I’m like:”Oh my God, did the world go crazy?”
    We have some Roma people here and they behave like animals. We call them “the invulnerable”. We are the “gadza” people for them, it’s very similar to “nigger”. When we call them “gypsies”, we are being banned. They are such people who run naked through streets, who bath on public places like in fountains, rivers (in the middle of a city), who destroy houses they get by selling parts of the roofs, windows (and they get those houses for FREE!!! because they are the poor discriminated minority which needs to be supported for the money from the EU – a white person would have been kicked out on the street), they steal and when they have a problem with you, they take the whole family (mom, dad, his 2 lovers and their 9 children?) to beat you up, shouting:”you white assholes, we will kill you”. And yes, they make more and more and more children to get money for them.
    Finding a job? Puh, that’s something they really don’t care about. Instead, they make a barbecue in the middle of the city.
    There are many big ghettos with those people in big cities so those parts of the city they live in, are totally lost. If you don’t worry about your money and health you can go there but on your own risk.

    But yes, I am so stupid, I should be sorry for being a racist a*shole who is being denied my already existing privilegies. I actully love to have them in my country SO MUCH!!!

    Such a great multicultural experience – as the EU says – isn’t it?

    • Sara Luckey

      Actually, much of what you’re saying is racist. And I mentioned multiple times in the article that I am speaking about, and only about, the United States.

    • 2dee

      “Finding a job?” Are you hiring? And if so, who are you hiring?

  • Facepalm

    This article is actually pretty enraging. If not solely for the fact that the arguments in it are beyond ignorant. To basically say that white people can’t fully experience the shittyness of racism is plain stupid. I’m a young white woman that grew up in the mixing bowl area of Virginia/Washington D.C.
    Where I am from, there is a lot of different cultures and people of every race. The high school I went to, I was the minority. And that’s all fine and dandy if my experience was pleasant, but a lot of the time I spent my days getting to class as quickly as possible because of all the hatred toward me. I was called names, bullied, threatened, occasionally shoved/hit, and ultimately made to feel like my existence was not appreciated on nearly a daily basis. That’s not to say everyone disliked me. I had a few friends, and it was a diverse group. I’ve also experienced plenty of racism outside of school. Now please tell me, if I wasn’t experiencing racism firsthand, what exactly was it? I would love to read your answer. You’re right about one thing. There is no such thing as “reverse racism”. Because racism is racism, plain and simple.

  • Midori

    I am biracial. Do you you think it hurts any less when black people call me names or say I’m just a white girl with an afro or when they tell me that I’m too white to be black than it does when white people turn up their noses or the occasional older white person down south says that me and my kind should go back to Africa where we belong or subtly state that we are “equal, but different and just shouldn’t mix”. Do you think it hurts any less? That it is any less racist when the black side of my family condemns my mom for bringing white blood in to the fam or speaks loudly about her white-ness and “those ******* white people” in my dad’s side of the family’s uber ghetto way. No. It may even hurt more, because they’re more blatant about their dislike and un-acceptance of me and anyone of white descent. It’s plain hurtful either way, but at least the white people who have dissed me aren’t my family… Because as Lilo so eloquently said: Ohana means family. And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

    Anyone, anywhere can be racist. Deal with it. If you don’t like me because of the color of my skin, my ethnicity, my “race” be it black, white, oriental, etc. that means you are quite simply racist! Is that too hard to understand or must I break it down? Official dictionary meaning of race: the fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this. Got that? Good. If someone discriminates against me because of my “race” that means they are being – what’s that word? Oh, now I remember – racist. So please, don’t go and make up your own elusive definition for something like this – something not bound by the confines of power or culture. It’s just not right and it actually makes me really sad to hear someone separate people in a way such as you did.

    Referring to people in two groups – white and people of color (or POC) is actually very offensive to humanity itself. That’s like saying that all Indians and Black people and Native Americans and Arabic and Mongolians and Caribbeans and Chinese are one and the same and made so only because of their somewhat dusky and dark skin tones. Colored people or people of color. Whichever way you say it it means the same thing. And then there are those lonely colorless white people over there in a group all of their own because they have lighter, skin. It’s just not right!!! We are humanity. All ethnicity’s and races have discriminated against another at some point in time. That’s a fact. Some in general have suffered worse than others and I know, some wounds are relatively fresh.

    To quote from my nanowrimo young writers novel: “It wasn’t a matter of searching or finding- it was a matter of opening their hearts. But that was some form of vulnerability- and vulnerability was something that neither found to be desirable. To open their hearts meant to uncover the still tender wounds- giving them a breath of much needed fresh air. All they knew is that it would sting.” We must open our hearts to all races, all people and ethnicities. Sure, it may hurt thinking of the past and wrongs against ourselves or our ancestors and family. But the truth is we’re all people. Every single one of us. And if we peeled back our skin, inside we’d all be the same – humanity. I’m a mere thirteen year old child and even I can understand this. We. Are. Humanity.

  • Midori

    I am biracial. Do you you think it hurts any less when black people call me names or say I’m just a white girl with an afro or when they tell me that I’m too white to be black than it does when white people turn up their noses or the occasional older white person down south says that me and my kind should go back to Africa where we belong or subtly state that we are “equal, but different and just shouldn’t mix”. Do you think it hurts any less? That it is any less racist when the black side of my family condemns my mom for bringing white blood in to the fam or speaks loudly about her white-ness and “those ******* white people” in my dad’s side of the family’s uber ghetto way. No. It may even hurt more, because they’re more blatant about their dislike and un-acceptance of me and anyone of white descent. It’s plain hurtful either way, but at least the white people who have dissed me aren’t my family… Because as Lilo so eloquently said: Ohana means family. And family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

    Anyone, anywhere can be racist. Deal with it. If you don’t like me because of the color of my skin, my ethnicity, my “race” be it black, white, oriental, etc. that means you are quite simply racist! Is that too hard to understand or must I break it down? Official dictionary meaning of race: the fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this. Got that? Good. If someone discriminates against me because of my “race” that means they are being – what’s that word? Oh, now I remember – racist. So please, don’t go and make up your own elusive definition for something like this – something not bound by the confines of power or culture. It’s just not right and it actually makes me really sad to hear someone separate people in a way such as you did.

    Referring to people in two groups – white and people of color (or POC) is actually very offensive to humanity itself. That’s like saying that all Indians and Black people and Native Americans and Arabic and Mongolians and Caribbeans and Chinese are one and the same and made so only because of their somewhat dusky and dark skin tones. Colored people or people of color. Whichever way you say it it means the same thing. And then there are those lonely colorless white people over there in a group all of their own because they have lighter, skin. It’s just not right!!! We are humanity. All ethnicity’s and races have discriminated against another at some point in time. That’s a fact. Some in general have suffered worse than others and I know, some wounds are relatively fresh.

    To quote from my nanowrimo young writers novel: “It wasn’t a matter of searching or finding- it was a matter of opening their hearts. But that was some form of vulnerability- and vulnerability was something that neither found to be desirable. To open their hearts meant to uncover the still tender wounds- giving them a breath of much needed fresh air. All they knew is that it would sting.” We must open our hearts to all races, all people and ethnicities. Sure, it may hurt thinking of the past and wrongs against ourselves or our ancestors and family. But the truth is we’re all people. Every single one of us. And if we peeled back our skin, inside we’d all be the same – humanity. I’m a mere thirteen year old child and even I can understand this. We. Are. Humanity.

  • Lily Jasmine Denyer

    Really good blog! Have shared the link to a talk with some idiot I’m having! You have it all in a nutshell. :)

  • Midori

    I’m rather upset that you deleted my last comment. It was rather long, contained no strong language or offensive views and a rational, empathetic viewpoint. Okay. :) Here’s the basic gist: Racism is racism is racism = discriminating against another because of their race. As a biracial gal it hurts just as much when black people dis me as when white people do. And I’m sure it would hurt just as much if any other race did. We can move on and live, remembering and acknowledging the past we mustn’t dwell on it. We have a big, blank sheet in front of us just waiting to be painted.

  • Midori

    Well, that’s not very nice….

  • flipper

    I just got called racist today for the first time at 36. Because I asked whether African Americans really were violent. I’ve never been to the US before, have no way of determining whether all the media reports of gang violence is overblown. Whether our international officer was just a douche for saying that as a white woman, I represented bad things to African Americans, and that we should stay away from them entirely during our stay.
    White privilege is absolutely true, and the institutional racism of whites against everyone else is awful. How do they then fight back, if they feel that the chips are completely stacked against them, and there’s nothing they can do? Fight back with guns against whites, and yell “racist” as loud as they can. This can’t end well.
    As the climate fucks up, resources dwindle, and we head towards human extinction, how bad is this going to get?

  • Lauren Spagnola

    Although the is no comparison when it comes to racism. I would like to use an example of a situation. What do you tell your granddaughter when your watching a movie and it’s women of color, and the girls are raising hell and saying “he’s dating some white Bitch”? I teach her that all colors are beautiful. Why is it ok for a black woman to say that but if a white woman said that, hell would be raised? It’s wrong no matter what the color. I know it’s a movie but I’ve heard that saying more than once. Because you have witnessed racism, you should know that It’s hurtful no matter what color. And that one race does not have more rights than the other one. Every one needs to stop.

  • lhng4563

    I feel for Blacks and Native Americans who experience institutional racism in America. As for other immigrants who WILLINGLY come here oh well too bad. Go fix up your own country. And why do they come here and complain how horrible it was what the whites did by stealing the country- yet they want to come here and reap the benefits of the whites’ theft? How can they complain how horrid American Whites are for creating such a wretched, racists country yet haul their happy behinds here? And do what- use white guilt to take it over ??? Seems to me this is some big push to get Whites out of power, and thrown to the bottom of the heap. so foreign POCs can take over what they built. Mind you, like it or not- yeah they did build this country (as wrong as they may have been for doing so) so why are they expected to hand it over to POC?! African Americans and Native Americans I see their point- but sorry for the rest of the POC immigrants who willingly came to a WHITE EUROPEAN FOUNDED COUNTRY.

  • alif542

    Is the author trying to make feminists and liberals look stupid or what…?

    • Sara Luckey

      Yeah, I speak for all feminists and all liberals. Good job!

      • Mel

        This is why liberals and feminists are a joke. Your article made me so much more proud to be a conservative.

  • proud muslim

    wow, why do whites hate their people so much? they act like others are always nice and cant be racist and they ignore countries such as my own… this is why your countries are getting worse and worse. you keep giving foreigners jobs, letting them impregnate your women, let your country be torn to pieces just because you want to stay nice just like great britain. this would never have been accepted in a muslim country and you know it, because we are proud of our heritage and not a bunch of whiny kids. islam will be the majority religon in the future.

  • Toppumesu

    This article is absurd. Apparently you don’t know the definition of reverse racism. Reverse racism is making a generalization or a standard about an entire race that is a majority. I am so sick of seeing ignorant crap like every time I go on the internet. I can’t explain how many times I have gone out or heard somebody I know say they are victims of reverse racism. It happens all the time, to me and many white people that I know! Just because people of color (and I mean this as SOME people, if you are not the person I am describing don’t be offended over nothing) have been direct victims of racism, it can still happen to whites. Whites have been direct victims of racism to. I think this article is completely one sided and just plain stupid.

  • Toppumesu

    Thank you SO MUCH for saying this. Slavery is not a new thing. It has been happening practically ever since history began. It has happened to almost every single race. Practically saying PoC can’t be racist towards a Caucasian is absolutely ridiculous. Caucasians can be victims of racism. That’s like saying if two men got into a fight, both inflicting equal damage on each other, you completely disregard one man’s injuries and send him to prison and give the other one a trophy. Does that sound correct? No. This article is ignorant and written from a one-sided point of view.

  • Robin A. Quarles

    One sure way to know if a person has issues with race is if the first thing or obe of the first things they say are I am not racsit. The second is if they completely ignore the premise of what is being written and if they completely ignore the fact that slavery and jim crow isnt in the distant past for America. White people who talk about reverse racism or pretending that hundreds of years of oppression magically disappear s with the right to sit anywhere on a bus and a black president, it ignores the horror no the holocaust that was slavery in america and the ramifications of a hierarchy based on race.
    When people attempt to minimize or derail the conversation it says more about them than it does any person of color and It says more about people’s attachment to their privilege and their fear of losing it.

  • Robin A. Quarles

    Part of the problem is that peopke often conflate prejudice with racsim. They are not the same! Everyone can be prejudice not everyone can be racist. What some white people experience is prejudice based on the racism experienced by a person of color.

    • Dock Drumming

      Okay, once again, it’s time to go to the dictionary.

      I think that the kind of racism that you, and David above are referring to may fit the second definition below. However, definition 1 and 2, can apply to ANYONE, black, white, purple, regardless of race. I am sick and tired of people trying to redefine racism by stating otherwise.

      rac·ism [rey-siz-uhm] Show IPA
      noun
      1.
      a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural orindividual achievement, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right torule others.
      2.
      a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
      3.
      hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

  • ansa

    What your mother experienced was discrimination and prejudice, not racism. You should understand the difference between these three terms, as they are not interchangeable. She absolutely has the right to say she was discriminated against because of her skin color. But the fact is that she has somewhere to retreat to. As a white person, your mother can surround herself with white people (I’m not saying in any way that she is expected to do this) easily and escape the discrimination she experienced. A PoC, even in their own home, in a family of PoCs, can watch television anywhere and experience racism, they can go to school anywhere and experience racism, they can get a job anywhere and experience racism. They can do numerous things without ever seeing a white person and experience racism. The fact is that white ethnicity isn’t systematically condemned, it is systematically praised, as the “ideal”. Absolutely, anyone can experience discrimination for any number of reasons. But because she is white, this is not racism.

    • Antago Dynamaur

      Your lack of compassion and understanding is embarrassing.

    • Blake Okafor

      Racism=racial discrimnation/prejiduce. How are they not the same?

    • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

      “You should understand the difference between these three terms, as they are not interchangeable.”

      You should understand the difference between systematic racism and racism.

      “A PoC, even in their own home, in a family of PoCs, can watch television anywhere and experience racism, they can go to school anywhere and experience racism, they can get a job anywhere and experience racism”

      You’ve never been to China or Japan, have you?

  • David

    To the very naive responder from a year ago… Your response is on the top and the most comprehensive and the most needing a reply.

    Reverse racism is not about whether or not specific acts of racial prejudice exist. That’s not the point. The point is, and it’s clear: A systemic, repetitive, continually destructive trend of racism occurs…

    I’ll prove it. Lets take your example of the black teens harassing and attacking you. Do you have any doubt that they will go to jail? Do you think for a second that the judge will get them off with a warning? Do you think for any reason that maybe you’ll be made out to be the aggressor? Or what about some interpretation of the law where they can use to cite you for something along the way? You think when the cops arrive, you might get shot at first just because the cop is trigger happy, “color blind”, and will somehow confuse things and think you’re the bad guy before getting the facts straight?

    These details, these specific details add up and are IGNORED by whites so often when dealing with the issue. It allows and has allowed a lot of “white sympathy” going all the way back to slavery. Oh boo hoo the negroes are complaining again, and you get all up in arms, and it’s like we’re going to take over and run your lives and take away your freedom. That’s how this conversation goes. Soon we’ll be attacking you in your homes and getting away with murder, and blah blah blah, so shut us up now and lets pretend it’s all equal.

    This applies in the workplace, where whites cut off blacks from contributing sometimes, and we spend time “recontextualilzing” things to minimize their contribution. Lack of listening and an overly critical approach. Oh wait let me interrupt, I’m the white guy here, I know better…

    It’s not all the time, and it’s improving, but the same approach… if you do more listening, you worry that oh the black guys might start running the company to the ground with their assertive unmanaged approach. So even a black leader is always surrounded by white assistants to insulate them. Again this is changing…

    But we still live in a society where a man running for president can come from a religion (Mitt the Mormon) that still to this day teaches that dark skinned people were once cursed and that their darker skin was a mark of sin. And on top of that he tries to equate his religious “struggle” for acceptance with black struggles for equality.

    So No we are not there yet.

  • Tyrone

    Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs. Ok so Oprah Winfrey trashing a homeless white guy is still RACIST.

  • THK

    I agree with Sam…
    If you want to talk of equality..go back to Europe to where your actual cultures orginally existed.
    And I’m pretty sure everyone else will do the same…

    And as for attraction .Only being attracted to people of light skin is
    said to be normal…But the truth is its a big lie.The number of mixed couples is rising with globalization.
    This means than dispite the media making white people seem as though they are the best people don’t give a fuck.lol

    Whats really funny though is none apologetic behaviour white people have after all problems they have caused.
    Like all great Empires whites have spread themselves too thin and will fall .
    I cant wait for the day pure whites are boycot by the rest of the world and their genes start malfunction .
    Go ahead teach youre white chidren that they are the most attractive and only date and marry in your own race and please let the rest of the world evolve.The black and latinas have the power the asians have the brains the reasonable whites have true freedom in their hearts they will mix with us.lol
    We dont need you.Bye

    • jm313

      Blacks and Latina’s have the power? Sorry to tell you this but these two groups are at the bottom of pretty much every statistic. They are performing horribly in society.

    • Lip

      You’re going to tell me that wasn’t flat out racist? Oh wait, hes only basing his hate off skin colour. Hes only openly claiming his race is superior, and wants a complete race of people to fail and die out. Thats not racist though, cause its only white people he wants gone.

      You are a pathetic excuse for a human

  • Mary Patterson

    What a pathetic and nauseating article. Sorry to burst your bubble sweetheart, but ‘reverse racism’ most certainly DOES exist in our society today. Don’t believe me? Well, next time you want to apply for a decent job, does it say that they “…encourage applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation or gender identity..”? In other words, lets consider anyone who isn’t straight and/or white.

    A few years ago, a friend of mine was working at the Royal Bank head office in Toronto and she applied for a promotion. Even though she was qualified, they ended up giving it to a woman who was from India, did not have even half the qualifications and who couldn’t speak English very well. Why did she get the job? Because our dumb-assed government has a quota for businesses whereby they have to hire a certain number of “visible minorities” for management positions. Regardless of whether or not they’re qualified. The woman herself expressed surprise that she was even interviewed for the position and my friend actually ended up having to train her. Ya, that makes perfect sense right?

    The big problem now is that there’s never any ‘equality’ in our society. The human race seems to swing from one end of the pendulum to the other regardless of the stupidity of some scenarios such as the one I just mentioned. Yes, all races should be considered ‘equal’, but quite often, that doesn’t happen any more. Now with all the bleeding hearts out there such as yourself, those who at any time in the past have been surpressed by the evil white person can scream ‘discrimination’ at any time and for any reason, yet a white person is not entitled to the same courtesy.
    THAT my dear, is called ‘reverse discrimination’ whether you like it or not.

  • Species

    This article is a complete farce. Come to my college. It’s perfectly okay for students of other backgrounds to make fun of ‘white people.’ The minute I make fun of any race other than mine – ooooooh, I’m soooo racist! Give me a break! In my own personal experience, I’ve met more openly racist black people than openly racist white people. I’ve had an African American guy talk to me aside and tell me he prefers white pussy over black pussy ’cause it’s fatter.’ Not only was that comment racist, it was also sexual harassment. At the same time, some of the most kindest people I’ve met where African Americans and other ethnic groups. Those who helped me without any sort of judgement. My two best friends. One is black, the other hispanic, and they volunteered to me that they know of other people from their racial background who are total prejudiced against Caucasians. I think each person should stand on his or her own merit regardless of race. This article claiming that there is no such thing as reverse racism is actually irresponsible, unrealistic, and apparently never lived in a huge urban city with various cultural backgrounds.

    • 2dee

      Your are dealing with PREJUDICE. Just wait until you start having to suffer racism and you will know the difference immediately.

  • Think!

    Utter ignorance and pure agenda driven nonsense that is completely devoid of logic and/or reality. Unfortunately, very typical.

  • jm313

    Wow this is stupid. So if a black person comes up to me a white person and punches me and says he did it cause i’m white that’s not racism? BS racism is racism.

    • 2dee

      It is called prejudice (until it begins to involve the racist American justice).

  • Ray

    I am a survivor of two rapes. The first at the age of 17 by three guys and a couple of them came back to randomly and sporadically bully and harass me over the course of several years. My rapists at 17 were white and I am white but there were several minorities who supported them and told me I deserved rape because I am white trash. It was re-victimizing and re-traumatizing and I have PTSD because of all the trauma and repeated trauma. I did not know my attackers or any of the people who supported them personally but I am completely traumatized. I have nightmares and flashbacks almost daily even years later. I was told by a police officer who was African American that I can’t claim that I was persecuted against because I am white. The owner of the cafe I worked at was also owned by an African American and my perpetrators came in to bully me there and that is where a waitress who happened to be a minority ganged up on me with my perpetrator and made the direct offensive victim blaming comment. There weren’t any previous problems with her and she only became hostile towards me when my rapist bullied me that day. I also had an experience with my sister walking late at night through a secluded parking lot to our car when a car pulled up and the men who did not know us said “Want to die white bitches”, they happened to be African American. I am sorry for the horrible history this country has but I am only now 34 and wasn’t even alive during segregation or slavery. I do feel that at this point in time that the laws are in favor of minorities such as affirmative action and I don’t have a problem with that but I do have a problem with being traumatized and not being able to be honest about my experience because I am white and it is not PC enough to speak up about my experience. Not one person has ever healed by bottling everything up and I want healing and peace in my life. I feel that all individuals regardless of race should feel that they are protected by law from discrimination. My second rapist happened to be African American and he had a friend who worked with me who was very vocal about white people not being able to experience prejudice and after all that trauma I couldn’t handle anymore with victim blaming comments. I think people are individuals and anyone is capable of anything and any human being can experience prejudice. It saddens me that so many minorities that I didn’t even know personally would support my attackers. I am in therapy for healing but I didn’t receive justice, mainly because I was too traumatized to find the strength to fight back through the justice system and the family I grew up in was a little abusive so for the first rape I didn’t have the support anyway.

    • 2dee

      The justice system is horrible. But nothing is done about it because only occasionally it backfires on the unintended. Victims are persecuted (again) in the justice system, and in the same society where also the word “victim” is no longer allowed in a country that wants to pretend to the world they do nothing and have done nothing wrong. Thus, that is most likely why it not PC for you to talk about your trauma. Certain PoC are not allowed to complain about racism and especially more so now, because now the President is Black. I hope you have found a good therapist where it is politically correct to talk about whatever it is that helps you to heal.

  • ghanderman

    again, thats not “racism” thats discrimination.

    what people always get stuck on is the false notion that racism is an individual act ocurring in isolation.

    RACISM….CLASSISM, SEXISM, ABLEISM….each and every one of these terms refers to a SYSTM.

    a system is total.

    a handful of individuals treating your mom badly because shes white, is not a system.

    its a handful of individuals acting out their biases.

    a handful of white individuals lynching a black man because he looked “funny” at a white woman and not being held criminally liable for it, thats racism.

    a white person being selected for a job over a native person because the employer is also white and has this stereotype that natives are dishonest…thats racism.

    a white judge sentencing a person of color to a harsher sentence because he thinks all people of color are scumbags who deserve to be locked up…thast racism.

    a system = a government, a historical tradition in which fallacies about the innate superiority of whiteness is told, a judicial system where the majority of people in power are white and they have the discretion to actually BE racist because they have the power of the system to back them up.

    its not that hard to grasp.

    all you have to do is get a dictionary, learn what system means and how systems operate.

    go to the history section…learn about who invented “race” and “racism” and why they did it.

    • Blake Okafor

      “RACISM….CLASSISM, SEXISM, ABLEISM….each and every one of these terms refers to a SYSTM.”

      Wrong, not exclusively

    • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

      Erm, why is it “a false notion”?

      It’s the definition of the term, nearly everyone uses it, and it’s been used for a long time.

      I don’t get why it is you have to go redefining words when we have other words/terms to describe what it is you mean.

  • ghanderman

    no its not.

    jeezus, i get so tired of trying to explain the most simple concept to some people.

    most people like you who are involved with white people seem to be deliberately willfully ignorant and refusing to understand whats in front of your face out of a misguided sense of loyalty.

    just because YOU are schtupping some white guy doesnt make that white guy any less racist.

    and just because YOU choose to wrongly use the term and concept of “racism” bc you think it somehow levels the playing field, doesnt mean its actually true.

    cmon people, this is not rocket science.

  • ghanderman

    yeah, but in my case it would not be applicable.

  • ghanderman

    *sigh*

    ima list out the common fallacious tropes displayed in your post:

    1.) the white man as saviour trope (“we” care about black peoples plights)

    2.) the “everyone is racist” trope (racism is racism no matter who is the one being racist)

    3.) the “i dont have white privilege because im jewish” trope (FYI, even in WWII jews who could pass as german-aryan took full advantage of that either to escape persecution or to help people from their communities escape it)

    4.) the “i dont buy into the whiteness is superior” trope—you dont HAVE to buy into white racist ideology to benefit from it. all you have to do is be able to pass for white and never challenge it.

    5.) the irish were, in fact, horribly treated by the brits. they were considered to be a subhuman race entirely separate from the brits….until, that is, around the early 1900s when the irish suddenly were given entry into the “white race”.

    see, the “white race” did not even exist until the late 1800s early 1900s.

    people did not think in terms of “race”, they thought in terms of nationality or region or tribe.

    “race” was a specific invention of european anthropologists, darwinists, political and theological philosophers all working to try and figure out why people looked different form each other.

    the british decided it was because they were inferior versions of the british….that is, not quite human.

    the very notion of “race” was an invention by white europeans as a means by classifying and organizing human beings into categories of difference by which british promotion of british superiority was possible.

    the system of claiming british/european superiority came to be known as “racism” precisely because it IS a system that was designed to (and still does) privilege whiteness as superior…thats where racism comes from, thats what it is, thats what it was invented to do, and thats why no person of color is by definition a racist.

    thats history, its well documented, and readily available to anyone who wants to see the original research.

  • Blake Okafor

    I think the logic behind “there is no such thing as reverse racism” is flawed.

    It assumes that institutional racism is the only kind. If it was the argument would be valid. But racism is meant to mean discrimination on the basis of race.

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine”

    That is wrong. Certainly overall institutionally whites don’t have it as bad, but I don’t think that means that they can’t be racially hated on. It’s terribly dishonest to fixate on one version of racism. it jhust boils down to a semantic thing.

    • rockoman100

      “it just boils down to a semantic thing.”

      EXACTLY. This is the reason this debate is so stupid, it’s a debate over the definition of a single word. Honestly, who cares, just don’t discriminate in general. That’s it. Over. End. Period.

  • proud to be white

    yes, reverse racism exists. It always has. one thing that isn’t told in schools is that arabs and africans had white slaves. have you ever heard of the words “honkey” or “cracker”? these are racist insults for white people. you always see someone taking the piss out of white people in social networks and media, they think whites are scared of blacks or that white men have small penesis, this is nothing more than racial prejudice. It happens. it is ok for a black person to be proud of their race but a white person who is proud to be white is immediately labelled as racist. that is double standards. and, if anything blacks get touchier about racism than anyone else, you can’t say hello to them without them screaming racist in your face. I have been called racist slurs by blacks such as “honkey, white boy, cracker” ect. however i defended myself by calling them “niggers”, im not racist but I believe in eye for an eye. if an ethnic minority is proud of their race, religion and nationality it is diversity. if a white person is proud of their race, religion or nationality it is automatically racist. Their are so many double standards which discriminate againt whites, men, hetrosexuals ect.

  • steve jobs

    Reverse racism isn’t real because “reveres racism” is just racism. Giving a different term to PoC being racist than whites being racist implies that the definition of racism is whites hating other people because of race…. wrong.
    Also, your definition of racism is actually what would be called institutionalized racism. When it’s racism done by an institution, such as the US government and media, it’s institutional racism. Racism, as a word, by itself, means to dislike and mistreat other people based on the color of their skin. So, a white kid being chased home, mugged, beat up, whatever, by a group of or single PoC simply because that kid is white IS racism, despite your assertion that it’s not.
    This article seems to be written out of guilt that the author harbors over being white. I suspect that this is the result of racism. Nobody should be made to feel bad about who they are because of the color of their skin, that’s racist indeed. However, growing up as a white person in minority communities I have been made to feel as though I am personally responsible for actions taken and a system put in place LONG before my birth, simply because of the color of my skin. I suspect the author has been victim to something similar, and the result is her guilt over being white.

  • Joseph

    The definition of reverse racism is racial discrimination against the dominant group in a society. Just because racism is against the non dominant race does not mean that reverse racism doesn’t exist. They are two different things, but they are both real. They both exist. Just because it has the word racism in it doesn’t mean it has to be racism.

  • whitepeoplertheonlyracist!

    okay sara, you have no idea what you are talking about. one you are not white apparently, so how the hell do you know ? two, your examples are designed to make it look like the kind of racisms that whites can suffer from is little girls Sh*t compared to what other races go through.

    you dont have to be a majority to be racist. Btw white people are seriously starting to be the minority in many many cities. so there.

    reverse racisms, to me, is the fact that racisms is a human trait, not a white trait!
    thats what i find the most racist, the fact that so many people actually think that only whites can be racists. we are all racists in the end, and the goal is to tame our instinct.

    reverse racisms is how today we actually see intense anti white racisms, and sometimes even within our own media and it just flies. my best example, Ice Cube’s song entitled “cave bitch”. the amount of racisms in that one song is disgusting. quotes from his song ” mutanoid caucasoid white cave bitch”. or ” ease back white bitch” . now if we REVERSE that, to mutanoid negroid black cave bitch and we get a guy like Justin Timberlake to sing it… guess what ? CNN talks about it for 2 weeks! and drills it in everyone’s head and Justin Timberlake’s career is over. But Ice Cube, no problem. he is black so he cant be racist right ?

    Now bringing up arguments such as ” oh everything is white in this country, we live in a culture that enforces whiteness…blablabla.. well, you sound like the typical victim dont you ?

    one, of course everything is white, we are still the majority, not for long! but we still are, and we live in a democracy, and in a democracy the majority is represented more than the minorities… numbers…its all it is.

    though you are wrong, not everything is white, look at a 15 years old, if he follows the trend, he will be listening and watching things where its definitely not all white.

    Two, sorry if Victoria Secret chooses a majority of white woman to model their products… in the end, those women are sexy, and have really beautiful body. thats just what sells more! deal with it !

    now, another thing, white people are hated, here in our own country, but also world wide. and some of us are starting to see that. Everything is blamed on us, the problems of every non-white person is because of us or our ancestors, and no one else. i see it all the time, on forums, or on my campus. i even hear ads on the radio that victimizes blacks, and how today they are still affected by slavery of the past…
    its ridiculous, we live in a culture where victimhood is advertised, and victims thrive ! you are the victim, you win! period! and you can be a white victim too, its just less common.

    get over it, reverse racisms is real, do i need to post you links about what black supremacists think of us whites ? or what they want ?
    or do i need to introduce you to the brown berret ? or the Aztlan movement ?
    open your eyes ! everyone hates america worldwide! and the white majority in it!

    Anti-white racisms is huge! and growing ! admit it! dont ignore it!

    • Sara Luckey

      I’m white, actually. And everything you said was dumb as hell.

  • pffff

    guys, reverse racism is real..

    here, the definition of racist:

    a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another.

    that article up there ? what are you talking about ?

    can a black man feel superior.. of course, its called black supremacy. and its racist too, and its reverse…

    so there. i think you are getting way too deep up there..

  • Europe-report

    I don’t agree with the articles opinion.

    The whole feminist/- CIS-Movement is plain ridiculous and exaggerates most of the time, having a one-sided view and declaring individual misbehaviour as a system.

    Bad enough, but the comments on this article really baffled me.

    The best quote:
    a white judge sentencing a person of color to a harsher sentence because he thinks all people of color are scumbags who deserve to be locked up…thast racism.

    The judge shan’t be locked up. He shouldn’t be allowed to continue his job with behaviour like that, but a criminal is a criminal, regardless if he’s white, brown or any other color.
    Most comments on here aren’t objective;
    They’re more of white-hate-general.

    Also, I love the cheeky “Back-to-Europe, you indigenous-cultures-destroying-swine” comments.
    Does any of you think he actually has any “birthright” to live somewhere and “whites” don’t?
    You’re just a bunch of pretentious white knights and wannabe-feminists and pretty often damn idiots.
    Narrowminded, blinded and onesided.

  • Jim Blake

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2597024/Beating-driver-angry-mob-accidentally-ran-young-boy-ruled-NOT-hate-crime-Detroit-police.html

  • Sara Luckey

    The dictionary definition of racism has only been posted here 3 or 400 times so far. Gonna need some more brilliant and innovative thinkers to copy pasta their Websters.

    • Dock Drumming

      Amazing how many times the definition of racism was posted, and yet, some people still don’t get that the word can be applied to ANYONE: Black, White, Hispanic or whatever…

    • Ray

      I am a female sexual trauma survivor and am plagued with nightmares and flashbacks. I’ve joined support groups with male and female survivors and they are all just as traumatized as me. I never tell a male sexual trauma survivor that since he is male he can’t experience sexism or sexual trauma because all men have not had the right to work taken away and then forced into marriages where they were subjected to rape and abuse with no way out and expected to handle all of the household responsibilities. The reason I don’t say that to male trauma survivors of sexual violence is because it’s not true and is very damaging to say that to an actual trauma survivor. Unless you’ve experienced trauma in your own life or are a mental health professional with training and experience, you will never know how hurtful it is to hear invalidating comments. They are almost as horrible as victim blaming comments and are excruciatingly painful and can be re-victimizing and re-traumatizing. So for the sake of healing, I think any generalized statements about what type of individuals can experience something horrific keeps some victims silent and that is always bad. People are individuals and anyone can experience anything. There is no stereotype for victims of trauma whose trauma may have been racially motivated or for perpetrators. Also, since generalized statements can possibly work against some victims by keeping them silent (if they don’t fall into your stereotype) that means the perpetrators are free to traumatize someone else. Most mental health professionals believe that most perpetrators of violent crimes have many victims and will continue until caught. You may think this can’t happen to you but no one is immune. Would also like to ask if there are laws today that still exist that take away the rights of minorities? If there are then I am not aware of them because I do feel that according to the laws that are currently in place there are more privileges given to minorities, such as affirmative action. I think affirmative action is great, whatever it takes to create equality but I do have a problem with being traumatized. It is easy when life isn’t going the way you’d like it to point the finger and say that white people are to blame for all of a person’s problems. It would be easy for me to say that men suck and men ruined my life because my father was male and abused me and all my perpetrators were male and now I am traumatized but it’s not right. There are nice men out there I ended up marrying one. What happened was not okay and was not my choice but how I react to it and try to cope and heal is my choice.

    • dale nixon

      wait, so you KNOW you’re wrong then? when are you planning to take this stupid article down

  • A C

    I suppose there *could* be situaions with racism against white people, but they’d be vanishingly rare compared to racism in the other direction (at least in white-majority countries). It might be valid to discuss them, though I’d be damn careful when doing so: such incidents are used to dismiss systemic racism in the other direction all the time.

  • Evapxe

    What I get from this article is that racism is only really racism if its affected in some form by institutions. Sure that’s a valid form of racism. And if some person of one racism touched a person of another race’s hair because they were curious I don’t care what the races are that’s not racism that’s curiosity. Possibly inappropriate but not racism. But to say white people can’t have racism directed at them because they’re white is just ignorant. You seem to say that white people can’t experience discrimination but not racism. However if the discrimination is based on their race that is racism whether it is government sanctioned or not.

  • FreedomFromIgnorance

    I have one observation. Assuming your definition of racism is true, doesn’t it simply come down to where we draw the lines of what a “society” or community is? What I mean is, if a white man grew up in a black majority city, where blacks were in control of most municipal functions, etc. (i.e. the reverse of most communities in the U.S.), if they were prejudiced against whites (and the prejudice showed in their policy decisions), would this not be racism? It fulfills the “prejudice + power” definition which you support.

  • ComtedeDirac

    White Genocide in South Africa http://www.change.org/petitions/the-u-s-amabassador-to-south-africa-patrick-gaspard-major-news-media-cnn-msnbc-bbc-press-release-on-the-genocide-in-south-africa

  • Chill

    The common usage of the term racism does not entail a power differential. For the everyday person who has not been exposed to the definition of racism as Prejudice + Power, racial discrimination and racism are identical. I am all for educating people of the “true definition of racism” as institutionalized prejudice designed to keep the powerful in charge and oppress the rights and liberties of a group of people, but people–such as the author of the article–need to to stop being so preachy and to stop condemning people who do not understand or immediately agree with their definition of racism.

    Literally, I think most people who posted below are debating semantics, but it is creating unwarranted dissension and hostility. I realize that semantic difference can be important when having discussions regarding race (e.g., if using the definition of Prejudice + Power, then white people should absolutely not claim to have experienced racism) and that therefore it is beneficial to educate people regarding the “true” definition, but it really is inappropriate and detrimental to ridicule people (as to some extent was done in the article above and in the comments below) just because they have a different understanding of a term that, according to wikipedia, is very controversial.

    Also, the quote that “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their
    already existing privileges” is not necessarily true, and implying that it is can certainly be taken as an affront by white individuals. While I completely understand that white people who complain of reverse racism are often just upset about attempts to redress the very real power imbalance between whites and PoCs (e.g. affirmative action), some white people who complain about reverse racism may have experienced true racial discrimination and prejudice. While, according to this article, such discrimination does not constitute racism (and I am okay with that definition), white people who complain about experiencing true prejudice against them are not just complaining about denying their already existing privileges–their experiences with racial discrimination may have been very real and very traumatizing, and they may have nothing to do with privilege and everything to do with racial hatred. I think qualifying quotes such as the above is vital for facilitating a functional conversation regarding racism.

  • Jarvis

    This article features a somewhat…nuanced and customized…definition of racism. Racism doesn’t HAVE to be systemic throughout the media or enacted in legislation. All bigotry begins somewhere. This author has the foolish notion that people shouldn’t fight bigotry against themselves or others until AFTER it has reached epidemic levels. That’s pure idiocy. Also, she seems to not understand that America is not the WHOLE WORLD, and that white people are not the majority EVERYWHERE. We won’t even be the majority in the U.S. much longer. She also neglects to mention that, although racism against black people and other minorities does exist, “black culture” (in ” ” because black people don’t actually all have the SAME culture) is also highly venerated and glamorized in large segments of our society. The fact of the matter is that ALL bigotry amounts to flaws in humanity at large. Not just white people, not just men, not just straight people, humanity at large. There are black people going around thinking all white people are racists, or at the very least, that white people can’t understand bigotry (even if they are a gay white person who has been discriminated by black straight people). THAT stereotype IS racist. Just like it’s racist if a white gay person thinks ALL black people are homophobic based on anecdotal evidence. Basically, this author thinks racism against PoC is more widespread than racism against whites. And she may be correct about that, there is really no way to know for certain: historically, she is correct, but we’re not in the days of slavery anymore and haven’t been for a long time. But even if one thing is more widespread than another, that’s not the same as that less widespread thing not existing AT ALL. Ignoring any problem until it gets bigger is not the solution. We will never stop bigotry, or evolve past it as a species, until we admit that ANYONE, of ANY color, can be susceptible to having bigoted thoughts or opinions. To admit that “your group” is just as flawed as any other is to TRULY embrace equality, even the inconvenient or unpleasant aspects of it. To REFUSE to admit that “your group” can sometimes be as bigoted as any other is to promote SUPERIORITY while confusing it with equality. She is right about one thing: “reverse racism” doesn’t exist. It’s always JUST “racism”. There’s never any need to call it “reverse racism” because the term “racism” was never meant to imply that one certain race is ALWAYS the victim. This chick lacks complexity and I would be surprised if she’s ever experienced a coherent thought. Btw, here’s the ACTUAL definition of racism (really not sure why she thinks she’s entitled to change the definition just to make herself seem right). You’ll note that it doesn’t say anywhere in the definition that racism is something “done by white people to PoC” and that it actually says that believing that race is a primary factor in pretty much anything makes one racist. So the author’s belief that PoC can’t be racist because of their race actually makes HER quite racist. Ironic, no?

    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism

    rac·ism noun ˈrā-ˌsi-zəm also -ˌshi-

    : poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race

    : the belief that some races of people are better than others

    Full Definition of RACISM

    1

    : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

    2

    : racial prejudice or discrimination

  • Offended WP

    This article is contradictory in itself and is full of reverse racism. Get off your soap box.

  • Faith

    This kind of trips me out because you talk about white people as a whole like you aren’t white yourself. If you say EVERY white person does that then you’re including yourself. It’s ignorant to think that you’re the only white person who doesn’t do this.

  • EuropaX

    Yes, all those white farmers in south africa who are brutally murdered and mutilated on a daily basis (over 10 a day) simply for being white are not victims of racism, but EVIL possessors of ‘white privilege’.

    Leftism is a mental illness.

    • cantjudge

      Emotional extortion is a pathetic grounds for argument. You are deep in the darkness of ignorance, if you would like to emerge for a real discussion, just say so.

  • Cantjudge

    You are engaged in, at best, 2 different debates here. It will largely boil down to the terminologies you’re choosing to employ. Racism, like all “ISM’s” is a belief (or system of beliefs, depending on how extreme the prejudice is or pervasive in the cultural setting). So, if you want to talk about the experience of PoC’s (which I take to be a demeaning, post-colonial term and, borrowing from the sexual orientation discussion, increases their “otherness”) in America or Europe or Post colonial Africa, you will need a different set of terminology for each. The experiences have all been radically different.

    Further(I’m going to put this to you in a way that you will doubtlessly find offensive but please keep reading), what else do we call it when A) the dominant group (opinion, faction, class, etc) in any socio-political setting accounts for the construction of most of the society’s laws and institutions and B) when that group happens to form the majority of the total sum of all people in that society? There are a variety of names for it, but in the parlance of our time, this is called “democracy”. I’m not here arguing that democracy (especially western liberalism (if you don’t know what liberalism is and have been poisoned by the political discussion on media outlets in America, I’m sorry for you, please read some Locke or something)) is anywhere near the best system of government, but if you hold that to be true, this is one of the complicating factors that you need to adjust for.

    To continue offending you; your position is post-colonial and part of the same white privilege which you rail against. The root assumption is that, because they are not the dominant group in the present cultural setting, PoC’s cannot also feel (irrationally, I might add) that the color of your skin determines ANYTHING about your quality as an individual. You are removing the ability to be subjective. You are removing their access to irrational emotions.

    If there’s one thing that makes all people equal its that we all do and assume stupid things from time to time AND that we are, at our cores (in most cases), rational agents with the ability to choose to do or not to do stupid things. Assuming that the color of someone’s skin ranks them somewhere in a continuum of “races” is a stupid thing to assume, especially given that we are all part of one race on a scientific level (the concentration of different hominidae in different areas 10000 years ago is a discussion not worth having). However, assuming that people of color CANNOT feel this emotion because they are part of the “judged classes” in a given country shows that you perceive a limit to their mental capacity.

    Basically, you are spouting a tautology; tired and white.

    I respect your goal, as equality is a crucially important issue especially when it comes to real race relations. But lets get one thing straight: everyone can hate equally in the same way that everyone can love equally. Everyone, not pigeon-holed by 19th century sociological imagery, as INDIVIDUALS and not part of this or that group, this or that class, is equal in their agency (mental handicaps can be discussed elsewhere if you’d wish, but that’s a HARD issue to tackle). The discussion of disadvantages meted out to different socio-economic groups or individuals with colored skin in specific national settings is a WHOLE different discussion that must be had in earnest.

    Petty side issues, like believing that PoC’s cannot also be racist, are a distraction.

    The idea here should be to stop playing the stupid tit-for-tat game and to begin to marginalize racists on EVERY side of EVERY line of color, class, etc. Let me put it very simply: People should be working to reduce prejudice, not be apologists for it when it comes from varied sources. Can we all try to be more objective and focus on the real issue, please?

  • Jaden

    While the delivery is questionable I agree with the OP’s premise. White folks can never know what racism is truly like, they’re just trying to monopolize something else. Although why this is beyond me. Getting a feeling or two hurt because some people of color choose to interact on an insular bases or take it a step further and get blatantly disrespectful towards you simply because of your race has no long-term affect on your quality of life or that of your future generations.

    The fact is, white privilege prevents the beneficiaries from being able to recognize what it is. White people genuinely feel like their race is the sole architect of American society and success is a zero sum game. Bringing this to their attention is seen a descent and a challenge to their very existence.

    So I wish those of us who care to participate in the black community would stop trying to edify every jack legged white person that farts in a black person’s direction. You don’t get through to them because if they’re listening it’s only to respond, never to comprehend. They can only interact with blacks they deem obsequious who will validate their racially generic status quo anyway. I sincerely wish we’d finish what we started with Farrakhan and X, minus the religion that way everyone is happy.

  • SHSguy

    The article is clearly written by someone who has never lived or been to Africa in her life. It’s an insult to the thousands of white people being killed in the genocide in South Africa ( formally acknowledged by countries such as the Netherlands) just because they are white.

    I dare you to leave your cozy chair with your nice hot tea and travel to South Africa. Spend a week in Johannesburg and see if you still consider what you wrote to be true.

  • ComtedeDirac

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people”

    I guess trying to kill someone because they’re white is a lesser offence:

    http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/12/us/michigan-driver-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

  • Herculine

    well then she should have kept that comment to herself. we’re not talking about slaves from the Roman empire. if we were then we’d have to talk about every single group of people who have been enslaved at some point in history.

    • Chuck U Farley

      you got to love double standards

      • Herculine

        … it’s not really about double standards as those white slaves weren’t told that they deserve to be slaves on the basis of their very being and identity but because they’d been conquered and so on.

        • Chuck U Farley

          It’s over and done with either way, best to move on and make something of ourselves.

  • Lauren123

    These comments and this article are going no where. Why don’t we all just make an agreement. @Minorities: Stop using “white” people as emotional punching bags AND @”white people”: Help break down the barriers. Let us be honest here Minorities, you NEED “white people” to help balance the scales. “White people” are the majority and they have a hefty hand in the voting pool. When you see minorities picking on “white people”, please step in and say something. Trust me when I say promoting “white hate speech” will only fuel vindictive and passive aggressive behavior for “whites”. @”White people”: You NEED minorities. They bring ideas and concepts from their culture beyond the stereotypes, and give the U.S. and Canada that special something that makes us proud to call our countries home. @Everyone: All of our ancestors must have done something right if we humans are still on this Earth. I honestly don’t care about the reasons as to why we need each other. I am sure the list goes on and on. What we need is for this psychological warfare of abusing other people just because they are different group to end. This is just turning into bickering at this point. Both sides are saying and doing hurtful things to each other regardless of what this article or some of the ethnocentric people are saying. Lastly, let us acknowledge that there are chemically imbalanced people of every race and creed. These imbalanced people can sometimes misrepresent a group of people. Please reach about anti-personality disorder. You will find that intolerant people typically have some form of a personality disorder like APD. For those who cling to cultural identity…well, they may suffer from Narcissistic Personality disorder.

  • Tim

    Did you really just try to disprove racism against whites with just two examples that are obviously not racist? This is a completely opinionated article. Racism against whites is not “reverse racism”; it’s just racism. There is no exceptions to racism and if you think there are that is racism in itself.

  • April

    I live in a county that has a program for school aged children that is called the urban suburban program. The program allows every race except for Caucasian’s to be able to attend suburban schools. The program started so that minorities would not feel “socially isolated”. My child is the only Caucasian student in her class. My child as well as about 6 other students in her classroom are the only students that show respect to their teacher. The teacher is constantly interrupted by unruly students. My child’s use of the English language is suffering because she is now speaking like the majority of the other students and it confuses and upsets her. The only parent that would get involved with the school has put her child in the urban suburban program and her daughter now attends a suburban school. My child is the one that is actually experiencing social isolation but is not eligible for the program because of her race.

  • Buck

    Anytime someone says reverse racism isn’t a thing obviously doesn’t know what racism is. Yes PoC are largely more oppressed than white people but that’s society. Racism is hating someone for their skin color alone, whether you then take action depends on how racist you are. There are plenty of PoC who don’t like hire people and think they are all the same, they are racist because of racist white people. That is what reverse racism is.

  • Buck

    White* not hire :/ my phone is stupid

  • The Truth

    Lol, wow where to even begin. I’ll just keep it short and simple for you. You are foolish beyond belief if you think certain people are exempt from being racist. Every race has racist people in it. Look at all the different extremist groups out there. Unfortunately hate will always exist. Please open your eyes and your mind.

  • Tamatto

    This article is ridiculous. I would clarify that white people have been in a position of historic power, but to say that lacking power removes the responsibility of people to be decent to one another is ridiculous. Governments have power, but the citizens at the bottom don’t. If a white person doesn’t get served at a black diner, why would it be different in the reverse? If a white person gets insulted based on their skin colour, why would you not feel as sympathetic toward them? There are different types of power, but we are not discussing systemic racism, but personal. If a black person is anti-arab, isn’t that racist?

    I live in asia and as a white guy, I’ve been insulted, turned down for jobs, treated horribly and to say that what I experienced is not racism because of my skin colour is ridiculous, is it not?

    I think it is a bit racist of the OP to assume that minorities are in such an inferior position that they can say anything they want and get a free pass. We all need to love each other and treat each other with respect. Racism is racism, no matter what colour you are.

  • Mike

    Reverse racism is not real…. Unfair policies in Canada like hiring quotas that give a disadvantage are simply racist… not reverse racist. Asian Canadians have higher average incomes and employment rates than white Canadians do and yet they are placed in the same “visible minority and women” list. The idea of a list of people to give preferences to is itself another piece of this leftist Orwellian double speak: a shorter list would be everyone who is not on the list (white males).

  • Azebov Sobelo

    Racism should be eradicated. I understand that it exists but cannot understand why it should exist or be allowed to exist. There should be a “one strike you’re out” law to protect all people of the human race from it. I guarantee it dies quickly after that. Peace to you all!

  • Ray

    The Irish slave trade began when James II sold 30,000 Irish prisoners as
    slaves to the New World. His Proclamation of 1625 required Irish
    political prisoners be sent overseas and sold to English settlers in the
    West Indies. By the mid 1600s, the Irish were the main slaves sold to
    Antigua and Montserrat. At that time, 70% of the total population of
    Montserrat were Irish slaves.

    Ireland quickly became the biggest source of human livestock for English
    merchants. The majority of the early slaves to the New World were
    actually white.

    From 1641 to 1652, over 500,000 Irish were killed by the English and
    another 300,000 were sold as slaves. Ireland’s population fell from
    about 1,500,000 to 600,000 in one single decade. Families were ripped
    apart as the British did not allow Irish dads to take their wives and
    children with them across the Atlantic. This led to a helpless
    population of homeless women and children. Britain’s solution was to
    auction them off as well.

    During the 1650s, over 100,000 Irish children between the ages of 10 and
    14 were taken from their parents and sold as slaves in the West Indies,
    Virginia and New England. In this decade, 52,000 Irish (mostly women
    and children) were sold to Barbados and Virginia. Another 30,000 Irish
    men and women were also transported and sold to the highest bidder. In
    1656, Cromwell ordered that 2000 Irish children be taken to Jamaica and
    sold as slaves to English settlers.

    Many people today will avoid calling the Irish slaves what they truly
    were: Slaves. They’ll come up with terms like “Indentured Servants” to
    describe what occurred to the Irish. However, in most cases from the
    17th and 18th centuries, Irish slaves were nothing more than human
    cattle.

    As an example, the African slave trade was just beginning during this
    same period. It is well recorded that African slaves, not tainted with
    the stain of the hated Catholic theology and more expensive to purchase,
    were often treated far better than their Irish counterparts.

    African slaves were very expensive during the late 1600s (50 Sterling).
    Irish slaves came cheap (no more than 5 Sterling). If a planter whipped
    or branded or beat an Irish slave to death, it was never a crime. A
    death was a monetary setback, but far cheaper than killing a more
    expensive African.

    The English masters quickly began breeding the Irish women for both
    their own personal pleasure and for greater profit. Children of slaves
    were themselves slaves, which increased the size of the master’s free
    workforce. Even if an Irish woman somehow obtained her freedom, her kids
    would remain slaves of her master. Thus, Irish moms, even with this new
    found emancipation, would seldom abandon their kids and would remain in
    servitude.

    In time, the English thought of a better way to use these women (in many
    cases, girls as young as 12) to increase their market share: The
    settlers began to breed Irish women and girls with African men to
    produce slaves with a distinct complexion. These new “mulatto” slaves
    brought a higher price than Irish livestock and, likewise, enabled the
    settlers to save money rather than purchase new African slaves.

    This practice of interbreeding Irish females with African men went on
    for several decades and was so widespread that, in 1681, legislation was
    passed “forbidding the practice of mating Irish slave women to African
    slave men for the purpose of producing slaves for sale.” In short, it
    was stopped only because it interfered with the profits of a large slave
    transport company.

    England continued to ship tens of thousands of Irish slaves for more
    than a century. Records state that, after the 1798 Irish Rebellion,
    thousands of Irish slaves were sold to both America and Australia.

    There were horrible abuses of both African and Irish captives. One
    British ship even dumped 1,302 slaves into the Atlantic Ocean so that
    the crew would have plenty of food to eat.

    There is little question that the Irish experienced the horrors of
    slavery as much (if not more in the 17th Century) as the Africans did.
    There is, also, very little question that those brown, tanned faces you
    witness in your travels to the West Indies are very likely a combination
    of African and Irish ancestry.

    In 1839, Britain finally decided on it’s own to end it’s participation
    in Satan’s highway to hell and stopped transporting slaves. While their
    decision did not stop pirates from doing what they desired, the new law
    slowly concluded THIS chapter of nightmarish Irish misery.

    But, if anyone, black or white, believes that slavery was only an African experience, then they’ve got it completely wrong.

    Irish slavery is a subject worth remembering, not erasing from our
    memories. But, where are our public (and PRIVATE) schools???? Where are
    the history books? Why is it so seldom discussed?

    Do the memories of hundreds of thousands of Irish victims merit more
    than a mention from an unknown writer? Or is their story to be one that
    their English pirates intended: To (unlike the African book) have the
    Irish story utterly and completely disappear as if it never happened.

    None of the Irish victims ever made it back to their homeland to
    describe their ordeal. These are the lost slaves; the ones that time and
    biased history books conveniently forgot.

  • Chris Unruh

    What if I, as a white person, am offended by the notion that only white people can be racist? What if I find that statement in itself to be racist? The idea that white people are all out to dominate culture and maintain white ideals of beauty as a norm is ridiculous and just not true. Yes, we used to live in a white dominated world, yes some of that is left over, but I grew up in a time and culture that has loudly embraced racial equality. The worst thing to be in our culture today, is a gay male of any color.

  • Adeline

    Racism is defined as judging a person’s interior qualities by their skin color or ethnicity. Look up “How to make our campus less white”- an article written BY STAFF at an American university and tell me how that isn’t racist. By amplifying and focusing on the things that make us different- namely our skin color- we are rejecting everything that makes us similar and succumbing to the pitfalls of racism on a subconscious level.

  • Lashanda

    Prejudice is prejudice, period. This article promotes hate. I agree with the white lady’s comment. Naive.

  • Mark

    I noticed the author of this article hasn’t written any responses. She can dish it but she can’t take it apparently.

    As for the bullshit called white privelege, it is indeed bullshit. I’m white but I don’t feel priveleged at all. I don’t have many friends, I’m not married or have a girlfriend, I’m not working for Microsoft, I don’t have a souped up car, and I don’t live in a nice fancy house.

    Instead, I’m mostly alone because I don’t fit in where I live (Central Texas city by the Bible Belt), I’m considered “unfit” by most of the women (both white and non-white) because I’m not super religious or a hyper aggressive alpha male, I work at a public library, I just have a car that gets me to point A to point B, and I still live at home with my mother.

    Does the author think all white people are hugging and kissing or something? Give me a fucking break! As I said, I don’t fit in with the general culture where I’m from. I don’t like sports, I don’t like popular music, I don’t care about celebrities or reality TV, I don’t attend church at all (But that’s another topic), I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I don’t talk super loud. And you know what? I’m considered “weird” or “strange” by both white and non-white alike! Having mild Asperger’s Syndrome and social anxiety does not help either.

    White privelege? What a joke! Tell the homeless white man you see on the streets that. Tell him he is so priveleged when he doesn’t even know when his next meal is coming and people, both white and non-white, walk past him rather than helping him. Your article is a joke and you are an idiot for not seeing that not all white people get along.

  • JDiala

    Leftism is a mental illness. Blacks can kill, loot, rape, and beat whites as much as they want for whatever reason, at a significantly higher rate than vice-versa, but since that’s not “systematic” enough, it “isn’t real”. Racism is discrimination or prejudice on the basis of ethnicity. Period. Arbitrarily defining it as “power+prejudice” just to further your anti-white agenda is simply intellectually dishonest. When a white kid gets beat up for living in a predominately black neighborhood, he is clearly the victim of ‘power+prejudice’.

    Some of the things you say are just blatant lies; “unless we’re talking about criminals, then PoC get unfairly misrepresented”. Hello??? Trayon Martin? Arguably the most publicized trial in several years?

    “what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges”
    It’s easy to live in a middle class neighborhood away from all the violence and crime committed by PoC and write this stuff. Talk a nice walk through Compton or Harlem as a white woman and still tell me you believe reverse racism doesn’t exist. Lets see how much your white privilege helps you there.

    • dale nixon

      “When a white kid gets beat up for living in a predominately black neighborhood, he is clearly the victim of ‘power+prejudice’.” even though im a “mentally ill liberal” and this guy’s probably a racist himself that quote right there is pretty airtight logically.

      • JDiala

        Well, yes. It’s rather straightforward. Power is involved. 5 black kids jumping one white kid. Who has more power? Common sense. Prejudice is involved; it would obviously be race based.

        • dale nixon

          especially since it’s “their neighborhood” that smacks of institutional racism

  • digitalruckus

    you are so wrong lol i hope those teachers see you again and beat you harder and knock sense into you

  • Catie Johnson

    I have to disagree on this one. Firstly, my understanding (and the psychology educational understanding I received) of reverse racism is that white people feel as though they overcompensate to appear non-racist, which actually makes them appear more racist and trying hard not to be (think ‘The Help’). Secondly, the author uses ‘reverse racism’ to describe several different situations, not all of which apply to the definition. It almost seems as though reverse racism in the article is meant to mean that white people are talking about how they themselves have been victims of racism. Which is weird, in several ways. I think micro-aggressions would have been a better term, rather than arguing that reverse racism isn’t real. In psychology, its a very real concept and has been studied extensively, in the sense of the definition given above. But claiming white people jump in and gush about their own experiences with racism I think fits better under a mico-aggression title.

  • Dock Drumming

    Incredible. You call ME brainwashed.

    No. Someone actually convincing you that a word has a different meaning than what it actually means? Now, that is what I call brainwashing.

  • Todd

    Racism goes both ways and if you feel it doesn’t happen to white Americans as well as Black Americans then you are too naive to the world to look at the other side of the coin. Have you even looked at the commentaries on social trends? Specifically, how stereotypes of white vs black pop up? I am talking about Dancing, Jumping, playing sports, and even penis size most of these stereotypes are in favor and started and preached by African Americans for example: ” white people can’t jump.” As opposed to the latter of the two Black people by default can.. This is a very small and mediocre example to the more widespread philosophies and stereotypes preached by minority cultures.. The dictionary definition of racism (not yours) is belief that one race is superior to another.. And you don’t believe that this small example of social stereotypes isn’t a form of racism in of itself??? If not, then I believe you are naive to the world and too apologetic.. 2 or more generations ago the sins of our fathers saw real racism at its core.. Society now a days shouldn’t punish the generation of today with beliefs that were sins of our fathers… Unfortunately white Americans with the exception of a few are still very apologetic. Even the new generation is super apologetic for sins not committed by them but by the previous generation. Reverse racism may not make much sense but the true fact of the matter is anyone can experience racism it’s not just a social construct that affects minorities only. It affects and does affect all races. If you do not believe that, then you are naive to the world.

  • eilismaura

    gender is not a race – this may be new info for you

    • Chel

      Where did I mention that gender was a race?? Oh right I didn’t… I was talking a specific group with the same race.

    • Chel

      Also Affirmative Action was originally created to help white women, so gender is important but I did not say that gender was a race.

  • eilismaura

    nothing in the following definitions of “racism” show it can only go one way nor do they show your additions:

    http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/us/definition/american_english/racism

    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/racism

    • Chel

      Omg congrats you know how to search for the word “racism”!! Would you like a prize? Do you think you accomplished something? Whites have ALWAYS been at the top, they were never systematically oppressed for the color of their skin. How can the oppressor become oppressed? How can institutionalized racism turn and affect the people who built it? How can systematic oppression turn and oppress the whites who have ALWAYS benefitted from it?

      • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

        ” Whites have ALWAYS been at the top, they were never systematically oppressed for the color of their skin.”

        You should read up on your history. This statement is easily falsifiable.

        • Chel

          Actually my statement is correct when talking about history that has shaped MODERN society. I mean for one thing when other groups colonized it was because of religion not because of race. They didn’t make laws up to oppress someone because of their skin color. When the Europe dealt with their attacks and being colonized they weren’t being killed because people were teaching that whites were inferior. Now because of whites colonized the world they set everything up with them being on top. PoC weren’t considered human when the countries were formed, PoC didn’t have any rights.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            Actually, whites didn’t colonize because of race, they colonized because they wanted more territory and natural resources to compete with other whites. Racism was only used as an excuse to disregard the well-being of the natives.

            Also, ALL of history has shaped modern society. Believe it or not, but there was a time when whites were not on top, nowhere near there.

            “PoC weren’t considered human when the countries were formed, PoC didn’t have any rights.”

            Non-whites discriminated amongst themselves as well.

          • Chel

            Well a big reason whites colonized those continents and countries was because they thought the inhabiters were inferior. I wouldn’t say all history has shaped modern society though. The colonization of the world is what shaped modern society. Colorism is a big problem among PoC and it was created from white supremacy, on the basis of whites being superior. PoC are judged by Eurocentric standards of beauty.

            Yes, I know there was a time when whites weren’t at the top. I mentioned it in the post above you about what happen in Europe. I have been talking about the effect of colonization and since then whites have been at the top. I know the Irish were enslaved but they were also enslaved by whites which isn’t a form of racism. Also the Irish could blend in unlike a black or brown person who would standout.

            Blacks discriminating against other blacks isn’t a form of racism. Brown people discriminating against other brown people isn’t either. People discriminating against people of the same race isn’t a form of racism. PoC weren’t colonizing other PoC and then making up laws to oppress people who weren’t their race. Race is a new structure history shows discrimination was mainly on religion.

            Seriously though in Australia the Aboriginals weren’t even considered human till 1967.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            “Well a big reason whites colonized those continents and countries was because they thought the inhabiters were inferior.”

            Actually, no. The colonization of Africa and Asia was an attempt to expand and defeat other European powers. Race was a mere scapegoat.

            To further my point, the Europeans even discriminated amongst themselves. Sure, it wasn’t racism (more like extreme nationalism), but it’s not like they considered all white people to be equal either.

          • Chel

            They still used race, and it was a big part in why they colonized. They wanted to help “those savages”. I’m not just talking about Africa and Asia. Whites colonized both North and South America. Australia, again they colonized the world.

            How does that further your point? Thats just an example of whites being cruel to other whites.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            “How does that further your point? Thats just an example of whites being cruel to other whites.”

            I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but whites back then looked down upon anyone who wasn’t their own nationality. The Brits thought they were superior to the French, etc.

            And again, race was a scapegoat. The only used it to win over the populace’s support. The real motive was terrain and colonies.

          • Chel

            Yes, but it wasn’t because they thought an entire race was inferior. They were different nationalities but they were still majority white. They still used race, it doesn’t matter if it was a scapegoat. It was still used to justify what they were doing. That same mentality of thinking nonwhites were inferior carried on and eventually shaped many societies.

          • jennyct

            You realize that the Romans thought the fair-headed tribes in Great Britain were savages, right?

          • Chel

            So the fact that white people discriminated against other white people at one point refutes white oppression on PoC? Plus, when whites were discriminated against it was because other whites racialized them as non-white. Same hierarchy.

          • jennyct

            No, it doesn’t make them exclusive.

          • Nyah

            sorry, cant see the overarching effects of the Romans in present world status in any specific colonies or specific cases. Can see how racism makes white people generally better off $ wise, society wise in Canada, Australia, NZ, Carribbean, U.S, Sth America, UK

          • Vanessa Muzondi

            Yes they discriminated against themselves but to keep the majority from rebelling they began to create this notion that if your white you are better then the slaves and your worth more. It kept the poor and ignorant from ever thinking about rebelling because it gave them a taste of enough power for them not to diminish the system. That’s why republicans are the way they are. Most of them are if ignorant and annoying, but the way they keep them voting is making them believe they know what their talking about.

          • Nyah

            No they didnt consider all white equal but all whites were above PoC.
            Who cares …which came first, the chicken or the egg. Racism was refined to an artform by white people to benefit them…it did. Shut up. Get common sense
            discrimination has always been round but a system was built on a discriminating basis to make $ and own the best land. The comparatively better off whites then had their miniclass of less than 1% that rule and the rest of the the whites dont kick up a fuss cos they got pretty benefits, had a 500 year bonus time to shit on some other race and get work done free, write bulshit history then complain about the boss (who they think is not their own race, cos “race doesnt matter, we’re all just human beings”). Other races try to catch up and fit in with white system, history, white apologists or get no benefits. Humans act out prejudices as always (PERSONAL) and race ranked system (INSTITUTIONAL) of historical ‘white is best’ magically disappears in present day when white people and a few PoC say ‘[we’re just human beings’ and say lets be friends (PERSONAL).

        • Nyah

          R white people in short supply because of PoC killing them and racial genocide like aboriginal and indigenous…R African resources keeping Black Africans out of poverty or benefiting Europeans and white people societies whose peoples are richer than PoP? Is US fortune 500 90% white male? Please explain all this…why is it so?

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            wat

          • Nyah

            Read again…it is in english.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            Oh I read it, alright. Seems more like incoherent rambling.. in English.

          • Nyah

            Have the populations of whites been decimated because they were white by black or indigenous people in the last 500 years? Also, when in history have white people been conquered in just about all their countries by brown people and then ruled over? Are the resources that are taken out of Africa benefiting indigenous Africans? How is it that Africa, the continent with the most natural resources is the poorest place? Where does that money go? Who controlled much Africa over the period of industrial revolution and for many years before…was it not controlled by white people? Is the U.S fortune 500 mostly made up of white men… more than 90%? If so, why is this so if its …as you seem to argue….people being bad to each other….regardless of race? I hope my name sounds not ethnic enough for you to assume that I dont have a good command of comprehensive ‘english’ skills or that I should have to tailor it to be grasped by you as though I have many years of university study….even though i do…perhaps you dont know how to read things written in a colloquial manner.

          • Nyah

            Oh, correction… PoC…does that make it easier for you brain child.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            No, I still don’t understand. Can you please make it easier, my child brain is too weak!

      • Two scoops

        I’m white what benifits do I get from racism and what privileges do I have as a white man.

        • Chel

          Really? I can already tell you are annoying just from that question. Please go read, and learn. You as a white male have the most privileges. Especially if you are a straight.

          http://lmgtfy.com/?q=white+male+privilege

          http://lmgtfy.com/?q=straight+white+male+privilege

          http://lmgtfy.com/?q=+white+privilege

          You can easily educate yourself on your privileges.

          • Two scoops

            Well that’s rude but I did like the “Let me Google that for you” part. I also enjoyed the article about white strait male, it was eye opening. Most of what I read about white privilege seemed dated and I was wondering if you had any incite as to how it effects our social structure today. Also how is assuming something about someone based on their race, sex, and gender not in some form racist/sexist. As humans we are proud when we accomplish something. We love to win and are motivated by competition, even if its trying to prove a point in the comments of an article. To have someone tell you that no matter what you do in life the color of your skin is the reason your there is degrading to anyone.

            Furthermore as an experienced white male I can tell you that in my experience any time a PoC brings up a racial issue all the white people become uneasy. We try to avoid the conversation and if we do get drug in we choose our words very carefully out of fear of offending someone which in most work places including the military is grounds for separation. That, I believe, would prove to that it is a social structure that takes away whites ability to speak their mind freely which is supposedly a white privilege. This can also be seen on the News when white people are speaking on racially sensitive topics who often accidentally, and usually taken out of context, say something that is considered racist receive backlash on social media and television programs.

          • Chel

            Ever watch FoxNews? They have no problem talking out of their butt. They even had a discussion on race without any PoC there. People value whites particularly white males opinions more than anything. Being a patriarch society and a society rooted with white supremacy. For example think of the amount of people that praise Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh,Glenn Beck, they all have a huge fan club. There are tons of whites guys on tv that are getting paid to voice their opinions about politics, and sport. White men opinions have really shaped this world. When America was founded and the constitution was written it was white males who were writing the laws. Blacks were barely considered human, and Native American weren’t even being thought about. Woman were meant to be housewives, they had little to no say.

            If you are a straight, cis, white, male you are able to marry the women you love. You do not have a 1 in 12 chance of being murdered because you are cisgendered. You as a white person do not face the repercussion of institutionalized racism. You as male are valued in this patriarch society. Most PoC don’t care about whites opinions about race because they have always had their voice heard. I’m not sure if you heard of Tim Wise, a lot of activist don’t like him because he uses his white, male privilege to speak over PoC when they are talking. He gets paid more to voice his opinions about race than a PoC who actually has to live with racial issues that may come up.

      • greg

        I think you’l find they have been I’m not saying that it doesn’t mostly go one way but saying whites never have been makes me ask if you have ever looked at any white history look at Zimbabwe for instance yes it was as huge as other events in history but burning farms owned by white people and killing white people how about Hitler pretty sure most of the killing was against white Jews

        • Chel

          I have already talked about whats going on in Africa, and how it is being exaggerated. Majority of the farmers are white, they live in rural, secluded areas. A major motive is robbery. Blacks are still getting killed there too, but no one cares about them. What about Hitler? That’s just another example of whites being evil to other whites. That doesn’t cancel out what whites did to other races. It doesn’t cancel out that white supremacy is a global problem.

          • workingclass888

            Rwanda

          • Chel

            You do realize I wasn’t talking about the Rwanda genocide, right? I was talking about what was going on in Zimbabwe, and South Africa since they guy brought up Zimbabwe and was talking about whites. If the blacks were getting killed by other blacks then whats your point? That wasn’t a form of racism. What happen was terrible, but how is it related when talking about white farmers?

      • Moses

        LET MY PEOPLE GO!

  • eilismaura

    what points to “reverse racism” being real

    someone can just “play the race card” and cause all manner of problems – including shutting down/shutting out folks who disagree

    if even one person gets a job because of race rather than ability – then the act of hiring is tainted by racism

    there have been relatively recent calls for less criticism and less disciplining of some groups
    at least one set of schools set up some grading based on race rather than academic achievement

  • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

    Nearly everyone refers to prejudice based on race as racism. It’s the most widely accepted definition of the term. I see no reason to redefine a well established term, when there are plenty of others that will do the job just fine.

    • Dock Drumming

      Correct. I think what the author and others who agree with her are referring to is called “institutional racism”, so they should use THAT term instead of trying to redefine racism.

  • loopie

    You are an idiot. So the black kids throwing rocks at my son and saying get the white kid was not racism? P.S. He didn’t do anything to them.

  • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

    “Racism is an institutionalized structure when which only whites benefit from.”

    Nearly everyone defines racism as prejudice based on race. You’re talking about INSTITUTIONALIZED racism.

    • Chel

      Thats because racism IS institutionalized. If whites hadn’t colonized the world, committed mass genocide of PoC, made laws to discriminate against people who were nonwhite. Then racism wouldn’t be the way it is. There wouldn’t be dehumanizing stereotypes about PoC. PoC wouldn’t need things like Affirmative Action and certain scholarships. Those things were put to help people who have dealt with systematic disadvantages.

      What is interesting about the people that do use the dictionary definition is that the first man to have used it motto was “Kill the Indian save the Man”…

      • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

        “committed mass genocide of PoC, made laws to discriminate against people who were nonwhite.”

        Non-whites have been massacring each other long since before whites.

        “Then racism wouldn’t be the way it is. There wouldn’t be dehumanizing stereotypes about PoC.”

        Lol, you think only white people make stereotypes? You think only white people have racist societies?

        “What is interesting about the people that do use the dictionary definition is that the first man to have used it motto was “Kill the Indian save the Man”…”

        Citation needed.

        Also, I don’t see what this has to do with anything. It’s the definition nearly everyone uses, I don’t see any problem with that.

        • Chel

          Non-whites were killing eating other, but there weren’t killing each other because they thought everyone who wasn’t their race was inferior. Also black killing black isn’t a form of racism, asians killing asians isn’t a form of racism etc.

          From a historical standpoint whites created blackface, yellowface, redface. Stereotypes about whites are NOT dehumanizing or degrading like the stereotypes about PoC. I’m not saying other countries don’t have a racist society but those countries were influenced by whites and western civilization though.

          You could research the guy if you want Richard Henry Pratt. He was apparently the first person to have used that word. The problem is the fact that guy who used the word was already a racist. The definition is wrong.

          If were to give you the definition of a carrot does that give you the full description of what a carrot is? No.
          So what makes you think the definition of “racism” gives you a full description of what it is?

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            “Non-whites were killing eating other, but there weren’t killing each other because they thought everyone who wasn’t their race was inferior.”

            Neither were Europeans, racism was a scapegoat.

            “The definition is wrong.”

            Why?

            “If were to give you the definition of a carrot does that give you the full description of what a carrot is? No. So what makes you think the definition of “racism” gives you a full description of what it is?”

            The problem with this analogy is, your definition of racism contradicts the traditional definition of racism. You can have one, or the other.

          • Chel

            Race was still used, that is how the justified everything that they did. Since they weren’t white they were “inferior” and whites could do anything they wanted. So the dictionary give you a complete, well rounded understanding of the meaning, context, and processes of racism? Racism is privilege + power. PoC may have privileges like gender, orientation, and whether or not they are cis, or trans. They do not have skin privilege in which whites have, they do not have the power to oppress whites either.

            If you want to keep with the dictionary the second meaning does say ” a policy system of government etc”. In this country and many other whites were the ones making laws they held the power and still hold the power.

          • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

            “So the dictionary give you a complete, well rounded understanding of the meaning, context, and processes of racism? ”

            No, but it’s descriptive enough.

            See, here’s the problem: You keep saying “the dictionary does not give you a complete definition of what racism is”. However, your definition disagrees with the dictionary definition.

            That causes a logical hole.

            You’re trying to redefine a well established word, when you could just use another word!

            If one word is not descriptive of your experiences, then we have other words/terms. I don’t see why it is you insist on using this specific word, when it’s meaning is well established and it obviously does not fit the meaning you’re trying to attach to it.

          • Chel

            How can whites be oppressed? What history do they have of people killing, destroying their civilizations, slavery, being treated as less than human because of their skin color?

            Did they go through over 300 years of no basic human right? Were they stripped of being recognized as human and called Flora and Fauna? Were they having their body parts being cut off for not bringing in enough rubber for their master? Were they put in human zoos to be showed off? Did they go through years of being treated like Guinea pigs? Are they a minority in their own country?

            You may not like my definition but it is descriptive, has historical context, explains the structure of society. It is used by tons of other people besides me. When talking about modern day society whites have always been perceived as the “superior” race. So even with the dictionary definition and historical background whites have been in control because of colonizing. Reverse racism isn’t real.

          • Nyah

            whats wrong with altering the ‘generally accepted’ definition of racism. Are you dealing with concepts in frame of this ‘redefinition’ or just semantics that suit not talking about the concept. A map isnt a concept in itself it is not Map-ISM

          • Quipper

            One little quip on this comment; you said white stereotypes are not dehumanizing or degrading, well here’s just one off of the top of my head:

            “white devils”

            I don’t particularly cotton to being called a devil, especially just for being white.

          • Chel

            Are whites being killed/ attacked at high alarming numbers for being labeled “white devils”?

            Hundreds of Arabs/brown people were getting attacked and murdered after 9/11 because of being labeled “terrorist”.
            Latinos face tons of discrimination, get beaten/ murdered for being labeled an “illegal immigrants”
            Blacks get killed for being labeled “thugs”

            Is that stereotype keeping you from getting a job? It’s not easy for PoC when they have to face actual discrimination.

      • Aristotle

        Aaaaaand i wouldn’t Have been born. If the Spanish hadn’t come to south America, if the Germans hadn’t come to America, if my Mexican family hadn’t been poor and living in la my grandparents wouldn’t have met. If anything was any different maybe none of us would be here. That’s why it does little good thinking like this. You have to look toward the future. Love everyone, challenge adversity from whereever it comes from and love thy neighbor not because of the color of their skin but because they’re not a complete dik.

      • Tttk

        Yo, I’m white, I’m European and guess what – my people have only enjoyed some 40 years of sovereignty in the past 600 years. I’m quite sure my ancestors were too busy plowing the fields for the russian empire, the soviet union, and whatever came in-between, to gather together on a quest to colonize some country and oppress all the PoCs. I am in no way related to any form or shape of colonization, yet you blame me for it just because I am white? I would say you are a racist, you enjoy being racist and that’s why you try to justify yourself being a racist – but I am not allowed to say that because I’m white.. You know, I tried changing how I look – spent days out in the sun, catching every bit of carcinogenic radiation just to make my skin darker but I still can’t wash off this “guilt” of being born white…

        There was a bit of satire there, but I hope I made my point

        • Chel

          You are still white and benefit from white privilege, white supremacy that caters towards you. So, congrats that your family wasn’t involved with colonization but you are still white and still benefit from the system that other whites created. White SUPREMACY has been around for centuries now, and has created a system in which whites are superior, what is so hard to understand?

    • Vanessa Muzondi

      I want people to completely stop using the dictionary term for racism. You know why? White people created it. It’s too ironic for you to be using such a term when it’s always been meant for those who are oppressed.

      • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

        White people created computers too, guess you should just log off.

        BTW, if there’s something wrong with this term, USE ANOTHER ONE!

      • Dock Drumming

        Would you like for people to stop using maps if white people created them? You must be perpetually lost. (In more ways than one.)

  • Sinornithosaurus Millenii

    You do know whites are not dominant throughout the world, right? There are plenty of places where non-whites have privilege over whites and other non-whites.

  • Ian Smith

    Try telling this to the white minority in Rhodesia. I’m sure they feel culturally enriched, and are fine paying for the colonial crimes of their ancestors by being brutally raped and murdered, but in a non-reverse racist way.

  • dale nixon

    “When I’m online talking to people and a PoC is sharing their experience with racism, I’m listening and I am learning. This is an experience I will probably never have in my lifetime, simply because of the skin I was born into.” if you’re so curious try walking down the street of any hood in America you clueless white doofus

  • Eli Conlin

    The Author’s one fault is that she seems to have her own definition of racism and thus reverse racism. Racism is defined as “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race.” Racism is not necessarily institutional.

    • dale nixon

      she already knows that and doesn’t care apparently

  • David

    Lol…people like this idiot author are the reason why so many view the left-wing as a bunch of white guilt filled cowards and minorities whole want to pull the race card. I am saying this as a black man by the way. Racism goes both ways, In fact I have witnessed more racism from blacks towards whites than vice versa in my adult life,but I am sure a lot of the idiots will respond with rage saying that anyone who is a minority can do no wrong and that white males are evil.

    • Archie Thomas

      Agreed. Racism is stupid. Wish they’d all stop.

  • Jax

    This article is complete bullshit. I lived in project housing for most of my life. The social norms and constructs made me an outcast. I was mercilessly picked on, called verbal slurs and in most cases had to travel to other areas to buy food and clothes because they were not going to sell to some “honkey”. I just feel that you need to do more research. White as the norm is fading and has been. Oh and as for where I lived it was Oakland park.

    • dale nixon

      absolutely. only sheltered suburban white kids think like this. years ago when I had to live in a rough predominately black neighborhood because it was all I could afford it was a daily struggle with all the racism I had to encounter. and im not bitter now and hate all black people but I can’t take anyone seriously who pretends “reverse racism” doesn’t exist.

  • Lip

    Seems fair to me. Imagine Ronald Mcdonald going into a Burger King, and day after day hes given bad service and called a clown. He orders a Big Mac every day, but gets a whopper instead. Does it make sense for him to continue to order Big Macs at Burger King and cry about it when he gets a whopper or should he put one foot in front of the other and step the fuck back to McDonalds? If it’s so much worse here why stay? If you dont like the culture, dont stay. PoC will move from their race/culture dominant countries to these places of “white privilege” then complain about how dominant white culture is and try to make it more like the “home” they decided to leave. Apparently its insensitive to say Merry Christmas now in Canada, and they removed christmas trees from Parliament Hill because its “offensive”, and theyve made an attempt to remove our national anthem from schools because PoCs were offended. Act like youre so hard done by having to hear the national anthem of the country you chose to move to, and dont stop screaming “equality” until white culture doesnt exist anymore. Thats the only way itll ever be “equal” to PoCs.

  • Vanessa Muzondi

    Please show me real scientific evidence to these amazing inventions white people have made

    • Chuck U Farley

      you live in a world surrounded by them… if I have to show you what color the sky is, then i’ve already wasted enough time.

      • oiprick

        lol the math we use now was invented by arabs.

  • Rosco1654

    I can’t believe I took the time to read this article from another half witted moron who obviously lives in a fantasy world in lieu of the unfortunate realities amongst us. Racism occurs to us all….it’s ok now sheep, I know you probably thought your opinion would be the popular one, but its time to grow a backbone or get some common sense. Please and thank you.

  • Sorry to burst your bubble

    This article is not thought through well at all. Am I oppressed, no. Have I ever been subject to reverse racism? absolutely! How about not getting into the college you worked your butt off to get the grades required to join and not be accepted because they need to meet their requirements of a Accepting a certain percentage of African Americans, Native Americans, etc. that my friend, is reverse racism.

  • mzungu

    Only in the barren identity void of America do you harbour such hysterical jumped up racial malice to even consider your indulgently hateful position that any racially motivated attack against a white person is merely them “losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges”

    Belittling the racial attacks against white people as just “the realisation that privilege is crumbling” is some really nasty pernicious justification for doing whatever you want to a person so long as that person is white, as if they automatically deserve abuse on account of their colour.

    This decision that someone automatically deserves the abuse and ill treatment they get because of their skin colour is, in every other country in the world, the very definition of racism.

    I dont care how much you think your hatred and resentment of white people is justified, its just plain old boring, common garden racism, aint no reverse about it. Anyway enjoy Uncle Sam and all its reverse glory

  • David French

    The reason why the author thinks She’ll never experience racism is because she’s a white female. She’s ignorant. The two most powerful people in North America right now are white women and black men. Almost every news cast and talk show featuring a male and female host are “black male/white female. She can’t speak for us white males who encounter “reverse racism” (what a dumbass word) on a daily basis. Explain to me why no one knows Christopher Lane? Explain to me why Jay Z still has his empire after denying white people access to a VIP area, and Donald Sterling is banned for life from the organization he helped build. You’re a goddamn fool to think that racism only applies to political and government structures. Perhaps you should read the definition before going and creating a new one.

  • Dr.S

    I see many people, complain about Alot of things– Such as Racism. I’ve seen Whites be racist to Blacks, I’ve seen Blacks in big groups be VERY rude and “racist” to whites, I’ve seen a young and old black men gang up on some old white couple and young alike- like ANIMALS you may say… That in term: will drive most racist white folk to say: YOU’RE ABUNCH OF FUCKING ANIMALS… It’s not PURE racism it’s society in general, There CAN be RACISM for ALL types of “race/nationality”… It bugs me to think you THINK blacks are hated on ALL the times NON STOP without ANY FORGIVENESS, and then strip me of my Natural Rights and throw them up on a nice golden plate for glory to know. Not complaning about blacks being Better, but you try to Make them seem superior to whites– then the Whites try to BE superior to blacks, and it all spiral out of fucking control!

    How to solve this: Look at everyone equally, if a black man is being (or women) discrminated agesnt, call it out, same with a white man or women, if they are “put down” by a black manager, and the manager is upping black employees because of race, it is in a sense RACISM and JUST as bad as the Nazis, and former White “Superiors” or KKK and such. Don’t dick around with RACISM, Don’t portray BLACKS to be BETTER then WHITES or MEXICANS, and Don’t portray WHITES to be SUPERIOR to all others, Hitler tried, failed… We’re past SLAVERY, it’s been SO long ago, and frankly, racist people are A: insecure, or B: had a BAD exsperince witch a black person (or any race) such as most black people being in prison? (WHY? idk, But a BLACK group did a study about it) Anyways…

    A NEW BIBLE AND RULE TO LIVE BY: DON’T BE A DICK ~ God. :) … heh easy. and Reverse Racism as in: Blacks being Racist to Whites, does exist, by the term/def of Racism, Don’t bitch about definitions, We all have different deffinitions by Human standards that YOU CANNOT change, so live life by the fullest, to beat off the haters. Thank you ~Dr.S

  • Chel

    What are Irish people classified as now? White. Also when I was saying they weren’t considered inferior it was out of ignorance and a little bit of history behind it, so I do apologize. Irish are still able to blend in with other whites, unlike a black or Native American. Black slaves were getting murdered too.

    Ironically, even though the Irish dealt with discrimination they quickly learned that getting accepted in America all they had to do was cooperate and continue the oppression of blacks and Native Americans. Irish embraced whiteness because it meant freedom. The Irish refused to work with blacks and joined in with other whites to terrorize them. They gained their white privilege.

    Your example about Gambia isn’t the best because whites did colonize Africa and majority of the world. White supremacy isn’t just an American thing, it’s a worldly things. It doesn’t matter if you are in a country that is filled with nonwhites the affects of colonization are still there.

    With the Tokyo example I wouldn’t consider it racist because whites have always done the exclusion based on race. For your world that you described, there is no world like that so it really doesn’t matter. We are talking about our world, our society. Also in that “world” what could you possible say that would be racist? No group was oppressed because of their race, there wouldn’t be racial slurs either.

    David Wellman did try to expand it but he wasn’t the first person to bring up privilege and power. The racism definition I’ve been using has been around since the 60s or 70. His book came out in the 90s. Even by definition whites are racist. They have taught the doctrine that whites are superior.

    • James Gammell

      Who said black slaves were not getting murdered? Who said irish people were incapable of racism? For a reply, you seem to have spent the first half dealing with things i have not said.

      My example of gambia is perfect, because Gambia is not a colony anymore, and has not been for a long time. There is no white supremacy in modern day gambia. This is the president of gambia.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahya_Jammeh

      This is the vice president of gambia.

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isatou_Njie-Saidy

      These are not white people. These are people from Gambia in charge of their own nation. To suggest that the example is bad, because of a fantasy you labor under that the people of gambia are somehow under the heel of some remnant of colonialism is an insult to their sovereignty and independence. Your grounds for rejecting the example are summarily dismissed.

      The tokyo example is discrimination based on race. It is the Definition of racism. That you do not consider it racism, because other white people have previously been racist is profound insight and demonstration of the inherent racism in the definition that you and the article espouses.

      The fact that you think that in a world where there was racial and gender equality, racial slurs could not exist is also deeply interesting. Tell me, what part of have systemic/governmental level equality prevents an individual from saying a racial slur. What part of it prevents an individual from pressing the button on the elevator door to close it before a black man gets on. Your irrational tying of a systemic level oppression to racism will be the delight of actual racist individuals should we one day succeed in eradicating the imbalance of power in our culture. Your definition of racism would provide a last bastion for racists to operate free of concern. Well it would if people didn’t still look at those actions and say, yeah that’s still racist.

      Also, to fact check, Wellmans book was first published in 1977, He is the FOUNDER of the idea that you are espousing in a warped form. The fact you think the book came out in the 90′s would suggest to me you had literally no idea who he way until i linked you to the book, where you misread the publishing date of the second edition as being the first.

      Also PROTIP on racism.

      ‘Even by definition whites are racist.’

      Hi, meet the Oxford dictionary definition of racism.

      ‘The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics, abilities, or qualities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races’

      • Chel

        You said “Where a black slave would be whipped , we would simply be killed horribly” So you did kinda say blacks were getting killed… Actually for the first half I was addressing things. The Irish are categorized as WHITE. They were being enslaved by other whites.

        It doesn’t matter that Gambia is not a colony anymore. America isn’t a colony anymore but the effects are still here. Countries in Africa aren’t colonies anymore but they’re all still dealing with the effects of colonization. America’s president is black, that doesn’t mean white supremacy is gone. So just because they have a black president doesn’t mean white supremacy is gone. White supremacy is a GLOBAL problem.

        In a world of true racial and gender equality why would there be racial slurs? If no race was oppressed, treated like they weren’t humans because of their skin why would their be racial slurs? Racial slurs came from PoC being treated like they are worthless. They were stripped of being considered human. If there was a world that was truly equal and no race was treated less than human there wouldn’t be racial slurs. Slurs are violent. They enact violence. They bring up violence. Slurs are used to dehumanize people.

        Um I may have been wrong about when Wellman’s book, but he still wasn’t the first. Paty Bidol was the first person that recognized racism=privilege+power. Then later on Judith Katz popularized in her book.

        Also PROTIP on racism

        When talking about racism you should acknowledge history, since it has impacted society. Were blacks making laws that discriminated against whites? Were whites finally able to vote just 50 years ago? Were blacks dressing up as whites in minstrel shows and mocking them? NO. White supremacy has shaped the world. They have always taught that they were superior and other races, especially blacks were inferior.

        When you google “beautiful women” about 98% of the result will be of white women. Eurocentric standard of beauty has shaped this world.

        • James Gammell

          I’m guessing in your first line you meant i was saying they weren’t getting killed. If so, you comically misrepresent my position, which was that for comparative incidents one would be whipped and the other disposed of. No where does that imply that there were not instances where black slaves were murdered, merely that because they were 10 times the price of irish slaves, sugar plantation owners were much more reluctant to kill them.

          The irish are categorized as white now, they were not then, as was clearly stated. They were considered a subhuman white skinned race. The fact that you seem to not consider this racism is also a spectacular example of a warped definition of racism on your part.

          You are desperate to continue this fantasy that Gambia is somehow still under white control because of how crippling the example is to your bizarro world definition of racism. You are desperate because every fiber of your being tells you that the example is profoundly racist, but the only way for you to be able to classify it as racism is to wallow in the fantasy that somehow being a colony in the past means that magically everyone in Gambia is under the white mans thumb, that the racist in the example would what, be hailed as a hero by gambians? Would what, be backed up by US forces. By all means, go into details about how in the given example, the situation would change because Gambia was previously a colony.

          You go as far as to attempt to compare America, a country with 12.6 percent african american population to a country where NON africans make up 1 PERCENT of the population, and where the entire government is african.

          Your logic is America, with 12.6 percent african americans is dominated by white supremacy, therefore, an independent country which is 99 percent africans with an african government is controlled by the ghost of the white man. You are fully aware of the absurdity of your statement but you will go to any logical absurdity to deny the reality of the situation presented because it makes a laughing stock of your definition of racism. If you said it to a Gambian they would probably laugh themselves to a brain hemorrhage.

          ‘As for your comment on ‘true racial and gender equality’

          no no, ‘wags finger.’ what i said was

          ‘Even better, you can take the eventual ideal society where all races and genders hold equal social power and run some thought experiments in that.’

          Where they hold EQUAL SOCIAL POWER, aka there can be no societal level oppression, the component which you farcically insist is required for racism to be racism.

          Your attempt to mis represent my position, is again because you realize how absurd the actual example makes your definition of racism. Unfortunately for you, i wont let you mis represent my position. In a world with equal social power , under your definition individual humans could behave in what any sane person would describe as a racist manner , and at most be said to be ‘prejudiced’, because your definition requires social level oppression. They could use all the racial slurs in the world.

          Don’t take this the wrong way, but i’m going to pass on a protip on racism from someone who makes the statement that ‘Even by definition whites are racist.’ and does not understand that that is a racist statement.

          But to discuss your tip,( and i will hold off on the pro.) Who had denied the history of racism. Who had denied that whites have dominated the west. Who has denied that standards of beauty are slanted towards white standards.

          Who. Not me.

          Who would attempt to deny that history. Not me.

          More importantly, what part of white people being racist to others in history, impacts the validity of whether an action taken by an individual or even a society level prejudice against a white is racist.

          What gram, what iota of history, what volume of racism towards blacks justifies a single act of racism towards a white person today.

          None.

          Because you don’t get to condemn an individual or even an entire race of individuals based on the actions of their forefathers.

          However the evidence of your own posts here shows that you believe differently. You took a scenario which you recognized to be racist, and you discounted it as racism.

          Not on the grounds of majorities or minorities.

          Not on the grounds of societal level power, that aspect of your definition of racism was as un-ignorable in Tokyo as it was in Gambia.

          You discounted it on the ground that and i quote.

          ‘ because whites have always done the exclusion based on race.’

          That’s what it comes down to. Because white people discriminated in the past and some still do, and because in the place where you live there is a systemic oppression of non whites, that in your head creates a universe in which not even under the EXACT conditions that your magical definition of racism describes racism to be, can a white person be the victim of racism.

          It’s not racism because whites have done the majority of discrimination in the past.

          White people are by definition racist.

          It sure is convenient that your magical definition of racism, happens to define your own behavior into not being classified as racist.

          However thankfully your statements tick all the flags in the actual dictionary definition of racism and as this draws on, as more and more racial prejudice leaks from the corners of your arguments the more disgusted i become. You need to seriously re examine the merits of the logical framework on which you hang your definition of racism.

          It is as evidenced in this exchange, a shambles under even light questioning.

          • Barry

            Wow *claps* Best damn reply ever!

          • Chel

            When you said “Where a black slave would be whipped , we would simply be killed horribly” you didn’t include the fact that blacks were getting killed as well. That was not mentioned, so I said something to make sure people knew that they were also getting killed. It wasn’t a “comical misrepresent” of your position. In your position you only said the Irish were getting killed. You did imply that blacks were just getting whipped, when they were also getting killed.

            The Irish could still pass and blend in with a group of whites. Even if the other whites were treating them horribly the Irish could hide where as a black would stand out. So the fact that white people discriminated against other white people at one point refutes white oppression on people of color? Plus, when whites were discriminated against it was because whites racialized them as non-whites. Same hierarchy.

            What don’t you understand? Whites colonized THE WORLD, white supremacy isn’t just an American problem. Since whites did colonized the world, white supremacy and the effects of colonization are EVERYWHERE. I compared it with America because it still has a big amount of PoC living here.

            Would you like me to compare Gambia to South Africa? Whites are a minority there but the blacks still feel like 2nd class citizens. When I’m talking about the effects of colonization still being there in Gambia it is about white supremacy. Colorism is a HUGE problem, and in Gambia women are bleaching their skin to become lighter, since white is somehow better… They wouldn’t laugh either because they have also been taught that white or lighter skin is better. Eurocentric standards of beauty and white supremacy is still there.

            When I said “true racial and gender equality” I wasn’t going with what you were saying. I was trying to go more in depth, if you are trying to make an example about racial and gender equality why not make it the “dream” example of what that would be? Why not make it a “true” example?

            If it was a TRUE equal social power, with no history of racial and gender oppression, then there wouldn’t be racial slurs. Since racial slurs came from oppression of groups based on race. There wouldn’t be racial slurs in that world. If a world like that existed even the dictionary definition wouldn’t applicable either. There wouldn’t be history of one race being superior. If people thought of everyone as an equal no matter there race or gender then no one would be thinking their race was superior if everyone thought they were equal.

            I’ll say it again, even by definition whites are racist. Whites as an institution have taught the doctrine that they are superior. Historically they have done this, and because of them doing that white supremacy is still around. So are the effects of colonization. Whites still have WHITE PRIVILEGE, no other group has racial privilege. Just from that alone how can a black, Hispanic, or Asian person do anything to whites? Because of whites forefathers and their actions they have created a world where white supremacy reigns, and where whites have white privilege.

            The fact that a white man WITH a criminal record is more likely to get interview callbacks than a black man with a CLEAN record says something. The fact that blacks face harsher sentencing for the same crime a white person committed. The fact that a black person who commits a nonviolent crime faces the same sentencing that a white person received for a violent crime. Blacks have have less usage rate in drugs but yet they are 3.7 times more like to be arrested. Blacks are more likely to get the death penalty than whites who are more likely to get life sentencing.

            In schools black and hispanic students face harsher disciplinary actions for the same infraction a white student committed. Unemployed black males tend to be sentenced more severely than comparable situated white males.

            Those who kill a non-latino whites are three times more likely to be sentenced to death, than those that killed a black person. Those who kill non-Latino whites are over four times more likely to be sentenced to die as those who kill Latinos.
            In cases where only one victim was killed and no felony was involved, those who kill non-Latino whites are over seven times more likely to be sentenced to die as those who kill blacks. In cases where only one victim was killed and no felony was involved, those who kill non-Latino whites are over eleven times more likely to be sentenced to die as those who kill Latinos.

            Maybe if we decolonized, and white supremacy wasn’t so deeply rooted then whites could be victims of racism. That isn’t the case though and structural racism is real. Let’s face it, whites have a certain protection or advantage which nonwhites don’t have. White supremacy has protected them.

          • James Gammell

            I discussed a specific comparative situation in which one group would be treated more harshly than the other. I didn’t imply that in that situation a black would be whipped and the irish killed. I said it. Plainly. It is a statement which does not exempt the fact that there were situations where both would be murdered, nor situations where both would be whipped. I also didn’t mention people of mixed irish/african ancestry at all on those plantations, nor does it mean that by not mentioning them specifically that i am making the case they were not subject to any violence at all. By your argument my not mentioning it means i am suggesting violence did not occur to them. Your attempt to sell this as the ludicrous notion that i am suggesting that black slaves were not killed is your own strawman fantasy. God knows you need it at this point. And yes it is comical that you need to convince yourself that i have denied black slaves were killed. You are desperately clutching at straws.

            ‘So the fact that white people discriminated against other white people at one point refutes white oppression on people of color?’

            Who said this? Looks around. Did fantasy strawman opponent speak? Would you like me to put a glove puppet of a old deep south racist on my hand and let you argue with it?

            You are now trying to sidetrack onto this spectacular fantasy that to argue that racism can be done to white people is to refute the oppression of people of colour.

            It’s like we are sitting on a beach with two buckets. And one is 90 percent full of water and one has 5 drops in it. My argument is that is it possible for there to be water in the bucket with 5 drops. Your above declaration is analogous to suggesting that my argument means that i am denying the existence of the bucket which is 90 percent full. How in your brain did you get from my argument, to the fantasy land argument to which you have assigned me. You do recognize you have zero logical weight behind your bizarre definition of racism and are seeking any escape , any derail to get away from that cold hard fact. Simply put i will not take the bait.

            On to Gambia.
            YOU STILL CANNOT DEAL WITH THE SAMPLE PROVIDED.

            What you typed is the reason i picked Gambia instead of South Africa or America. Your definition of racism cannot deal with the sample situation . Attempting to change the sample situation is not dealing with the sample situation. Your logic is at an impass.

            Racial and gender equality.
            When you said true racial and gender equality you were offering a solution to the example i stated which again attempted to change the sample, because your definition of racism functionally implodes when dealing with it. Your desire to make it a ‘dream’ example is attempting to avoid the problem presented by changing the question. The best part is that at this point you are fully aware of your own attempts to sneak out of the situations by changing them to be ones you can slot solutions into. But that wont fool me. That wont fool anyone reading these. Your obligation is to deal with the situation i provided. Your definition of racism cant. Keep trying to squirm out these examples, i will keep dragging you back to them because they hole your argument below the waterline.

            Let me take the entire rest of your typings as a package and respond thus.

            Your brain, and your entire argument and concept of racism is america and euro centric. Your stats and examples are taken from the west. They are totally valid, but irrelevant to the examples. This is the reason your world view collapses when you plug any country in which whites are not the dominant race into it.

            Will a white man with a criminal record get more callbacks than a black man with no criminal record ..in gambia. No.

            Will a Chinese person face harsher sentencing than a white man for a crime …in China. No.

            In summary

            Your attempt to push the question from, ‘is it possible for whites to be victims of racism’ to ‘ is white supremacy a thing’ is a complete failure. Why? Because of course it’s a thing. No one has denied it is a thing. It sure as hell is in the US. It sure as hell is in the UK and europe and even s africa.

            But it’s not in Gambia. It’s not in japan.

            Your desperation is understandable.

            Your attempting to slide out of each of the sample cases in understandable. I constructed them specifically to show up the flaw in your definition of racism. Your definition cant deal with them, and you seem to have placed this definition in a structurally important place in your world view.

            Rather it can deal with them, and you know it can, but the results are profoundly comical if you follow through. Being able to make something racist or not racist simply by swapping the location. That’s why you fell back to such a ridiculous defense in tokyo as yeah well its ok because whites did loads of racism before. I wont let that slide.

            You need to stop, and really grasp what you are doing here. You are in logical terms, running headless around the room. Your definition has been completely crushed by the examples. You were unable to overcome them, and you cannot. In places you tried to and the result was profoundly racist ideas like that in tokyo. Your attempts to mis represent my argument have failed. Your attempts to derail the question have failed. Your attempt to change the examples to fit your definition have failed and are at best an attempt at self deception because you recognize that your definition hit a brick wall in each and every one of them and are trying to change them.

            We can keep doing this. I will happily oblige.

            Turning in tighter and tighter circles.

            You posting a bunch of chaff to avoid the logical problems of the examples.

            Me blowing it all away and asking you to deal with the stated examples.

            You may even think to yourself that it is working. But it is not. Because after dealing with your chaff i will still ask you to deal with the samples as defined.

            And you wont be able to do it.

            This is the end game of your argument.

            You have a choice now. You can choose self deception. You can choose to continue your belief, even though the logic behind it has been crushed (And your attempts to weasel out of the examples do indicate to me that on some level, you recognize the logical flaws in it now.) You will put the examples to the back of your mind. You will comfort yourself with your delusions, with your strawman you have been crafting. But it will be a hollow comfort, because if you think I am the only one who can snap that definition of yours like a twig you are dead wrong. Because it is very very frail. It carries the sickness of an assertion which has not been subjected to criticism. And the longer you roll it out, the higher the percentage of people who will be able to snap it, because the more widespread the counter argument to it will become.

            And it gets worse for you. Because every time this argument is presented it will be refined, coiling snake like around your definition of racism to crush it further, more efficiently. From this discussion alone you have provided me another nugget in the form if Bidel. Having now read her work she makes her argument from an america centric viewpoint.

            “In the United States at present, only whites can be racists, since whites dominate and control the institutions that create and enforce American cultural norms and values . .’

            This is the reason your argument implodes, your argument can’t deal with the examples because the origin of it could not. It does not even attempt to justify the redefinition of racism, and once applied uses circular reasoning to convince itself of its legitimacy.

            Your other choice, is to alter your definition of racism to one that works but incorporates and recognizes privilege, to update it to Wellmans model.

            The brick wall my examples make your argument hit are almost certainly why wellman changed the argument to suggest the expansion of the definition to racism to include this idea of those who fight against the removal of existing privilege rather than racism requiring privilege, because by making it an expansion of rather than replacement of the definition of racism all the logical arguments against it disappear.

            All the comedic absurdities disappear. You stop being able to beat it by bouncing to random locations on earth.

            The man shouting anti black comments in gambia is still a racist under it whether he is in gambia or london. The sign on the club in japan is still racist under it whether it is in tokyo or london. The person in future time square is still a racist under it.

            I don’t expect you to declare defeat. I’m not looking for it. I don’t expect you to accept the flaws in your logic here. I am not looking for it. That is not how internet debates work. The objective view of this will be that i completely dismantled the practical functionality of your definition of racism, and that you then did literally everything but deal with it.

            Persist with a definition of racism which can and will be crushed more and more in the future, or alter your definition to make it functional and unassailable, which still recognizes the existence of styles of racism characterized not by overt aggressive acts but rather by institutional or socially created advantage, which exists irrespective of the race with institutionalized power in the place in question.

            The choice is yours.

          • Chel

            Even in the same situation a black slave still could and sometimes would be killed.

            I’m not sidetracking, historically whites have racialized and have discriminated based on race. Based on who they thought was inferior. You brought up the Irish to prove that they were also faced discrimination. So I asked if that is suppose to refute the white oppression on people of color.

            You seem to be having a hard time understand such a simply concept. My definition can still apply, it doesn’t matter about who is the majority and minority. The effects of colonization and white supremacy are so complex. Also for your example why use Gambia? It’s such a small country with almost 2 million people. The effects are still there but with a small population like that you would have to look deeper because it won’t be out and blatant as it would in a bigger country with a big population.

            I’m not sneaking out of anything, in a world that truly has equal racial and gender equality there wouldn’t be racial slurs, racism even by the dictionary definition would not exist if everyone saw themselves as equal no matter what race someone was. I’m not attempting to avoid the problem, you brought up the idea and I went along with it. If there was a world with equal power like that, there wouldn’t be oppression. People no matter their race would have equal power, be treated like equals. There wouldn’t be discrimination based on race or sex. There wouldn’t be a racial or gender disparity.

            My examples are relevant, because of white supremacy. Which has taught that whites are superior and has given them white privilege. Whites have white privilege everywhere because of COLONIZATION. I will say this, China, Japan, UAE, Iraq, and Iran have a little different history. Now in UAE, Iraq, and Iran things would be a little different there but they still have an oppressive history because of colonization. Colorism which is again another affect of colonization, and white supremacy is there as well. So whites may not have it easy there but effects of colonization are still there. In China and Japan they are still greatly influenced by western society. White privilege is even in Asian countries. Whites actually have lots of advatages around the world. Some countries are different but, again white supremcay reigns.
            http://leilaninishime.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/white-privilege-and-racism-are-alive-in-asia/comment-page-1/

            White privilege is not limited to white dominant countries. What don’t you understand that since whites COLONIZED THE WORLD. White supremacy and white privilege is a global thing. It is complex, and still deeply rooted in societies. Eurocentric standards of beauty is part of white supremacy and white privilege. People in countries where the majority is nonwhite deal with different aspects of white supremacy. Since white supremacy is a global thing, and because of white supremacy whites are viewed as superior, then by dictionary definition white culture as an institution is racist.

            Yeah, her definition is about America but that doesn’t mean it can’t be applied to other countries. WHITE SUPREMACY is a GLOBAL problem. I will say that oppressor/ oppression is also much more complex and can break down between sex, gender, sexuality. http://www.gradientlair.com/post/63803685383/racism-and-white-supremacy-are-global

            All you’ve done is type excessively long replies… If you’d realize that since whites colonized the world, set up laws discriminating on the basis of race. Have influenced people perception on beauty, have cause forced assimilation. White supremacy reigns, whites still hold the majority of political, and economical power, and because of everything whites can’t be victims of racism.

          • James Gammell

            You are really beginning to bore me chel, not just with your comedic definition of racism, but with your intentional dishonesty. It fools no one.

            You keep screwing up and you keep thinking people here are stupid enough that you can pretend you didn’t.

            An example of your japes.

            ‘You brought up the Irish to prove that they were also faced discrimination. So I asked if that is suppose to refute the white oppression on people of color.’

            First of all, i didn’t bring up the irish, a previous poster did, and i got into this because you typed the following in a reply to them. ‘ the Irish were not being slaughtered because of their race, and were not being perceived as inferior because of their race.’ Which i promptly ripped to shreds and which you conceded was wrong, but then blew it off anyway.

            Secondly what you later typed was.

            ‘So the fact that white people discriminated against other white people at one point refutes white oppression on people of color?’

            Your sentence is structured so as to make the assertion that my position is to attempt to refute white oppression on people of color. You thought you could strawman me.

            I called you on your bullshit. Now you are playing coy because you have been called on your bullshit. What are you 12 that you think you can play games like that ?

            Onto Gambia, another fresh line of manure. It’s a small country, You have to look deeper! Blah blah blah blah. Lots of words where you do not deal with the example.Blah blah it’s not about majority or minority (no shit sherlock , i didn’t say it was for that type of racism it is about who is in control of social institutions etc), and in gambia blacks control those institutions.

            It’s cute you think i don’t understand such a simple concept when the actuality is i have assessed it, found it full of logical flaws, condenses those flaws into examples and watched you try to avoid them because your simple concept is demonstrably wrong. Please deal with the stated example. NEXT

            Onto future world of equal social power among races. What’s this! The pattern of manure continues. You need to pace yourself or your colon will explode. Lets see here. ‘I’m not sneaking out of anything’. Proceeds to spend the paragraph talking about the changes they want to make to the example to sneak out of it. ‘I’m not attempting to avoid the problem, you brought up the idea and I went along with it.’ Any by went along with it, you mean tried to change it so you could deal with it. Lemme tell you chel, you are a funny human being. Please deal with the stated example.
            NEXT

            Tokyo example has been completely ignored, please address the stated example with something other than, WHITES HAD IT COMING therefore it is not racism.

            NEXT

            WHITES COLONIZED THE WORLD! Mainland china must be on mars! Mainland Japan must be on the moon! Because they cannot be on earth since whites COLONIZED THE WORLD and white supremacy is everywhere. And everywhere they went and colonized the indigenous peoples were left with such a profound sense of love for the white man, after they were beaten down like animals by them, that 50-100 years after regaining their independence they still dive at every opportunity to provide a social advantage in their country to their brutal previous masters. No that makes perfect sense, and dont forget the countries we are bombing back to the stone age.They love white people for that shit. Actually what makes sense in the reality, which is even in Ireland, 100 years after gaining independence, you can walk into any bar outside the capital and hear songs sung about blowing up english people, and how awesome we were/are for doing it. Your conception of the effects forced colonization has on a people is so completely detached from reality that it beggars belief, and still does not address the vast swathes of the world where not a single white colony has ever existed.

            ‘Now in UAE, Iraq, and Iran things would be a little different’

            Lol at the white privilege in rural Iraq or Afghanistan that would get you bagged, held hostage and possibly decapitated. Truly, white privilege is universal (sarcasm).

            Oh a link. Clicks. Oh i see, so some guys hiring an English teacher chose to hire a white guy on the positive prejudice that they taught he would speak better English. And tell me, if they were to wish to hire an Indian teacher, and had to choose between a native born Indian speaker and a native Chinese person who spoke Indian, who would they presume to be the better Indian speaker on looks alone? The Indian person. WHY?

            For the same reason that if anyone was walking in Tienanmen square and needed directions to a local location, and had a choice between two people to ask, a white guy and a clearly local Chinese person , they would ask the Chinese person, because they presume (correctly or incorrectly) via positive bias that their look determines a better suitability to answer the question. Are they wrong to make that assumption, absolutely, but it is a positive racial bias/racism that can be applied to any race, not whites specifically.

            The absolute best part of this is that under your own definition of racism which requires the person who is being discriminated against to be of a race not in social power in that place, the Asian man was not discriminated against, because in china WHITES DON’T HOLD SOCIAL POWER CHINESE DO, and thus under your definition of racism which requires the person being discriminated against to not have that power , the man could not be considered the victim of racism.

            Thank you for again pointing out HOW COMPLETELY UNUSABLE YOUR DEFINITION OF RACISM IS WHICH IS THE ENTIRE POINT OF THIS. Not only have you failed spectacularly to deal with the flaws of your definition of racism, not only have you failed to deal with the examples i provided, now you are supplying additional examples of it failing spectacularly. Good Job.

            Thankfully Wellmans model successfully recognizes the example as racism, which is what it was.

            You then go on to repeat that again whites colonized the world, and then link me to an article saying that whites colonized 80 percent of the world. You are now linking me to people who directly contradict your own assertions.

            You then go on to state that white supremacy is global.
            Except the academic definition of white supremacy is
            ‘The term white supremacy is used in academic studies of racial power to denote a system of structural or societal racism which privileges white people over others, regardless of the presence or absence of racial hatred.’

            Except Chinese society does not have a structural or societal racism which privileges white people over Chinese people. And Gambia does not have a structural or societal racism which privileges white people over black people. So definition-ally there is nothing to prevent white people from being the victims of racism in these places even under your own completely horseshit definition of racism, which magically added a necessity for societal power without a single justification since the inception of the idea as to WHY that is the case. But again even under your comedy fun fun happyland definition of racism, whites can definition-ally be the victims of racism in these places.

            And since your argument is that WHITE PEOPLE CANNOT BE THE VICTIMS OF RACISM, the provision of a single possible situation in which they could, means your argument is full of shit.

            And since i have provided those examples both under the actual definition of racism and for the sake of pandering to you, under your own definition of racism , your assertion is proven doubly wrong.

            ‘and because of white supremacy whites are viewed as superior, then by dictionary definition white culture as an institution is racist.’ Absolutely correct. White culture is institutionally/socially racist. But that is not the same sentence as ‘White people are by definition racist’.

            Under that definition since Islam is by definition misogynist, then all Muslims, men and women are misogynists whether they fight against the misogyny in their religion or not.

            Under that definition since Christianity is misogynist all Christians are misogynists whether they ignore the misogyny in the bible or not.

            Under that definition since in Israel there is widespread cultural and institutional racism against Israeli Arabs http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism_in_Israel and Israeli Jews hold the social power and privilege in Israel, then jewish culture is racist and by association all jews in Israel are by definition racist.

            Under that definition since Korea has a deeply rooted societal concept of pure blood ethnic nationalism that views Koreans as superior to other races http://aparc.stanford.edu/news/koreas_ethnic_nationalism_is_a_source_of_both_pride_and_prejudice_according_to_giwook_shin_20060802/ then Korean culture is by definition racist and again by your logic all Koreans in Korea are racists.

            Of course by applying the same standard to Israel and Korea i no doubt expect you would acknowledge those as sweeping racist statement. And they are. To suggest all Koreans in Korea are racist is racist. To suggest all Israeli Jews living in Israel are racist is racist. To suggest all whites, living everywhere, EVERYWHERE are racist is racist. The fact you cannot understand this, is because you are a racist.

            By conflating white culture as being racist with all white people being racist it is you who are a racist. You cast a deeply negative attribute, ‘racism’ onto every white person alive today, onto every child, and onto those not yet born, onto those born into countries where whites are a super minority, because of the colour of their skin. And your entire redefinition of racism to require power and privilege has been undertaken for the singular purpose of granting yourself the ability to behave as a racist and get away with it. It is the reason you persist, against all logic that whites posses the dominant social power across the entire planet. Because to admit that one square foot of the world is not dominated by white people is to admit racism to whites is possible. And you cannot allow that to happen, because if white people can be the victim of racism, then you have to acknowledge your racism for what it is.

            ‘Yeah, her definition is about America but that doesn’t mean it can’t be applied to other countries.’

            Except that’s not good enough, because for your assertion that it is impossible for whites to be the victim of racism it has to apply TO ALL COUNTRIES. That’s why its so absurd. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in CHINA. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in JAPAN. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in NORTH KOREA. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in MADAGASCAR. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in CONGO. Whites have to hold the dominant social power in BURMA. ETC ETC ETC.

            Your definition of racism as requiring both power and privilege is still entirely self serving to allow your racism and has no logical backing since its inception.

            Your definition of racism still cannot deal with any of the sample situations. In the one situation you did try and deal with the sample as provided you decided a racist action was not racist on the grounds that whites have previously been racist. This is a profoundly racist comment. You have yet to offer a defense for this.

            Not only was the comment profoundly racist, it betrayed the definition of racism you gave which was power + privilege.

            You discounted it because your functional definition of racism is actually power + privilege + victim is not white. Your fantasy of white culture being dominant across the entire earth exists only to rationalize your discrimination.

            Oh, one more fun example for you, just for you, under your HILARIOUS current definition or racism which requires TOTAL GLOBAL WHITE DOMINATION to make sure whites cant be discriminated against because they hold all the social power EVERYWHERE.

            A black man goes to a job interview in magical CHINA.

            In magical china, somehow, whites hold all the social power and define all social customs and prejudices. The interview panel, made of of 3 Chinese people declares, ‘Get the fuck out of here, we don’t hire blacks.’

            For the black man to be discriminated against , those discriminating against him must hold dominant social power/privilege in that country. Unfortunately, in magical china white people hold all the social power, BECAUSE WHITE, which means by definition, the incident does not meet the criteria of racism under your definition. Under your definition, since whites are the dominant social power EVERYWHERE, any act of racism perpetrated by any not white race on another not white race is also by definition not racism, because neither party holds the magical globe spanning social power dominance/privilege of the white race. And your magical racism requires power and privilege. So either chinese hold the social privilege in china in which case whites can be the victims of racism there, or whites hold the social privilege and chinese cant be racist to blacks there. Have fun with that.

            I have good news and bad news chel. Bank holiday monday here is over, so i have to get back to my life/job/family. It’s been a blast. And by blast i mean a revelation that there is an entire school of thought dedicated to promoting both racism and denying people the status of being victims of racism. One which when confronted is completely incapable of defending the core tenants of their beliefs in any logical fashion. It’s been like watching the birth of a religion. You profess your faith, and logic be damned so long as you can believe.

            The last word i leave to you, i had no expectation of getting it, and at this point, it is clear you have no intention of ever dealing with the examples. If i was a religious person i would pray for you, but i am not so all i can do is say that i hope in future you will learn to stop overstretching what are solid core arguments to meet an idealized fantasy in which you do not have to hold your own prejudices in check.

            Bon Voyage Chel

          • Chel

            Well since the Irish could pass and still blend in with whites and they are of the same race… Actually my example was still okay, whites are still favored in China and Asian countires are still influenced by western society and white supremacy. I could give you another article of a white guy being treated better in an Asian country. I don’t agree with everything he says but he still made a good point.

            80% of the world is still a lot, the website doesn’t contradict me. Since that is majority of the world, then white supremacy, and white privilege would definitely be a global problem. I didn’t ignore any of your examples, I did go along. You just didn’t like what I had to say. You brought up the idea about a society with equal social power. I went along and explained how a world with equal social power racism even by dictionary definition wouldn’t exist if everyone thought people were their equals no matter someones race. You stated the example and I dealt with it.

            The fact that women lighten their skin in Gambia shows that its still influenced by white supremacy, and because of that I bet a white person would have some kind of privilege since Eurocentric standards of beauty has placed them at the top. White supremacy is a global problem, and because of it whites do have certain privileges and are placed at a higher position. Whites still hold power and they still have privilege. So my definition still applies.

            Um actually in both those religion they actually mention some things about empowering women The misogyny is there but it’s also there because we live in such a patriarch society already. Some Muslim feminist have talked about Islam and what is said about women. Well from what the Israeli Jews are doing there not just to Arabs I think anyone would consider it racist. Now the thing is I’m not saying PoC can’t be racist to other PoC. I’m saying that reverse racism isn’t real and that whites are not victims of racism because the world is influenced by white supremacy. White supremacy is dominant because of colonization so they still have power and they still have privilege. Whites still have some white privilege going into Asian countries, for your Tokyo that wasn’t racism, yes they were denied but they still have their privilege. There privilege doesn’t go away.

            I’ve been saying that whites can’t be victims because of colonization, white supremacy, and white privilege. Also what could be said about whites that is racist? Majority of the stereotypes about whites aren’t dehumanizing, getting them killed or preventing them from getting jobs. Also how is calling whites racist, racist? Even by dictionary definition that isn’t racism.

          • Charlie Fusion

            “Whites are still favored in China and Asian countires are still influenced by western society and white supremacy.”

            Just admit that you hate white people and be done with. First, you go and claim that their must be ‘institutional power’ for racism to exist. So, despite ‘whites’ making up 1/10th of 1% of the population in China, they’re still influenced by white supremacy. This is beyond delusional thinking.

            I am a physically European transethnic individual residing in Asia permanently. I experience racial discrimination every single day of my life, despite the fact that I am Korean on the inside and have always felt like a Korean person. I am routinely denied service, spoken to in elementary English (despite the fact that I am not even from an English speaking country), people shout “hello” and “hi” at me in the streets, and I am routinely handed forks at restaurants. If I were a physical POC this would be racism, but since I appear to be European, it’s not, because white supremacy exists in a country where whites have no elected representatives, no media presence beyond being novelties who somehow managed to learn a language, and virtually no legal rights?

            The only country to colonize us in Korea were the filthy Japanese, yet no Korean harbors deep seated desires to be Japanese. Colonialism doesn’t inherently make you worship your captors, usually, most people resent them.

            As a minority, you do not speak for me. You need seriously need to check your fucking privelege. Despite speaking better Korean than most of my countrymen and holding a master’s degree in Korean history, I am rountinely looked over for jobs because I’m ‘not korean enough’ or I am incapable of understanding Korea’s unique culture because I appear to be white.

            You are a disgusting person and you enable this type of behavior. All I want is to be treated as an equal by my country men, yet people like you insist that I’m afforded some mythical invisible backpack that helps me get things done despite the fact that my physical appearance is my ONLY hindrance in this society. Despite having lived here for nearly two decades, I have to be subjected to questions like “Do you know Kimchi” on a daily basis. If that’s not dehumanizing, I don’t know what is..

          • Chel

            You do realize that women even in Asian countries are whitening their skin to become lighter and close to white? Girls in Asian countries are having cosmetic surgery to get the “western look”. A lot are trying to widen their eyes. That is coming from the influence of western society, and white supremacy. Maybe you might be having problems but that doesn’t mean other Europeans are having the same problem. Someone asking you if you know Kimchi is not dehumanizing, and you obviously don’t know what dehumanizing is. If that is the only thing that seems dehumanizing to you, then you aren’t doing that bad.

            I need to check my privilege? What privileges do I have? The only ones I have are from being cisgender, heterosexual that’s it.

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            they are also cuttin their tongues,etc. its sad

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            Chel, give it a rest. They cannot/will not face what you are saying… its too deep rooted.. people like TIM WISE have exposed these folks all too well… You see them fightin with each other (arabs n jews,etc) over who is to blame for the transatlantic slaughter, as if they arent the same people..

            even their holy book says it clear

            “I will sell your sons and daughters to the people of JUDAH, and they
            will sell them to the people of ARABIA, a nation far away. I, the LORD,
            have spoken!”

            JOEL 3:8 -Holy Bible est. 2,ooo yrs and counting

            This in IN THE BIBLE n trust they will make excuses for that too…. even GOD HIMSELF according to them condoned their behavior.. save yourself the headache..

          • Matthew Horvath

            Are you a racist bot? You don’t even really respond, you just say the same racist shit over and over again in a different order. Honestly, you are quite the dickhead.

          • Chel

            I’m just going to reply to all your comments.

            I do reply to everything someone says to me, maybe you are just having a hard time understanding. I repeat myself so much when explaining because whites like yourself seem to have a hard time understanding something so simple.

            Also I was never just talking about slavery. I mentioned other things that have happen and are happening now. News flash! It wasn’t just slavery that was horrible. If you really think I am or anyone else is just mad over slavery then you really need to catch up on some history.

            Another thing if white people are feeling guilty then that’s on them. I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty but ignoring history, white privilege, and white supremacy will solve nothing.

            Lastly, if you really want to learn about YOUR white privilege in the UK and how YOU benefit from racism YOU can easily inform yourself. There’s is thing called Google. You type phrases, questions, anything in and after you click ‘search’ information pops up! I know it’s incredible, right? I would do the “google for me” thing for you but I feel like since YOU want to know then YOU can inform yourself and because you wanted to name call.

          • human

            “I repeat myself so much when explaining because whites like yourself seem to have a hard time understanding something so simple.”

            ….really?

          • Chel

            Yes, really what’s the problem? I don’t get why I have to keep saying that because of colonization and white supremacy, whites are not victims of racism. You can not be oppressed by the same institution that has given you preference.

          • Matthew Horvath

            You, Sir, have won the internet. Bravo…

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            he pretty much( and every racist white nigga that agrees)

            sayin that ” look we enslaved our own too, dont that count for something?”

          • Emma

            no one should feel bad because of the colour of their skin, what you are saying makes, I would imagine most white people feel bad for the colour of their skin, I certainly do.
            I don’t want this white privilege, I am not racist, saying that because I am white I am racist is wrong.
            you are sounding like you dislike white people?

          • Chel

            Again, no one cares about you or anyone else’s white guilt. You have white privilege so you’ll just have to deal with it. I don’t dislike white people but I can tolerate them because they have a hard time understanding their white privilege.

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            you nor your skin color is responsible for anything. however your great grands were. we aint askin for special treatment due to slavery, we simply request those who gained special treatement due to slavery, to relinquish said treatment. i have nlack,brown,red and yellow ppl that i dislike(not in general, specific ppl) so of course there are whites i dont like… same goes in reverse for all the “colors” i just named

        • Jeremiah Mcgowan

          The woman who wrote this is simply naive and has much growing up to do. ImwI’m hispanic and white. I grew up in mostly black neighborhoods. Girls would not date me because I appeared white to them until they found out I was puerto rican. Hispanics won’t talk to me in spanish because I look white, and whites tell me to act my skin color. I was degraded and called white devil my whole life. I was beat up by black gangs my teen years. If I complained I was called a racist. My saving grace was that I’m part hispanic. Once I pulled that card the beatings stopped and I was finally able to make friends. Don’t give me that garbsge about black people not being able to be racist. It happens everyday, whether you want to admit it or not.

          • Chel

            Where did I say that black people couldn’t be racist? PoC can be racist towards other PoC but whites are not victims of racism. From what you said you are white passing so you do have some privileges. Since you look white you will be perceived as white. Quick questions though, how do you identify yourself? Do you allow people to think your white until something happens then you explain that you are part hispanic? Who do you associate yourself with? What boxes do you check?

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            question, ever wonder WHY whites as a whole have such a reputation? im just curious to know

          • Sean Lee Walthour

            btw, hispanic and white arent seperate things… there are JET BLACK hispanics, im spanish, native american myself, that gets me no cookies. what you are is a confused white hispanic who doesnt understand the world around himself

    • ReignVeilstone

      The fact that you care about what is past and what is now at one point and don’t care at others is systematically imbecilic of you Chel.

  • Chris

    I recently became interested in doing some research on racism (not that I haven’t thought about its absurdity before) when a particularly ignorant race dominant “friend” of mine posted Jay-Z wearing a “Five-Percent Nation” symbol. Personally, I don’t really care what Mr. Z believes or does not believe in nor do I care about what my race dominant friend believes… it has little to no consequence in my life. So here I am, arriving at your site to read your article. Had I not looked up the actual definition of racism, I would have climbed on board with your assertion (by the way, you seem very passionate about writing and your opinion and I hope you keep it up). Problem is, I did look up the definition and discovered that you, Ms. Luckey, seem to have redefined it to fit your own needs. You should probably (as all writers should when asserting under researched opinion) include a caveat in the beginning of your article. I have experienced racism and have also spewed racist sentiments in my past (not proud of that). So far, this is what I have learned: the ONLY thing that is not racist is actual racism. It seems to cross all lines. Here is the actual definition of racism. After reading this, please re-read your article and see if your argument still holds water.
    rac·ism
    ˈrāˌsizəm/
    noun
    the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.
    prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.

    P.S. You are a good writer and I mean that with no sarcasm. I just hope you learn how dangerous these kind of articles can be when the writer takes no due diligence when preparing an argument. People rely heavily on the internet these days to become informed. Good luck with your career.

  • T.Rose

    I am floored that someone could be so narrow minded and wrong. I actually stumbled upon this article because I just experienced reverse racism but didn’t understand how to deal with it. I began to read this with a open mind and thought to myself “maybe it wasn’t reverse racism.” I am a women of almost 40 that yes grew up in a black community, most of my friends have always been black with the exception on 1 asian, my child is black, my husband is black and I still live in a mostly black neighborhood. Now with that being said, as I grew up with my mostly black friends I dealt with almost on a daily one or another of them mad at some random white girl and before her rant was finished the phrase “white trash” or sometimes worse came flying out of their mouth. I always had the same confussed reaction and said “but I’m white.” It never failed that the response would be the same “T, you’re not white.” This satisfied me for some reason. After many years (22 to be exact) my friends and I remain a family. Last night I was floored though when a cousin to one of my friends and I were interacting on a social site about a social issue and he tells me “says the white women” he then proceeded to tell me that my view was wrong because I’m white and should not have a opinion. I was so angry and when other white women stepped in and tried to point out his delivery was wrong he shot them down too (because they were white). Not one of my black friends came to my mercy so explained to him exactly what he did wrong and how it offended me so. I explained that we can be to friends with a different opinion and agree to disagree but that I should not have to defend my view as white person but only that of a person. To make a very long story short I still never received a apology but a private message that simply said “you know I still love you right?” I am angry that he has no idea that he has just done to me the very thing black people want to stop. I am angry that it is ok for him to speak to me in such a manor but had I of said “you’re black, your opinion don’t matter.” I would have been the most racist and hated person around. I gave your “rant” a chance but thank you anyway. I will find the help I need where it’s about real live situations and not so PoC pleasing. Btw what the heck is PoC? You don’t want to know how confused I was reading this, I’m sure you know what POS stands for. Maybe you should consider using some other short hand because to us old people that can be very confusing.

    • Bob Sten

      Nice post rose,

      Finally, you have been awoken to the truth. See reality for what it is. The truth sets you free.

  • Archie Thomas

    Dude guys you don’t need this dumb article to get your racism priorities straight. You don’t need complex faux-sociological bullshit from the author to get it right. Racism is when someone is discriminated against because of their genetics or culture. That’s all there is to it.

  • Two scoops

    When I read this article I kept feeling that burning rage in my chest especially when I read over words like whiteness and privileged and empowered because I am not those things. But then at the end of the article I read that white people always assume an article is about them. And I was. So I stopped and thought about the article and while I don’t agree with it I can respect it as another’s opinion but I realized it’s not about me I’m not affected by racism in the slightest. I also realized why I was upset. This article stereotypes white people as a bunch of people who are born with a paved road to success. Which is ridiculous. We struggle and fight our way through things the same as every one else. We are not legion. We think and feel differently than one another. We bleed. Racism may be at a social level but it can’t be fixed there. It is an individual thing and it does go both ways.

  • sean

    I find this article totally ridiculous and slanted. Racism is morphed in many cases I am black or I am Hispanic and I didn’t get what I want because of the color of my skin. This article is obviously written by an undereducated woman trying to be controversial. Discrimination is discrimination. A gang of black people beat up and kill a white visitor to this country and no body says a word. HMMM. I can open the paper and see headlines about rape, murder, robbery and guess what, I can close my eyes and I already know the race of the culprit. Obama has been the WORST president. as bad as Bush and GUESS WHAT it has NOTHING to do with his skin color. But if anyone says a word then they are racist. Now that’s worth an LOL.
    I can predict this one when the time comes and Obama term is up the blacks are going to scream racism. Term limits are racist. Another example Oprah accuses a woman in Europe of racism and it never happened. and yet she gets away with it again. How about if you get an education and stop screaming racism every time you don’t get what you want, like being waited on in a store in a timely fashion.
    When the issue of gay rights come up BLACK do not believe that they deserve the same EQUAL rights to marry etc. READ YOUR POLLS AND ARTICLES. They don’t believe that. LOL what a bunch of HYPOCRITs. I was reading an interview with Vanessa Williams the other day and the interviewer tried to turn the interview into racism and Vanessa would not have it. She slammed it for what it was. GOOD FOR HER.

  • sean

    My favorite was when one of the 9/11 memorials was created when the firefighters positioned a flag on top of the rubble. It was Iconic. They made a memorial of it and the blacks said it was racist because ” NO BLACKS WERE DEPICTED” There was not one black firefighter that helped raise the flag. so they were not depicted. The memorial was created based on true and actual events. Blacks called it racist. How stupid. Thank God affirmative action is taking a nose dive. All example of Give me because of the color of my skin.

  • Rebecca

    I just got dumber from reading this article.

  • Paul Rowell

    Why you silly goose, of course there is “reverse racism,” if not, pray-tell why Universities are studying the phenomenon? And why do you have upper crust like Oprah telling the British, “those old white folk in America just need to die?” She’s refering to our grandparents and folks who fought the Japanese, Koreans and Hitler on your fluffy little “PC” behalf. Why your just foolish to come out with your brainwashed sophomoric platform. Have some decency…, here is wiki & Nelson Mandela concerning your “mythology;”

    wiki : A recent study conducted at Tufts and Harvard sought to quantify perceptions of reverse racism by surveying Americans who identified as White or Black. The study’s title, “White People See Racism as a Zero-Sum Game That They Are Now Losing”, indicates its findings: that Whites feel as though they now suffer disproportionately from racism. (Blacks felt that anti-Black racism had decreased over time, but did not perceive increases in anti-White bias.) These results were constant for people of different ages and levels of education.[2][7]

    Even our hero Nelson Mandela in 1995 described “racism in reverse” when Black students demonstrated in favor changing the racial makeup of staff at South African universities.

  • warhorse

    Um,this article is absolutely ridiculous. Please tell me you were not financially compensated for this. If you did I need to write a novel.The only part of this read that was remotely interesting was when you confirmed the white guilt libral hypocrisy.Meaning, how can only whites be racists? I personally don’t believe in racism.I think that it is a term used to discredit someone or something else. It is usually used when someone or a group can’t defend their viewpoint.

  • librtee_dot_com

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/racism

    http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/racism

    Listen, if you want to redefine ‘Racism,’ go right ahead. But recognize that you are constructing and speaking your own language, not English, and this will make it difficult for you to communicate with the hundreds of millions of English speakers in the world.

    If you watch this video, and don’t feel that this is an example of racism, then you are simply not living on the same planet as 99% of the rest of humanity.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDb2byj74oY

    If you don’t call that racism, what exactly would you call it?

    White privilege is real; racism is real; white imperialism is very real.

    But that doesn’t make that clip any less morally abhorrent. The historical context might make it a bit less repugnant than a white calling for the same thing against blacks..but not much.

  • Ellen

    My stepdad once told me a story about how, when he was younger, he and his friend (both of whom are white) walked home from school together. They came across a group of older kids (all of whom were PoC) who then proceeded to beat my stepfather to the ground, then take out a knife, stab his friend in the stomach and cut him open, they then said something too offensive for me to write on this post, but it was basically them justifying what they had just done because my stepdad and his friend are white.
    If someone would like to explain to me why this isn’t an act of racism, and what this actually is, I’m happy to listen.
    But to me, racism is purposefully treating a person differently because of their place of origin/skin colour. Whether or not this person happens to be of a majority or minority, I see no difference.

  • Wile E. Riley

    I came to this page because I was doing research about the pervasive racism white people have been expriencing in our culture today. I was not expecting to find an article written by a white person defending black racism to the extent of complete denial that reverse racism exists. Sadly, I am not shocked because I know that ignorance knows no bounds in our society but I am heartened by the comments that I read which shows clearly that there are plenty of people who have the sense to see that there is a problem. The frequent occurances of racially motivated black on white violence, the number of blacks who voice their hatred of white people whenever they get the chance, the new Black Panthers hate filled speeches, the knockout game, the media’s refusal to report on the killing of white people by blacks in South Africa – I could go on and on-these all point to a troubling trend which has been ignored by the mainstream media, judges and law enforcement for too long. You, Sara Luckey,are flat out wrong. I hope for your sake you never find yourself on the recieving end of a black hate crime or have a racist remark or action taken against you in order for you to figure this out. If you were, would you respond to the hate by feeling guilty? That because of the color of your skin you deserved it, that your assailants are disadvantaged and jealous of your so-called “white privilege”? I ask you to just do some research-watch how the New Black Panthers speak about whites. Take a look at the number of murders, assaults and rapes perpetrated by blacks against whites-they don’t discriminate by age, sex or social status, they are happy just to kill a white person! It saddens me that we have come to this as a society, and while there are many different reasons why there’s only one solution: white people need to stop accepting it, denying it or becoming racist in retaliation. Insist hate crimes against whites are in fact hate crimes and that the perpetrators are charged as such. This is just like the problems caused by feminism in that the false meme of woman as a victim/man as the perpetrator mean men are never victims of sexism or domestic abuse-but reality shows that they are indeed, and at an increasing rate. I am for Human Rights and I do not prescribe to the idea that one group should be more deserving of protection than any other.

  • Rob

    You’re right about one thing.

    There is no such thing as reverse racism.

    There is only racism. You can be any color and experience it. I’ve experienced plenty of it myself and I’m white.

  • corhen

    anyone find the idea that “only non-whites can experience racism” to be EXTREMELY racist?
    While i completely agree with the premise that “whites don’t have a problem with racism in a large part of the world, vs other minorities/majority populations”, to try and say that this means we can say it doesn’t exist shows a complete lack of critical thinking skills.

  • BG

    I’ve always considered reverse racism to be when you are treated ‘better’ than you deserve based on your appearance e.g. several of my friends live in building with security guards or doormen and I have been granted unverified access to the building on 1st or 2nd visit because I am ‘non-threatening’ i.e. blond, petite, attractive, polite.

  • Rene

    This article is wrong. Racism doesn’t have to be systemic, institutional, and far reaching as the author claims. If I say blue people are nferior and should all be killed I would be racist. I could shout at them or throw items at them and that would be racist. Just because society doesn’t partake in the racism doesn’t make my example invalid as racism

  • Leila

    I’m going to be another white person who says reverse racism is very real, people know exactly what it means and the harassment that goes with it, and as a single white female in intown Atlanta, I’ve experienced a great deal of it. When your county is only 45% black, and 55% other races, but 89% of government employees are black, that’s racism. And if you are any race but black, you will be hassled. Come here and find out. Sure, it’s basic racism, but I think the “reverse” part needs to be included, because it’s clear from comments made that a lot of the hostility from black people towards everyone else, and especially white people, is to “punish” for black treatment in the past. EXCEPT, it’s in the past. I had nothing to do with it. As the harassers like to say, this is the “Black Mecca,” so I don’t think any black people are experiencing slavery or Jim Crow in a city run almost completely by black politicians and black employees. You live here, and then try to tell me there’s no such thing as reverse racism. I bet you wouldn’t last 5 minutes.

  • Helmethair

    The term “reverse racism” is improper. The correct term is “racism.”

  • hapa

    For this argument to be true the author implies that we live in a hegemonic society with a single hierarchy imposed from above, which, largely, we do. Yet variation in societal and legal structures exists throughout the world, including within America. For example, coming from a minority-majority state (Hawaii), I can see that the local dynamic of power, while definitely not reversed, has created spaces where the dominant figures (in government, business, law) are non-white and the non-dominant figures are white. Second, if we are to accept this definition of racism as inherently systematic (which is still up for debate), then it must still be noted that PoC can be “bigoted” even if they are not “racist.”

  • La Ra

    there is no such thing as reverse racism, its just racism. If you experience discrimination, prejudice, or bigotry based RACE that is RACISM, no matter the ‘colours’ involved and the dynamic between them. racism isn’t just something that happens at a large scale, it’s something that happens between individuals and it doesn’t have to be prejudice+power. prejudice is enough. and people of all shades of brown, pink, beige etc. are capable of (racial) prejudice.

  • redhen1919

    Tim Wise anti-racist advocate on reverse racism: “Whenever these matters are broached, the vast majority of us rush to protest: How dare schools or employers consider race in hiring or admissions. They should be colorblind, we insist, merely admitting or hiring the most qualified! And more to the point, we proclaim, targeting folks of color for opportunities, by definition, means discrimination against us. Such efforts make us the victims, even, on some accounts, treating white people “exactly” like blacks were treated under Jim Crow segregation (1).

    So, yes, it remains the case that even when black folks have college degrees they’re nearly twice as likely as comparable whites to be out of work; and Latinos with degrees are about 50 percent more likely than comparable whites to be out of work; and Asian Americans with degrees are about 40 percent more likely than comparable whites to be out of work (2). And yes, even whites who claim to have criminal records are more likely to be hired than equally qualified blacks without records, but still, can anti-white lynchings be far behind?

    And yes, blacks and Latinos combined only represent about 13 percent of students at the most selective colleges and universities — the only ones that actually practice any kind of real affirmative action for admissions — and there are twice as many whites admitted to elite schools with less-than-average qualifications as there are people of color so admitted, but still, can any rational person doubt that whites will soon be limited to mere token representation at the nation’s best educational institutions?

    That such hand-wringing about so-called reverse discrimination reeks of intellectual mendacity should be obvious by now. Despite years of so-called reverse racism, whites remain atop every indicator of social and economic well-being when compared to the African Americans and Latinos who, it is claimed, are displacing us from our perch: employment data, income, net worth; you name it, and we are the ones in better shape without exception.”

  • Jennifer Harvey

    Exactly on point! I said almost the same thing, though not as eloquently, to someone earlier today. As a white person, I can be the recipient of prejudiced treatment or speech but will never experience racism in this country (USA).

  • Jade

    Everything about your article is racist because it serves to oppress white people. Honestly if this is what we are to endure as a result of multiculturalism then I think we could easily solve the issue by eliminating the cause; thus we need to put an end to multiculturalism. Why should foreigners enter our countries, insult us and pretend that it is not racist. If someone entered your home and did this to you then you would throw them out. But this is what you are doing to us and I think it is time we throw you out. Hence the problem would be solved.

  • An interested observer

    So, Sara, in response to your article, and specifically the statement… ” Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people. Racism is systemic, institutional, and far reaching”… If this is true, then how can a white *individual* be justly accused of racism? If you charge an individual of hate, then the charge of hate should be applied equally, to all people, regardless of race, religion, or lifestyle. You can’t describe an action as hate based, or racially motivated, just because the person committing the offense is white. Bad people are bad people, good people are good.

  • Ga77a

    Please come to South Africa. You might just learn something.

  • Melissa

    So i’m a mixed girl, and i’ve been bullied my whole life for being too white. my mother and aunt, who are all white have been severely beaten going to a mostly black school because they were white. My mother would come home from school with foot prints on her chest. That is racism. They had an obvious prejudice, and they had the power of numbers. That is your own definition of racism.

  • devils

    why is it so bad for a white person to talk about experiencing racism? you seem to just dismiss that and i find it distasteful. and yes, i do believe there can be racism against whites. i’ve seen it and have been a target of this too. i don’t give a damn about who’s in power, oh wait…we have a black president! who’s got more power than the president?? who knows, maybe you can justify that too.

  • john smith

    what world do you live in racist exists in every race in fact blacks are the most racist group around today when someone judges anyone by the color of their skin they are racist there is so much anti-white sentiment especially against white males over 50 because in this social media world anyone 50 years or older where raised to be against anything black is such bullshit you never hear about black flash mobs or the knockout game involving blacks hurting elderly whites or even any kind of violence against whites in your article you say there is no reverse discrimination because discrimination is has no forward or reverse it is judging people and acting against them because you don’t like the way they look or you treat them wrongly biased on their skin color or sexual orientation or you just disagree with them please look up eddie Jordan the first black D. A. in new Orleans he is a good reason why there is reverse discrimination

  • Rosanna Miller

    Nonsense! I believe a good place to start is with the definition as found in the dictionary. A racist is a person who believes that a particular race is superior to another. Note the definition doesn’t say a white person who believe that they are superior to black people. As you go looking at the white supremacist groups, like the KKK, please look at the black supremacist groups, like the Black Panthers too. Of course black people can be racist too.

  • Mara Smith

    I’m the most anti racist out there and my skin color happens to be white but my half my family are colored. You talk about unfairness but you are blind to the fact that it happens to other races all around the world. So instead of saying blacks are the only victims why not open your eyes to the bigger picture. It’s not them and us… its just us. Because skin color is just a part of our genetic make up like our hair color. It doesn’t and shouldn’t categorize us in life and society. You have to let this anger go and use a positive argument and understand both sides. It’s a new era and its going to take time for people and then society to think differently.

  • workingclass888

    you are probably about 13 years old and if you care so much for poc you should move into an urban housing project racism is racism it doesn’t belong to just people who are not white I think your whole article is bs but you will probably not let me post this because you want to silence anyone that disagrees with you. you need to grow up

  • Jason Forreal Anderson

    You are a stupid person, with a stupid way of looking at thing and can’t see for the life me why I waste 8-10 mins. of my life on such bullshit, You need to get a diffirent hobby, cause writing you suck. Racism is racism, no matter want the color. You are a racist yourself to write such stupid narrow minded, one way view point. White people can’t be a target for racism, ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME, only for the last 30 fucking years. Wake up you dumb bitch, it’s never ging to get better if we don’t fix it from both sides not just black people are a target for racism, and if you can see that you stupid ass bitch, YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM.

  • Poster

    To believe that racism only heads one direction is ignorant. It’s that same ignorant belief that is behind people saying racism doesn’t exist. Until you open your minds and stop pointing fingers, you’ll just be another person on their soap box spouting crap. Racism sees no color. Racism is hate, not to be defined by a direction, and certainly not in “reverse” motions.

  • Science

    As a sociologist, I believe you are wrong. You are solely talking about structural racism and not individual racism. People can be racist against anyone. Racism the belief that some races of people are better than others or poor treatment of or violence against people because of their race. A white person can live in Spanish Harlem and experience racism.

  • Sean

    Typical irrational leftist tripe. Poor powerless blacks are in fact the most overtly racist elements in America today. Racism + nothing= racism. (1+0=1)

  • History Teacher in the South

    Every white cowboy twisting his face in a self-righteous rage about “white people can experience racism too” ought to give Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack” a serious, thoughtful read. White people (myself included) enjoy innumerable daily benefits of a society built on the foundations of racism. This is a fact of our history in America. Any serious student of history can discover for himself that Racism (institutionalized oppression, not individual bigotry) is NOT universal, eternal, and all-pervasive throughout human societies. As a concept it was created by the West to justify slavery and given a veneer of respectability by Enlightenment thinkers who, being racists, didn’t want their ideas of unalienable rights to apply to the chattel slaves providing all that free plantation labor. James Loewen sheds light on this in his well-documented “Lies My Teacher Told Me,” another must-read for anyone seriously interested in deracinating racism.

    It’s naive to think that just because the West (begrudgingly, unwillingly) “gave up” their colonies in the second half of the 20th century and especially since, you know, The Civil Rights Movement, therefore we all exist on a level playing field and no one has any institutionalized privilege based on the made up concept of “race.” Meritocracy is the White Person’s intellectual opium: it too is made up, and is especially powerful because it makes White People feel like they deserve the privileges they get to enjoy.

    Thanks for a daring spit-in-the-face of one of the most obnoxious sides of white privilege: feeling that ANY experience of bigotry somehow qualifies you as a victim of “reverse racism.” The raging reactions you get are themselves evidence of the bone marrow depths of white privilege in anglo-North American society.

  • Mike (nickname)

    I’m a non-white first generation American citizen whose father was a village boy in a third world country. In the US I have not faced any setbacks from racism. Growing up in American schools, I openly joked about other races and other races have joked about my own. There have been times I suspected genuine racism but usually it was because I was in an uncomfortable situation due to something else (like maybe I just didn’t click with the other person). In fact, sometimes I openly, in jest, demonstrated the stereotypes of my ethnicity as a celebration to how tolerant this country can be. I assure you I am having no trouble rising up the economic food chain today.

  • duhmbass

    “Racism is actions, practices or beliefs, or social or political systems that consider different races to be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities.”
    It has nothing to do with the race you were born. It’s just whether you think certain races are better than others – you can be racist against other races, or you can even be racist against your own race.
    Clearly you don’t understand this basic definition. There’s a difference between privilege and racism.

  • Two scoops

    Ok, first off Fox News is the worst representation of white people. It’s like the KKK somehow started a “news” network and to the surprise of everyone, used it to spout a bunch of inflammatory bulls!!t. I have only watched it once or twice while staying in hotels and I was appalled by what I saw. I hear Bill O’Reilly sacrifices pandas to satan for ratings. That was a joke, maybe.
    That said I think that you should make sure to read the top part of my last comment as you didn’t address some of the points I made.

    The fact that Tim Wise is disliked because he is white doesn’t seem to really be a valid argument if your trying to say PoC can’t be racist toward white people. It actually only proves my point. Saying that white males don’t have a place in this conversation is like saying a business owner doesn’t have a place in a strike. If what you say is true that we built the system, control the system than we are the ones who can change the system, which we are trying to do. We absolutely should have a right to speak on this topic otherwise all your doing is dividing the people and putting the majority on the other side of the fence as you.

    • Chel

      I did address your points. No one is assuming anything about whites that’s racist. Whites do have white privilege that’s just how it is. It’s not racist to call them out on it or to let them know. Just like how men have male privilege, it’s not sexist to call them out on it. The thing is PoC don’t actually need you all as much as you think. White males opinions have shaped this world, so if they aren’t included, or if their opinion is shrugged off, it won’t hurt the discussion. Tim Wise isn’t disliked because he’s white, he isn’t liked because he is using his privilege to talk over PoC who have been saying the same thing for years now. The fact that he is using his privilege to talk over PoC is messed up. If he wants to be an ally then he should be helping them, not speaking over them.

      A business owner isn’t always need in a strike though, the strike is about his workers rebelling against him or the organization. If the boss wants to help he need to roll up his sleeves and truly join forces by listening to what is being said, by those who are truly experiencing the mistreatment.

      Whites aren’t the only ones that can change it. dismantling starts with PoC when they realize the truth and they want to see change. Revolutions in history didn’t start from the oppressor ever being nice or easy to the oppressed. Revolutions started when the oppressed came together and rallied up for their rights. If a person wants to help then they should listen to PoC talking since they are the ones affected, they should not speak over PoC or speak for them. Whites opinions about race are on the privileged perspective so their opinion isn’t exactly needed, because it changes the discussion and makes it about them when it shouldn’t.

  • jakejellohall

    You and many others keep defining the word Racism with the definition of Institutional Racism. The latter is much deeper and complex, where racism is simply the belief that one is superior to the other because of physical, characteristic, and cultural differences because of an individual’s race/ethnicity.

  • jakejellohall

    Unless of course you’re referring to the improper title of Reverse Racism, which shouldn’t get a special title at all because Racism=Racism?

  • Emma

    That makes a lot of sense, but there are parts of the world where the white person would be in the minority, would that then be a reverse racism case?

  • Annoyed

    Reverse racism isn’t real, because it is just RACISM! Just because caucasian isn’t a minority doesn’t mean it isn’t a race.

    • Dock Drumming

      YES! YES! YES! Reverse racism IS REALLY JUST RACISM. And and ANYONE can be racist: Black, White, Blue, whatever…

  • Just being honest

    I’m from Australia and a ‘white ‘person I am constantly seeing racism against white people there it’s just that we turn the other check and get on with life. Author needs to toughen up & get real.

  • Eugena Lieu

    Reverse racism is real when White People feels cornered, and discriminated against. Especially when The Swedish Caucasians fought against The Chinese by having the intentions to looting their goods. Some of them even made illegitimate marriages with us. Til this day, I know Sweden wants to destroy The biblical Jerusalem, or Zion because the illegitimate marriage granted us the right to be superior to them. It gave us a face to be a coarse-face.

  • Philip

    Try getting into college as a white male. Then you’ll understand.

  • scottstreets

    Tired of this white guilt shit. Achieving some stature by hating yourself is pathetic.
    Mistreating people based on race is racism. There may be some hip intricate Matrix racism but͵ obviously if that exists there is everyday subtle and plain overt racism.

  • Hank

    Impressive how amazingly twisted and wrong your view of reality is. By claiming you cannot be racist against white people you are ignoring white from being a race at all. You’re dehumanizing and justifying your own racism in a fashion similar to how slave owners dehumanized their slaves.

    You are a pathetic pile of shit and are are not worth the material that makes up your body.

  • Matthew Horvath

    Racist article. Although you are right about there being no such thing as “reverse-racism”. True, it’s just plain old racism, and just because it committed by a minority doesn’t make it any less racist.

    According to your drivel, if a white gang in the US attacks a minority because of the colour of their skin, that is racist. If a black gang attacks someone who’s white because of the colour of their skin, this is not racist, and therefore less serious. The mechanisms in place within that country doesn’t matter one bit to either person being attacked. In fact, due to new “hate crime” laws in the US and my country, the UK, one will be deemed as “hate crime” and be taken a lot more seriously than the other and a harsher sentence will be awarded to the attackers. Now, while you will celebrate such things (as you are a racist), I think it’s disgusting that the same crime committed by the same type of people are viewed differently because of so-called white guilt. In a truly non-racist society, both crimes would be rightly viewed as the same and those who have committed such acts would be punished equally.

  • chel is right

    chel is absolutely correct in everything they said. i’m kind of sick of everyone bringing up the Rwandan genocide and how ‘black people did it’
    if you actually had any clue, you would know that the tutsis were favored by the Belgians due to their lighter complexions and more ‘european’ looks which led to ethnic strife between them and the hutus. after being oppressed for so long, the hutus struck back, but only to get revenge for the tutsis being favored and using their power to make life harder for the hutus. if the Belgians kept to themselves and left Rwanda alone, most likely this tragedy would never have happened.
    also, king leopold ii murdered anywhere between 5-12 million Africans in congo, he also being Belgian. people keep crying about reverse racism, when in fact it does not exist. white privilege is hard to notice when you’ve had it your entire life. poc are just trying to do their best but it’s difficult when the odds are stacked against us. affirmative action only does so much and should not be the first thing you mention when you think of reverse racism. after centuries of oppression and murder, it is not enough to allow easier entry to college

  • Unfolding Universe

    Interesting, I cannot be racism..LOL

  • Do you read any of this?

    Several of your points are based in assumptions that aren’t agreed to.

    - Roughly you define “reverse racism” as a minority race being prejudicial to the majority. Many people don’t use that definition. Many specifically reserve that term for various affirmative action (yet I believe they are wrong because they don’t understand affirmative action).

    - More importantly you define “racism” as “prejudice+power”. While there are many people who agree that definition, there are many that do not. Many, define racism as prejudice based on race, regardless of power.

    Until you accept that not everyone agrees with your base assumptions or definitions, and come up with some common assumptions, you’re essay is just talking past people.

    Additionally, even if we accept your “power” definition, you’re still talking past us. You point out that it’s institutional and far reaching. You’re now assuming what the ‘institution’ is….you have a very narrow view that ‘institution’ is the entire US society. The US is very large, and it’s not near as homogeneous as you’re assuming. ‘Institution’ has to be contextual.

    Personally I think this distinction of “power” is useless and pointless. I believe all forms of discrimination are wrong. Yet I don’t believe affirmative action is discriminatory. If you look at it’s origins, it was always meant to take away existing discrimination, not “reverse it”.

  • Joy

    I have to agree with the gentleman from Canada because I too have lived in various countries and racism exists everywhere. The difference in America is that there is a mentality that white people deserve racism for what has happened to minorities in the country. What people seem to not understand is that this mentality actually allows racism to continue, it doesn’t stop it which is what needs to happen. Bottom line: if you judge someone as a bad person because they are black, white, brown or any other color, you’re a moron. I don’t care what you look like. Any reasonable, rational person gets to know a person as a human being before they decide if they like them or not. Anyone who is incapable of doing this is nothing short of petty. I am Jewish. My grandmothers family came from Ukraine and she lived through hell: her home was burned down, she saw women raped, babies murdered, her own father was nearly beaten to death. My grandmother came to the US prior to 1941 to escape the oncoming Nazis, she came here in an arranged marriage to my grandfather to save her own life. My grandfather beat the hell out of her and most of her family were gassed at Sobibor. I know what persecution does to people. Yet somehow I don’t blame nor hate all Ukrainians, Russians and Germans for what they did to my family. It would in fact take a rather limited intellect to lump three nations and millions of people as all being the same. You see from this recent Donald Sterling issue that his being Jewish was not and is not a “get out of racism free card” nor should it be. His comments were deplorable, disgusting and ignorant and he should be judged accordingly. Yet, somehow you have people like “Miss Ali” on HLN’s Dr. Drew show who go on about how “ALL white people” are evil, bad and want to kill blacks and where is the fire storm in the media about this woman? She’s every bit as racist. And the crap needs to STOP. Every reasonable human being knows it. Racism no matter who it comes from is idiotic on its face. There is no group of people who are all good or all bad. It doesn’t exist.
    Let me tell you a story in my ending: One night, I was walking into a store, as I got to the door an older woman whom I only saw the back of her head and didn’t even have a clue what she looked like was ahead of me, she held a cane. I grabbed the end of the door as she walked in and when she felt me grab the door, she turned around and said to me “Hey! What do you think? I have to hold the door open for you like I’m your slave?! You racist white bitch!” I was utterly stunned. I did not say a word to this woman, didn’t ask her to do anything for me, I simply grabbed a door so it wouldn’t slam in my face as she walked in the store. She proceeded to follow me around the store, screaming racial slurs and waving her cane at me. I didn’t know if I should laugh or scream. I don’t have a racist bone in my body. I was raised understanding what such attitudes can do to families because of my grandmother’s life and I truly couldn’t care less what anyone is. I also find it profoundly disturbing that this kind of thing is acceptable in America. I understand the hurt, believe me, I do. I’ve had people make racist comments to me, too. I had one guy say “Why don’t you tell your grandmother this joke: What’s the difference between a Jew and a pizza? Pizza doesn’t scream when you throw it in the oven”. I get that some people are cruel and hate me for something for which I had no control over: how I was born. However, that doesn’t give me the right to take it out on the world. And this is something which is somewhat overboard at this point in America. I’m sorry, but it is. What this woman who chased me around the store didn’t know is that when my grandmother came to this country, she married a mixed race Brazilian convert to Judaism. My own grandfather had slave ancestry himself, from Angolan. As well as Native American. Albeit far back and I do not look nor get treated as a black person in America, but I can tell you this: I have black cousins from Brazil and Trinidad who live in New York and who do get treated as black people and they think the reverse racism in America is out of control, too. I don’t claim to have any clue what it’s like to be a black person in America, but I do know if I had this discussion and I was anyone of consequence I would be labeled a racist just for saying racism, no matter who does it, is wrong. It has become accepted in America for blacks to hate whites, openly and herein lies a problem, because it only seeks to divide people more, rather than bringing them together. I couldn’t careless what anyone is, I know some wonderful, educated, successful black people who I am glad to call my relatives and friends, I know some wonderful, educated, successful white people I also call family and friends. To think people are that basic, that their color or origins makes them one thing or another, is pure ignorance. I don’t really care who is doing it. Racism should NEVER be tolerated, no matter who is doing it. It’s absurd on it’s face and the mentality of accepting hatred, whether politically correct or not only seeks to divide and hurt America. Nothing good can come from hate.

  • The Bechtloff

    Yeah, nobody can be racist towards whites *rolls eyes* tell it to this kid why don’t you.

    http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/03/04/you-get-what-you-deserve-white-boy-13-year-old-set-on-fire-in-horrific-racially-charged-attack/

  • Cortez

    Sorry to hear about your ignorant, racist point of view. Hopefully one day you’ll find education and/or enlightenment one day and allow that to inspire you to stop spreading your particular brand of hate-speach.

  • Debbie

    I think some of the disagreement here comes from the author’s attempt to define a term – that racism is, by definition, systemic and part of the overall power structure. If that is how she wants to define racism, then indeed, when a white woman is gang raped by bigoted Latino men using anti-white racial epithets against her she is not, by the author’s definition, experiencing racism. On the other hand, she is not merely complaining about losing out on her privileges, as the author states, she is just as much a victim of other people’s racist feelings and intentions as a woman of any other group attacked for her race, and it is extremely belittling of the author to state otherwise. But the two issues, societal racism and violence and prejudice based on racist intent are extremely closely related, and white people do not have a monopoly on racist intent.

  • Ignorance is Bliss

    Ignorance can be cloaked in a thousand entertaining words.
    When racism is used against a white person as an accusation against a valid issue brought to the forefront, and let’s just use a ‘hypothetical’ here, like FRAUD, and a lie is constructed to counter what is that white person’s moral and ethical obligation to whistleblow on… It’s effing reverse racism to use one’s skin color to deflect from one’s responsibility to be an effing decent human being and to stain another’s reputation with politically charged and expedient language. Sort of like the girl who decides she’s embarrassed of her conquest when the buzz wears off and the magic unicorn farts Skittles confetti, and now the man is sitting in jail.
    Social reparations… Let’s just call it that. If you don’t like the term reverse racism, then be honest, call it open season on Opie and be done with it. Get real. Take a look in the mirror if you need real bullshittery.

  • Cătălin Florin Marin

    Ever been told how loony you are?

  • Mark Neil

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs, legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression of the rights and liberties of a group of people.”

    I’ve always loved this explanation, because it, on it’s own, proves racism exists, and moreover, that those espousing this definition are exhibiting it.

    The fact is, the definition of racism has not traditionally required power. This is something those attempting to deny white people (or males, in the case of sexism) a voice use to that end. By the traditional definition of racism, simply trying to exclude whites from being able to suffer racism, is, by definition, an example of racism. Now, if you accept that racism now requires power as a key element, you have effectively changed the definition of a word… which is a powerful thing… and you have used that power, expressly to exhibit a prejudice against white people… meaning, even by your own definition, you are being racist. You are using the power to change the definition of the word, expressly for the purpose of creating a definition that would exclude a group based on race. by old definition or new, you are being racist.

    “Any time a PoC starts to talk about their experiences with racism, a white person chimes in to derail the conversation and talk about their own experiences with ‘reverse racism.’”

    Ever consider the reason for that is to point out that PoC aren’t the only one with negative experiences? That maybe, the issue isn’t one of race, but of some other element? Nah, it’s far easier to dismiss white peoples experiences, because they are white, and then deny that it’s racism by changing the definition.

  • kittykatzxoxo

    im actually quite glad i came across this post…im a 29 yrold irish woman from belfast the north of ireland i had a situation last week on facebook where i commented on a jamaican friends video she posted it showed a horrible vile man from the south of america shouting at an african american woman to get of her chair things got a little heated on the video and there had to be some guys held back as they where going to retaliate so i said about how discusting his behaviour was and that i had experienced similar situations in my city on buses like bus windows being smashed because there are a bus load of catholics i also said the passengers should have reported to the bus driver and call the cops and i also said that yes the guys where right to get angry but they shouldnt lower their standards…well i was told id never knew what it felt like to experience discriminnation I had said that they where wrong i grew up on an interface my whole life and these things happen across the world regardless of skin color religion etc i was then labelled a racist and was compared to the kkk and white supremacists in america this really deeply upset me my comments where not made out of venom or malice i also apologized for offending anyone on the post as i maybe shouldn’t have compared situations this s really really shocked me to the core and i cant get it out of my head this lady who seemed to be a black rights campaigner sent me this link http://www.isr.umich.edu/home/diversity/resources/white-privilege.pdf told me to read it so that i would know how not to look racist and i should show it to all my friends and family can someone please tell me if im a racist or not ?????

  • KDT

    You must be a race traider, And I bet JEW too!!! Well when you get gang raped by a pack of Niggers as they call you a white bitch. Tell me then if you still belive the stupid shit you said. Example of America public school system I’m sure. America is done if the is theind set of the youth! Sad

    • Dock Drumming

      Unfortunately, your comment appears to be as ill-conceived as this article.

  • Meow

    No one uses the argument “I was chased home once, so reverse racism is real.” The person who wrote this article is being an idiot, as they are trying to undermine the arguments that they have witnessed or had against them in order to validate their own. This is a childish, petty, and intellectually dishonest approach.

    It’s kind of like taking males who take issue with the idea of chivalry (women and children first in disasters, giving up their seat for women, etc) and saying that their feelings about it don’t matter because sexism against women is worse.

    Sexism is sexism. Racism is racism.

    No, being touched or chased home probably isn’t racism in and of itself. Unfortunately, this hypothetical position was conjured up from whole cloth. If you can’t cite a real discussion and break it down with an unbiased, methodical approach, then your position is probably too weak to hold water in reality.

    Also, “check your privilege” is BY DEFINITION a reversal of sexism, racism, or prejudice against sexual orientation.

    It states that because the Person A doesn’t share Person B’s situation, they can’t possibly disagree with the way B perceives their own situation (but somehow, magically, A can agree and have it be fine with Person B. What a coincidence.)

    Why? Because they’re [insert gender/race/orientation here]. This is the prime definition of reversing a prejudice. You’re out of your mind if you state otherwise.

  • Eman

    Truth be told the whole idea of race is a social construct developed over a long period of time in the 17-1800 to justify the abhorrent practice of slavery… Without truly understanding cause for its existence us ‘ordinary’ folk will never know nor suspect who the genuine perpetrators are. We are all victims of violence, what you call that violence is inconsequential as long as you never address your attentions to the correct solution. “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all your getting get understanding.”

  • Nick from NYC

    As a person of mixed lineage, (Irish and Italian father, Tanzanian mother), and having spent the vast majority of my life living in similarly diverse neighborhoods, I can say without a doubt, this article, while well-intentioned, is incredibly inaccurate, insulting, and ultimately sets a dangerous precedent. To assume for one moment, a white person is “privileged” and immune to acts of horrid racism is totally insane on every level, and one who TRULY practices tolerance would recognize that racism can be perpetrated by all ethnic or racial groups against another, not white vs. black as you seem to naively believe, and to even for a minute suggest that any sort of racism amounts to a “loss of privilege” by a given ethnic group (whites) is exceptionally dangerous, as it paves the way for racism against other ethnic groups around the world to be carried out in the same manner. In 100 years, when the U.S. Will likely have a Latino majority, I do not want any sort of racism against a majority condoned or encouraged against them as you encourage it against whites now. My wife and stepchildren, of Honduran descent are at the same danger of anti majority prejudice as whites are now if this ignorant belief that reverse racism is a myth prevails.

  • K GOD

    I didn’t know there was “Reversed racism” I thought racism was just hate for a race. Much like the dictionary definition. I also didn’t know that you had to be in authority to be racist either. Again, I just thought it was hate for a race. What I’m saying here is that anyone can be racism, rich, poor, the President, or someone just at random. Yeah racism is a group thing and it’s psychologically proven to be soo, but racism isn’t made by power, more by ingroup Bias

  • West side of Chicago

    I’ve jumped several times for being white and been socially excluded for being white. Also, I’m not even technically white I’m what you would consider a “white hispanic” or what I considered being mixed. I’m not even gonna say anything else I’m just going to let that speak for itself.

  • Ransom Redman

    To even acknowledge that PoC are minorities is simply voiding one of your points. Racism is the belief that a race (most commonly one’s own) is greater, stronger, or more respectable than another. By explaining that non-colored persons’ experiences (being chased on the way home from school possibly by one or many of a race of “minorities”) are not as problematic as a PoC’s problems (possibly being chased by people of no color on their way home after school), YOU are being racist. As an American, I strive for equality- not for prejudice against the “upper hand”. I understand that you may find it difficult to be open to my opinion, and I understand if you still disagree with me after you read this, but please keep your mind open. I do agree with you that those particular whites are complaing more about their lost privileges, but consider this: Similar are the white’s complaints to those of color because while people of color complain about the rights that they believe are nonexistent for them, those whites are complaining that those rights are seeming to be expended (for some) by the necessity of those rights of PoC to have as much privilege in the workplace, in the public, in education, et cetera. For example, now that there must be a certain percentage of “minorities” in most workplaces, especially the careers that get their pay partially or wholly from the government. Due to this, those offices must find colored workers, who are often less qualified for their position than the ones that have less melanin in their skin. Imagine, now those non-colored people cannot find work because if their earlier career was not taken from them, their previous job would have the responsibility of hiring many more workers so that the ratio of non-colored people to colored people would remain acceptable. In this way, power is being used against whites- this opposes your beliefs that there can be no instituted power against them. Other whites may believe that it is their place to make their connection(s) to the world that they (as you said) might not ever be able to perceive. I would also like to argue against a view that many people have, though it may not be yours. The liberal party is stereotypically known for their fight against racism; I have heard from some of my friends and some of my instructors that they voted for Obama. When asked why by me, they responded not that they voted for him because of his brilliance (he is truly a great mind), not because of his ideological differences from Mitt Romney, not because of his achievements in his last term, but instead because he is African-American. I did not vote for him because I do not agree with his plans for America (see end of comment for details), yet they explained to me that I am racist. Ironic, correct? To sum things up I believe that true equality of race, gender, sexuality, and any other difference can only be discovered (in my opinion, it will never ensue due to the approval of a mandate- only found, possibly accidentally, or maybe through the innocent beliefs of our children) when we change how our executive branch is run. Though it is the farthest away from our topic, the executive branch has many important factors for civil rights. Because presidents change every four, eight years and because presidents’ views on world problems will universally change, I believe the president and his or her cabinet should serve for 15 years. I also believe that we, the people, should reelect cabinet members based on how well they do in office and I long for the cabinet to continue to serve their terms hinged to the president’s term: a provided fifteen years. This is the key to a new way- a new life. Thank you for this piece, Sara. Comment back when you get a chance

  • MiMi

    I’m a black woman… I just stay off of the internet and try to soak up some reality, or at least precieved reality. The internet does horrible things to your brain and character. If you’re a black woman, with all the negativity geared towards us, it also does horrible things to your self esteem. So yeah… I stay off the internet. I also don’t watch Television because I see a lot of negativity about black females, on there too… Just, avoid media all together. I have become a confident person after ditching media for a while. The negative images you see in the media about yourself affects you and those watching it. It paints a negative and biased view of you in other’s head, and it also makes you insecure seeing yourself on TV, portrayed so negatively.

    My advice to any black females(because you know what I am talking about, I don’t need to be specific) is to limit your media use, and monitor what you allow yourself to see. When of facebook, like pages like, Damn, black women are sexy, that shows photos like this that counter the images you see on TV. And for confidence about your curly hair, that is rarely portrayed as beautiful in media, follow pages like “CurlBox” that celebrate natural hair. For confidence about you skintone, also the first page I mentioned is good because it shows a healthy variety of women. If you don’t want to turn on the tv and see destructive images of the black family, with black female and male couples in TV shows being hectic, while interracial couples seem like a piece of heaven, then like pages and follow pages that show healthy black families and promotes procreating between black males and females. Yes it affects the actual relationship between your men and woman when your own relationship between one another is painted as negative, and black man with a white woman, or black woman with a white man is painted as ideal. There needs to be a healthy balance of strong black families in the media AND interracial dating. Not poor black families, with interracial couples seeming better or a great escape from the exaggerated negativity you see in the media. Because what it does is these images cause the male and female of the race to compete with each other for the “better”. It causes division. It also does this to Asian people. Asian females are sought after by white males…. While Asian male masculinity is attacked in the media, so paints Asian males as inferior to white men, and white men more deserving of the beautiful asian woman. The result? A gender war between asian males and asian females on internet forums, and there is always that group of white guys fueling the flames between the Asian genders by popping up on the forums and insulting Asian men, “Asian women prefer us over you” blah blah blah, taking a dirty kick to the groan of Asian men to make themselves feel better… This is what happens when you have an imbalance of the portrayal of interracial relationships and positive images of your own people. It causes a gender war,and no one who is the same race as another should ever have to feel as if they are competing for their own men and women to keep their race alive. It’s also rude to compare yourself to their men or women as if you are superior, and also VERY racist, to use media as a tool in aiding you as painting them as inferior. Because time and time again I hear Asian males complain about imasculating images of themselves in the media. I can relate because as a black woman, I notice that they literally pick our worst looking females from the bottom of a burnt pot to represent as the norm in their television shows while taking extra shallow care to put their best or at least average looking woman on the forefront. Black women are portrayed in a way that challenges our beauty, they pick the fat chick with a pretty face, or the fit girl with a man’s face, and if she is pretty, she is damn near white. You don’t see what they show on pages like this:

    https://www.facebook.com/damnblackwomenaresexy?ref=hl

    In the media, because it’s like we are some kind of competition and the media is used as a tool to eliminate that competition. So I totally see where asain males are coming from with their complaints, because media is used as a tool to attack us as well. Did I just rant? Yes I did. Sorry about that. I don’t even remember where I was going with this.

  • Dinkelberg

    Let’s just boil down this article to “HURDUURRR LOOK AT ME IM RETARDED GUISE”

  • Dinkelberg

    Censorship is cool.

  • Chel

    You do realize that probably 80% of the world’s population is people of color while only 20% is white, right? White people are the minority in the worlds population. There are more people of color countries than there are white countries. Also Africa is a CONTINENT not a country! Since Africa is a CONTINENT it actually has more countries that again are PoC. White people are not the majority so theres no reason for them to be the face of everything. Maybe look at a map of the world, look at world’s population, read something. I don’t know, just try not to be so ignorant next time.

    • disqus_uY0NzEnDey

      Oops didn’t mean to imply Africa was a country lol. But calm the fuck down , turbo. Let me go ahead and use the incorrect version of their/there/they’re next so that you can calm me ignorant due to a simple typo. I did a quick google search to try to back up your claim that only about 20% of the worlds population is white… couldn’t find anything. But then again I didn’t look for very long. In any case, categorizing people by skin tone is ridiculous. I am mixed with a number of different races, so why should I have to check a box claiming to be only one?

      Anyways – reverse racism is real. Losing a job opportunity to a “minority” when you are more qualified solely because your skin is lighter is discrimation. Not being accepted into a university due to quotas or not being able to receive financial aid/scholarships is discrimination. Until more people from all backgrounds demand that everyone be treated the same, the pendulum will continue to swing way too far to one side or the other.

    • Matthew Horvath

      You do realize that probably 80% of the world’s population is people of color while only 20% is white, right?

      Erm, so that means, by your own logic (if you can call it that) that white people aren’t racist and everyone else is. Good job.

      • Chel

        Actually no, because I never said it had to with population or which country is predominately white and nonwhite. I’ve been saying it’s institutionalized. Honestly, what is so hard to understand about colonization, white supremacy, and white privilege?

        • Matthew Horvath

          You’re a racist and a liar. Yes you did say many, many times that it has something to do with population. You argued with that other guy about it constantly, repeating the same lines over and over again (like reading scripture from a bible) until he eventually got bored of your inane ramblings (even though he proved you wrong on everything you said) and went away to go live his life.

          • Chel

            No actually I was saying that white supremacy is a GLOBAL problem. Which means it doesn’t matter which country. I went along with James’ examples, and because of COLONIZATION, white supremacy affect every country. He talked about Gambia, I mentioned that women whiten their skin (which is an effect of colonization, and Eurocentric standard of beauty that judges women EVERYWHERE. I also said that it doesn’t depend on the population). When he brought up Japan, I said how PoC can be racist towards other PoC but whites are not victims. I also mentioned how women in Asian countries go through drastic measures for the western look. Next time take your time and read my comments slowly.

  • Chel

    I don’t think you know what “systematic” means… Actually I do care about others, but I also know that whites because of white privilege and white supremacy, don’t face discrimination the way PoC have dealt with and are still dealing with.

  • mattman

    You are a total ****ing idiot. Live in the hood and see how well you are treated. I have white friends who grew up in the hood and were verbally tormented and forced to physically defend them self purely on race alone. Blacks, as a whole, are way more racist than whites at this point in time.

    You don’t see racism coming from the other direction because you have obviously not put your self in that situation.

    In the words of Travon Martin, us white folks are “Creepy-ASS Cracker[s]“….

    And before you start calling me a racist, I am in an inter-racial marriage…

    Here is why you are an idiot…. “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what
    they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their
    already existing privileges.”

    WRONG! ! ! ! ! When a person is given special privileges because of ONLY their color, it is reverse discrimination. There is not one Caucasian scholarship out there and you know it. Scholarships, for example, should ONLY be give for scholastic aptitude. I go 0 privileges for going to college for being white… I had to earn the grades. Black students going through school with me got full rides on a “C” average. How is that right? And before you comment on my grades, my college grades were ALL A’s and 1 ‘C’ for my complete attendance over 4 years.

    “….while it may feel bad to realize your privilege is crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted crumbling and the things you’ve taken for granted can be taken away from
    you, it is unfair, untrue, and disingenuous to call that experience
    reverse racism.” It is reverse discrimination because they are taking something from someone who has earned it, and given it to someone less qualified for the sake of balancing the numbers. That is such bullshit and I can’t even realize how this makes sense to you. How would you feel if the government just came in and took a child from you because those that can’t have children deserve them too, so you just need to go with out the child bore to you to balance out for those who can not have on their own? It is the same thing because the job I work hard to get, is forced to be given to someone less qualified, despite my hard work and efforts to excel.

    Any ways, enough time wasted because I don’t expect to get a single point through you head.

    Thanks for reminding me never to be surprised by the ignorance of my peers.

  • Angus McGonagll

    Racism simply put is a bias towards and against a “trait” (or group of traits). Biases of sex, gender, tattoos, physical abilities, side-of-the-tracks, hair color (curls or straight), skin color, medical illness (e.g. lepers in India, etc..), mental/psychological disorder, language, education level, clothing, religion, financial standing, etc… all exist the world over time immemorial. Bias is utterly pervasive. It’s not going away anytime soon. Our only recourse is to attempt to minimize it’s negative presence and adverse impacts on our lives.

    On any journey of discovery, learning, creation, etc.. there first needs to be some homework, a framework and some definitions. Once that’s done then we can begin shaping the piece of clay before us into the sculpture we have in our mind’s eye. Sadly though, I rarely see/hear the commoner (citizen, employee, coworker, etc…) intelligently doing so. They’ll gladly and profusely vent, blame, whine, etc… They’ll loudly protest and stomp their feet, but they’ll refuse to calmly sit down and rationally discuss the problem at hand and collaborate towards developing a solution. To that end, here are my two cents worth.

    The parties participating in these biases fulfill the two primary roles of a “supreme” and an “oppressed” character. There are other roles, but for this discussion we’ll just talk about these two.

    Bias is most assuredly a two-way street (a.k.a. reversed bias). Just as the supreme character can dislike, diminish, and/or mistreat the oppressed character, so can and does the oppressed character towards the supreme character. Admittedly, the degree of subjugation the oppressed character is able to or actually does inflict back on the supreme character can’t compare to the original acts by the supreme character. What soldier on a battlefront doesn’t shoot back? What person when slapped is not compelled to likewise retaliate? What person hasn’t disliked their boss at some point? Human nature is to fight back for ourselves/loved ones, to escape whatever unpleasant circumstances we’re in, and to feel triumphant over those that put/keep us there. Importantly though, the key to being civil and addressing the problem of this reverse bias in spite of this tendency is simply being aware of our proclivity in forming biases back onto our oppressors.

    As is evident in history and as is again the tendency of human nature, the oppressed character most often goes on to generalize their feelings about those “similar” to the original supreme role player. Look for example at the nobility and rulers of early civilizations. Kings were landowners and ruled in some fashion over their citizenry (even taxes are a mild form of subjugation), but were all kings harsh rulers? I’d venture to guess that some kings were honorable and socially conscientious. Regardless of those upright kings though, “all commoners” likely thought “all kings” were oppressive rulers. Look also at World War II for another example. Nazi Germans played the role of the supreme character. One could easily lump all Germans into being racist murderous Nazi’s. As history demonstrates though, not all Nazi’s were what we stereotypically call a “Nazi” (e.g. Schindler’s List). There were kind Germans and there were kind Nazis but all we think about is the evil gas chamber ones.

    Bias is not a (pardon the phrase) black-or-white issue, meaning that there are most certainly grey areas where aspects of it encroach into our lives. This phenomenon occurs despite our self-righteous beliefs that we ourselves are without bias. Agreeably, several biases are negative ones but many are beneficial. It is human nature to have a favoritism for those of “our kind”. Walk into any elementary or high school lunch room or read social/psychological studies of 4 or 5 years olds if you don’t believe me. Personally speaking if I was to walk into a room of random people, I’d gravitate towards those similar to my education/profession, background, etc… I’d feel more comfortable around them, we’d certainly have more to talk about, we’d understand each other’s jokes, we’d be able to benefit from the experiential learning of the others, etc… Simply put, we want to have something in common with those around us. It’s a basic human need to feel like part of a greater group. We abhor being outsiders. We get validation and confirmation by those in our community. This commonality creates a community (note the similarity in those two words). Commonality though isn’t developed overnight. It is hard work and takes the efforts of everyone at the table. It is created by fostering a communal sense of equality, a “coming together”, a deep appreciation of empathy for our fellow man, and more importantly an ongoing open two-way dialogue.

    I’d like now to briefly speak to the annoying issue of past grievances vs current ones. We most certainly should use history as a lesson for how we got to where we are so that we can figure out how to advance beyond and prevent the errors of the past. There isn’t a person who’d deny the existence of slavery nor how it has impacted things in today’s world. What is problematic though is when one is forever looking only backwards placing 100% of the blame for current dilemmas caused by slavery on those alive in today’s world. Continually placing blame, throwing up the race-card, crying “poor me”, etc… gets you nowhere. What does get a person places is getting up and doing something. I will not apologize nor coddle you for things done by people hundreds of years ago. I wasn’t there then. I wasn’t a slave owner. Nor though were you. There is no respect in taking credit for the work of others (a.k.a. cheating). Likewise there is no respect for you taking up the struggles of your forefathers as your own. We all across time have our own burdens to overcome. I take responsibility for my actions in the here and now and make those actions meaningful towards achieving my goals for the future. I expect all others to do the same. I will avidly support you in YOUR efforts in getting up and out of whatever pit you think you’re in, but if you’re too lazy to help yourself then I cannot fix that. Finally too, if I’m not hearing any ideas (just rants) for a solution then I cannot help you either.

    One last very important point is the “effect” of the bias. If a bias is one that only you hold against me and you do nothing to demonstrate nor externalize it, then no harm no foul as the saying goes. If you think I have a big nose or I’m fat, etc.. and you don’t say/do anything about your “thought” then I could care less. If on the other hand, based on your “thoughts about me”, you do say or do something towards me in a subjugatory, condescending, demeaning, socially/mentally/physicially harmful manner, then you are being abusively biased which I most certainly protest. Additionally, if your thoughts of me being “racist” or “fat” or “stupid” or “ignorant” or “uncaring”, etc… are acted upon by you (abusively biased) and you furthermore go on to incite bigoted hatred amongst your community towards me and my community (socially abusively biased), then you are most certainly biased and are the lowest of the low.

    So with all the above, what do we do? Well, as I said we need to first understand what happened in the past and evaluate how that has shaped our present. We then take that information and slowly and methodically whittle away at the problem spots until what we’re left with is pleasing. What we don’t do is lay blame and throw up barriers (e.g. writing an article/blog about how whitey’s are all racists and how we don’t understand bias and how we don’t understand oppression and how we don’t understand struggle). We ALL need to engender a sense of community and a sense of commonality even in those we think we don’t have anything in common with. I don’t know all of your story and you don’t know all of mine. Empathy.

  • Will_I_am

    “Reverse racism” is a completely made up word and does not exist. You are either racist, or you are not.

    And sorry to burst your bubble, but you’re a commenter? That qualifies you as what?

    Jamie Foxx said it was great that he got to kill all the white people.

    Lots of blacks wish they were amongst their own race in a world free of white people.

    MOST PEOPLE OF ANY RACE WANT THE SAME THING……we all just want to be with people like us, and everyone feels uncomfortable in a large group of people who are culturally different than us.

    If ONLY whites are racist then why in every major city do you have “little China” and other areas where a specific race masses together to live and work amongst their own?

    Everyone is a racist, get over it. It’s not going to change, no matter how many people are fired over racist remarks, but I would LOVE to see you hypocrit socialists actually pressure a racist who is NOT WHITE for just once in your life.

  • disqus_uY0NzEnDey

    Why don’t you just make up a term for when POCs discriminate against white then, since you refuse to call it racism. It exists , but it seems you don’t think a word exists to describe it. You’re very obsessed with dictionary definitions and seen to miss the point of certain communications sometimes.

    • Chel

      White people do not face racism. If white people did face racism I doubt they could survive. I doubt that white people are presently prepared to deal with the media that states that what they look like is ugly. They are not prepared to deal with a prison industrial complex that incarcerates white men at alarming rates. They are not prepared to deal with the stereotypes that black women deal with by virtue of being black-mammy, jezebel, welfare queen, matriarch, sapphire to name a few.

      They are not prepared to be stopped and frisk, they are not prepared to have the government watch your family like a hawk just because they are white. They are not prepared to live with the fact that their life has never held any value in this country. They are not prepared to be stalked in a store for shopping while being white. They are not prepared to have a racial slur that dehumanizes their entire existence. They are not prepared to have their history not be the core material. They are not prepared for white men, women, and children being killed every 28 hours by a cop or vigilante. They are not prepared to have their sons be stripped of their childhood. They are not prepared for stereotypes that dehumanizes them, and causes them to get killed, attacked, or face actual job discrimination.

      • Bry

        Lol. You are the biggest racist on this message board. The system beats every race down the same, get over it and take ownership for your life instead of blaming things that happened over a 100 years ago. Also the underhanded judgement that white people are weaker, is sorry to burst your ignorance bubble, RACISM, Plus black men are the ones that perpetuate the stereotype that white women are more attractive from what I can tell. Maybe if their mothers thought them generalizing groups of people was wrong they would have a bigger worldview than to perpetuate racism on their own people

        • Chel

          You do realize that blacks were finally able to vote just 50 years ago? The Brown vs Board case happen just 60 years ago. It was basically legal to lynch a black person just 30 years ago. STOP saying it was “100 years ago”. I’m not sure if you realize but after slavery ended horrible things still happen to black people.

          No, it wasn’t racist to say that white people are not prepared. It is true. They have been at the top, they have had so much power for centuries. They honestly would not know what to do if they actually faced the same things that PoC face.

          Black men have been taught that. White women’s beauty has been praised for centuries. It is because of colonization and white supremacy that Eurocentric standards of beauty is at the top. While PoC are suppose to be compared to that.
          Self hate which is what you are talking about comes from the affects of colonization and praising whiteness.

          I’m assuming you’re a white guy who wouldn’t understand.

  • Chel

    You are probably the dumbest person that has replied to me on this comment section. HBCUs (HISTORIC Black Colleges and Universities). These schools ALLOW white people to attend you moron. Have you even looked at any HBCUs before you came here to voice your uneducated opinion? These schools sometimes even offer scholarships for white students to attend.

    Every college except HBCU are majority WHITE. Go read and learn about race in Colleges and about Affirmative Action. http://fyeahcracker.tumblr.com/post/86453264259/how-can-i-respond-to-people-who-get-mad-because-poc-get

    Opportunities do not exist, it is still about white men getting the job. A black man with a CLEAN record is less likely to get interview callbacks than a white guy WITH a criminal record and SAME credentials.

  • Chel

    Did you even read my post or did you just want to feel like you could some how disprove my statement? What I mentioned was that women in Asian countries are growing through drastic changes to get the “western look” and to appear lighter. That doesn’t call for any statistics, it is still happening.

    http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/05/19/korea.beauty/

    http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/asian-women-are-turning-to-plastic-surgery-to-look-more-caucasian/story-fni0cx12-1226771358000

    http://www.asiancenturyinstitute.com/society/272-south-korea-s-plastic-surgery-obsession

    http://www.vice.com/read/south-korean-parents-are-making-their-kids-get-plastic-surgery

    http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-18268914

    http://www.china.org.cn/health/2008-06/02/content_15585579.htm

    Ever heard of google?

  • Chel

    Blacks can be racist to other PoC, but blacks and other PoC can not be racist to whites. What is so hard to understand about white supremacy and white privilege?

    • Ruby Rutter

      White people can be racist to other white people- for
      example, hostility towards immigrants, anti Semitism, racism towards the irish-
      this is founded in a hierarchy of the ‘preferred white person’ – this also
      links in with classism. However, in general, white supremacy means that
      environmental factors such as place of birth or accent or religion are not
      necessarily immediate signifiers of race, and can be disguised, and often are
      due to the prejudices of the ‘preferred white person’. A PoC cannot disguise
      their skin colour, and thus racism towards PoC is immediate. PoC cannot be
      racist towards white people because of white supremacy. PoC never colonised and
      oppressed white people on a mass scale.

      • Chel

        Exactly! Like I don’t get what is so hard to understand about white supremacy, and colonization.

        • Ruby Rutter

          I swear everyone on here is getting so angry, so defensive because of…..white privilege?! There is so much hate on here and we’re just trying to explain fundamentals. In terms of their arguments about black slave owners- Jewish people during the Holocaust acted against other Jewish people for their own gain- it’s called human nature being selfish and opportunistic, it doesn’t mean that Jewish man A was anti-semitic. Keep your head up, lots of narrow minded bullying going on on here x

      • WHITE BOY (SUPREME PACKAGE)

        HEY ASSHOLE RUBY THATS NOT RACISM THATS JUST GENOCIDE AND PEOPLE BEING EVIL TO WHITE PEOPLE. WHEN WILL YOU IDIOTS TAKE THE SHIT OUT OF YOUR ASS AND REALIZE SERIOUSLY YOUR WASTING SPACE ” oh my gosh this guy is being racist to white people even though he is white” is what you are all gonna say because your all idiots i feel bad all of us on earth for having to share space with you

        • Ruby Rutter

          This comment doesn’t even make sense to me?

        • Ruby Rutter

          You do realise that I am of the opinion that PoC cannot be racist to white people?

        • Ruby Rutter

          I swear you haven’t understood my comment, just hastily hit CAPS and went off on one.

        • Ruby Rutter

          Also, FYI anti-semitism is racism, Jewish people are a race not just a religion, but I am stating that if there were to be a hierarchy of racism, a PoC cannot be racist to a white person, because of WHITE SUPREMACY. Even if that white person was Jewish, they would still hold a standing in a White Supremacist culture.

    • ConcernedCitizen

      I only want to say my little piece and go. This article is completely ridiculous. I have encountered people who say “reverse racism” doesn’t exist before and could only laugh. The people who agree with this article either don’t know what they are talking about, feel white guilt, or are of a different color and want to make sure that white people are still feeling guilty. I am Black. I feel like I have to point this out or be called a racist. Members of my family have been discriminated against, people of color that I know have experienced racism. That being said, White People I know have experienced racism.

      Yes, racism does have something to do with believing that one race is inferior to your own. It also has to do with an intolerance of another race. You have probably had those definitions shoved down your throat multiple times in the comments. By those definitions ANY race can experience racism by another race.

      I would not call it “reverse racism” it is racism. If a white person is treated negatively by a person of a different color, That Is Racism. It has nothing to do with whites being the major players in America. It has nothing to do with laws made by white people to affect people of color. That would be racism on a larger scale. BUT, there are instances of personal racism. You cannot say that there aren’t. Would you really say that a white person being beat up by black people because of their skin color isn’t racism? He was treated differently because of his race. The Black kids dislike him because he is White.

      In this setting, a black neighborhood, the white kid would be the minority. The black kids would feel like a superior race. So, if he were negatively treated, that would be racism.

      I honestly believe that you have felt so much white guilt that you have convinced yourself that this is the truth when it is not. No, there is no such thing as reverse racism. There is racism and it can be felt by any race, even whites.

      • Matthew Horvath

        Thank you for this. Racism is something we all need to tackle together and shouldn’t be an issue where people are deliberately creating segregation. God, the irony! Yes, institutionalized racism does indeed exist and is a major problem, but that doesn’t make individual racism any less important.

        • k10k

          The most enslaved color on earth, has been white people, or respectfully saying ” eastern Europeans”. The beige colored Turks of the Ottoman Empire enslaved Romanians and Eastern Europeans in the millions for 400+ years. They also castrated a good majority of the men and raped the women. African slavery pales in comparison. If you want to worry about real threats look at China, they are making leaps and bounds with colonization in Africa. They too once ruled the world with their institutionionalized yellow imperialism, and they cannot wait to get back to it. k10

      • DeYoung

        Thank you for your insight. Commpletely what I wanted to say. You’re totally right it shouldn’t be called reverse racism, just racism. I’m Mexican American but I’ve seen plenty of whites (especially children) being picked on for their race as much as people of color. My family always reminded me that social class is what causes problems in Mexico more than racism. Looking at these comments I’ve become disgusted by how much the people denying white people don’t experience racism sound like colonialist themselves. Yes, on a social economic issue there are problems but its a fantasy to say all white people are well off wealthy descendants of land owners that all get to go to college. Poverty happens to everybody. I really feel that people getting beat up for they’re skin (ANY SKIN COLOR) shouldn’t be something that should be ignored. Hate just breeds hate when people say its acceptable for one race to be beaten over another and they definitely sound like a bunch of hypocrites.

        • Yesmetoo

          Thank you.

        • dez

          No one is saying it’s right for one group over another hate is hate. The fact is a PoC racist acts against a white person is an individual act and although terrible will not hold up anywhere here (I can only speak from my experience in the U.S) there are no systems in place that will validate and perpetuate it. It should also be noted that when children tease in terms of race esp children of color it is stemming from a deep sated sense of rejection they feel living in this world (which doesn’t make it right) they lash out at those who are in direct opposition to them. However, this is much likely less to happen if young children of color are taught from the moment they are born to know their culture to appreciate their physical attributes etc, that typically doesn’t happen when you live in the belly of the beast.

      • Chel

        Try reading what I’m actually saying. It don’t matter that whites are a majority in America. The definition of power + privilege does have some relation to the population but it’s mainly about colonization and white supremacy which both have global affects even in countries that aren’t majority white. ex Colorism which affects people in countries in South America, countries in Africa, countries in Asia etc. I believe whites can face prejudice, and discrimination on a personal level, but whites as a whole do not face this, or racism.

        White people are not victims of racism, and doubt they could actually survive if they were victims. I doubt that white people are presently prepared to deal with the media that states that what they look like is ugly. They are not prepared to deal with a prison industrial complex that incarcerates white men at alarming rates. They are not prepared to deal with the stereotypes that black women deal with by virtue of being black-mammy, jezebel, welfare queen, matriarch, sapphire to name a few.

        They are not prepared to be stopped and frisk, they are not prepared to have the government watch your family like a hawk just because they are white. They are not prepared to live with the fact that their life has never held any value in this country. They are not prepared to be stalked in a store for shopping while being white. They are not prepared to have a racial slur that dehumanizes their entire existence. They are not prepared to have their history not be the core material. They are not prepared for white men, women, and children being killed every 28 hours by a cop or vigilante. They are not prepared to have their sons be stripped of their childhood. They are not prepared for stereotypes that dehumanizes them, and causes them to get killed, attacked, or face actual job discrimination.

        White supremacy is the reason why whites do not have racism.

        • Jain Hayles

          Whites don’t have to deal with the shite Black people go through on a daily basis. So they deny that racism against Black exists, eg. Walking While Black, etc. It’s all, “things are different now”, “get over it”, “that was 400 years ago…”

        • Tom Krager

          yes because it has surely NEVER happened before right? Jesus Christ man you are delusional to the truth.

          • Chel

            Be specific. I have no idea what topic or what you are trying to say in this reply. In my long replies I usually address more than one thing so, you need to be specific on what you are trying to point out.

        • Anonymous

          “Ghost” is the slur I always heard for white people. The notion being that we’re already dead inside, and that our skin color proves it. Name derived from the Ghost Dance religious movement. We were the ghosts they were dancing to banish.

          I concede that our society glamorizes whiteness as beautiful to way too high of a degree. And it would be a truthful and positive change for us to include more black individuals in the history books.

          But absolutely everything else you’ve mentioned, the prison system, the stereotypes, the government surveillance, the life’s lack of value, the being stalked in stores, the constant killings, the lost childhoods, the job discrimination; all of these without exception are threats common to all poor people. White, black, yellow, red, brown, green, blue. All colors.

          You also forgot the way African-American accents are perceived and discriminated against by people with power. But not just African-American accents, Southern and Appalachian accents, too. Texan/Western accents, Native American accents, accents from Inner-city New York, and any accent that identifies a person as a recent immigrant. Even Minnesotan and Bostonian accents are considered silly, with the people who hold them stereotyped as bellicose clowns in the case of Boston and village simpletons in the case of Minnesota.

          Basically, any accent other than the standard wealthy suburbian accent of “General America;” black people are not alone in that discrimination either.

          • Chel

            The things I’ve listed do happen to all colors but they do not happen to white people on the same level as they do with PoC. The prison industrial complex is not collecting white men at alarming rates the way it is for black and brown men. The stereotypes about white people are not putting them at a disadvantaged in life. When white people go to airports that are required to have additionally “subtle” screening. No, white people are NOT going through a loss of childhood, neither are NBPoC. There was a recent study which showed how police and civilians view black and white boys of the same age. How white boys are viewed as innocent and black boys aren’t given that same experience. This relates to how black boys are treated by police and others, since black boys are viewed as older they aren’t allowed to make mistakes or be innocent the same way white boys are. This happens with black girls as well, but they are over sexualized at young ages.

            Do you realize how some things a coded in society. How thug seems to always point or imply that the person is black. The same for the word “ghetto”, although foreign accents do face some sort of mocking or discrimination still not on the same level as black people when they use AAVE. When non blacks use AAVE they are seen as “trendy” “cool” but when black people use it they are seen as less intelligent.

          • Anonymous

            Do not tell me how good it is to be white. I’ve had too many of my classmates put in juvi (yes, white ones) to think you anything but uneducated for your [[citation needed]]-grade assertions.

            …because you 100% sidestepped my assertion that these things you say are true mostly of black people are equally true across all POOR people. POOR. POOR. (Are you still going to sidestep my assertion about POOR people, or are you going to cite some statistics about why POOR white people are so much better off than other POOR people?)

            Most white people are not POOR. Hence, most white people are not disadvantaged.

            But the white ones who are POOR are much, much worse off than rich black people. (You do know that there are rich black people, right?)

            …because racism is not half so much a thing as is classism.

            You can tell me all about how things are coded in society against black people; but that’s literally only possible if you grew up in an area where most of the POOR people were black. I grew up in a town that was 93% white, and another 5% Native American. There weren’t enough black kids for stereotypes to form around them. Thug was used for POOR kids. Most of them were white. I knew of one who was black, but I didn’t know him. They lived in a particular area of town. We called that part of town by its name; “ghetto” is a word I learned in the context of the holocaust, so I automatically associated it with Jewish people. Not black people.

            Again, you can tell me all about how POOR kids do not lose their innocence if they’re white; you can tell that directly to the POOR kids at my school who couldn’t afford to do band or football with the rest of their friends. When they heard all of their friends griping about how expensive the lunch tickets were and then had to deal with the uncomfortable questions about why they got free lunches and their friends didn’t… you can tell the POOR kids how advantaged they are because of their skin tone, that would be a very kind and honest thing to say.

            “When white people go to airports…” is a laughable way for you to start a sentence rebutting a claim about POOR people. The POOR people in my town couldn’t afford airplane tickets. Going to an airport at all was a sign that your family was not POOR. The only black person that I knew personally growing up had flown to California. She hung out with the non-poor popular girls. (I call that clique popular, but they were also decent people, never arbitrarily mean. Thank God.)

            The thing is, your claims about how “society” is only apply to urban, suburban, and coastal America. I grant that that’s a particularly significant portion of the country. But still, the northern heartland, Appalachia, and many of the rural areas operate on an entirely different metric, a metric where it’s literally not possible to stereotype black people as always POOR and white people as always rich. That inability to stereotype people that way significantly affects the way black people get stereotyped. Namely, they don’t get stereotyped as “always-POOR.”

            Another example: I was genuinely shocked when I moved out East here and heard people regularly using the color-terms as if they weren’t dirty words. I was always taught that it was insulting and rude especially to call Native-Americans “red”, but also to call African-Americans “black”, European-Americans “white”, Asian-Americans “yellow”, etc. I’ve since gotten over that, but only for now, and only to fit in. I’ll return right happily to the polite part of the country when I stop living in this brash and barbaric hive of neurosis.

            I know all about how black people have the short end of the stick when it comes to race relations. But I refuse to pretend that the reason they have the short end of the stick is because of the color of their skin. The reason they have the short end of the racial stick is because everyone associates them with POOR people.

            …because low-income individuals people are the most-discriminated-against group in America. Poor people of all colors.

          • Chel

            I didn’t tell you how easy it is to be white. Having white privilege doesn’t you mean won’t suffer for struggle, it just means that in a society where race DOES matter you are favored and preferred over nonwhite. So having white friends that have been to juvi doesn’t mean their or yours (if you’re white) white privilege is gone.

            You can easily look up what I’m talking about. Google is an amazing search tool that’s filled with information at the click of a button. I do know there are rich black people but that doesn’t mean poor white people don’t have white privilege. They STILL have white privilege, white privilege doesn’t just go away. Race still trumps class, just by being black decreases a persons chance of getting a loan by 25%. Where as white people in similar positions, who should have been denied received a loan. http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2014/06/09/3446631/black-mortgage-approval/

            Just because YOU may have grown up with thug meaning anyone and that YOU relate ghetto to Jewish people doesn’t mean that the majority does. Those words are coded and if you were to ask anyone on the street what they thought of if they heard the word “thug” or “ghetto” you’d see that it is coded.

            Not being able to go to band of football games is not the loss of innocence I’m talking about. Black boys are viewed as older, than they are. Since they are being viewed as older they are treated harsher than white boys their age. Police act more aggressive towards them, black boys are not able to make mistakes and just be teens. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2014/03/black-boys-older.aspx

            Is being stereotyped as rich really that bad? I can imagine it getting annoying of having people assume you are rich, but can you explain how that is dehumanizing or degrading? If whites are being stereotype as rich I can imagine that people are thinking highly of them. That you would probably go far. I do realize that since people think they are rich then other might not feel obligated to help them.

            I do agree that poor people of all color are disadvantaged and discriminated against, but that doesn’t mean white poor people don’t have white privilege. There is a higher hierarchy though. You can have privilege in one group but be disadvantaged and oppressed in another. For example you can be privileged for being white but oppressed for being trans or gay.

          • Anonymous

            Okay, first off, my first salvo in our appeals to authority: the magazine Psychology Today.

            http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/are-we-born-racist/201011/racism-against-whites-the-overlooked-phenomenon

            “The stereotype of whites as racist has real and negative consequences for its targets. This has been shown in a recent study by psychologist Phil Goff and colleagues. The researchers conducted a study in which they had white participants arrange three chairs so that they could have a conversation with two black partners about a racially sensitive topic– here, racial profiling. The findings showed that the more that participants were worried about confirming the white racist stereotype, the greater distance they put between themselves and their partners when arranging the chairs. Thus their anxiety about seeming prejudiced caused them to distance themselves from a person of a different race. Other research suggests that concerns about appearing prejudiced take up so much mental energy among whites that their social skills become impaired during intergroup interactions.”

            —

            Returning to your comment, you said “people who shouldn’t have been given a loan…”

            How many poor people do you suppose can take out the kind of loans they’d need to get the kind of education they’d need to get the kind of resume they’d need to get the kind of job they’d need to live a better life than their parents? The whiteness doesn’t help, I assure you. I grew up in a rural area where 97% of the people were white. The self-employed white folks struggled hard to earn enough to get the tools they needed to earn enough to raise themselves out of poverty. There struggle and their whiteness combined couldn’t let them obtain success.

            And I would respectfully suggest that my rural upbringing means that I do know what I’m talking about when I say “poverty”; as per the source below, out of all the counties in America where poverty has been high for at least 30 years, counties labelled “persistent poverty counties,” eighty-five percent of them are in rural areas. And of all the persistent poverty counties in America, they can roughly be divided into four racial categories: Black, in the Deep South; Hispanic, along the southern border; Native American/Native Alaskan, scattered across the West; and White, in Appalachia and southern Missouri.

            http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentid=2013/11/0223.xml&navid=FARM_BILL_NEWSRT&navtype=RT&parentnav=FARMBILL2008&edeployment_action=retrievecontent

            Moreover, if you want evidence that poor people are directly persecuted by the rich, who have more power anyway and can therefore do more damage, check out the page below on PBS.

            http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business-jan-june13-makingsense_06-21/

            “Is being stereotyped as rich really that bad?”

            It can be bad if it means you have to deal with barely-hidden animosity from people who don’t know you.

            I was walking back from a church service for Maundy Thursday, during Easter. I was dressed nicely, because I’d been at church, but I’d also skipped dinner so I stopped in at a sandwich shop on the way back to my dorm. (I’m white, and a college student.) The lady at the counter barely looked at me, then brusquely asked what I wanted. She was stone-faced as she took my money, but when a lady came in with three young children, her entire demeanor changed immediately. Her shoulders visibly relaxed and a small smile came on her face. She spoke kindly to the family.

            I assumed she was just worried or something, and the kids took her mind off it. As I waited, two more students like me came in, dressed normally, and when the lady served them kindly I figured that must’ve been it. The expression that went back across her face when she eventually gave me my sub told me that was not the case.

            I’d been to that shop before, dressed normally, served by that same lady, nothing weird happened the first time. The only difference was whether or not I seemed rich enough to wear dress clothes on a Thursday night.

            But if you read the PBS page above, the you already know that’s an anomaly. I do too; it only happened once. It still might’ve been something else about me other than the clothes. I don’t know, and I don’t really care.

            I really do encourage you, though, to read the PBS page, because its entire point is to delve into the psychology of wealth. Wealth makes a person act rich. It makes them act domineering and arrogant, possessive and greedy. And poverty actually does the opposite; it makes a person more servile, more humble, more freely-giving.

            My claim is not that white people aren’t privileged. My claim is that the privilege is not related to racism; it operates on a different metric.

            The real thing you keep talking about when you say “white privilege” is that white people are associated with being wealthy and black people are associated with being poor. These things you mention? The arrogance against blacks, the domineering nature of this supposedly “white” privilege… those are direct results of the psychology of wealth detailed in the PBS study. So are things like poor social mobility and bad stereotyping. They’re not there because white people currently have a higher population. It’s not there because whites are considered “standard”. And it’s not there for white people who feel poor; it’s there only and exclusively because and among whites who are and who considered themselves rich. Because wealth, unlike race, exhibits a consistent psychological effect across all people from diverse backgrounds, one that cannot be undone by prior acculturation. (One that acculturation and culture-based methods cannot fix.)

            I’ve seen many studies like the one you cited, showing that many times, white people are racist towards black people. Racism exists. What I claim is that reverse racism also exists; or rather, racism directed at people not of color. Your narrative is flawed when it says that all white people experience privilege as a direct result of their whiteness; and it is flawed because it fails to see how anyone with the power to make a decision has the power to make a racist one.

            But speak your piece. I’m done arguing with you.

          • Chel

            That research still doesn’t show how being stereotyped as racist is as damaging as stereotypes about PoC. They are still more likely to get a jobs, loans, and get paid more. Stereotypes about PoC literally get them killed or make it harder for them to get jobs.

            Race is a key role in whether or not you can get a loan. Bottom line. Your stories aren’t proving anything. I realize that there are poor people of all colors, but the fact that just by being black decrease your chance of getting a loan by 25% is serious. Whites who were in the same position as blacks that were denied received a loan. What is so hard to understand about that? Whiteness does help.

            I’m not saying that poor whites aren’t suffering but they do have white privilege which can help them. So being stereotyped as rich gets you weird looks from people who probably thought you were snooty then.

            Privilege is related to race. I’m not associating white privilege with white people who are wealthy. I’m not associating black people with being poor either. I’m talking about white privilege because ALL whites have it, it does’t matter that some are poor and some are rich, they all have white privilege. White privilege came from whites being favored over nonwhites, it has nothing to do with who is poor or wealthy. White people have white privilege because of colonization, and white supremacy which has given them preference over PoC. Reverse racism doesn’t exist, whites may be victims of prejudice but not racism. White privilege is related to racism. Learn more about colonization, and white supremacy.

            Since you’re done arguing. Bye, Bye.

          • Loo

            Just wanna say that there is no such think as “people not of colour” lol everyone, literally EVERYONE has a colour.

        • Bonnie Harris

          what is it with all the deniers? i guess this article hit too close to home AND they didn’t bother to actually read it…she clearly talked about SYSTEMIC RACISM…not the individual racist attitudes…which are horrid, but are “child’s play” in comparison to the systemic racism…

          Thank You, Chel for attempting to discuss this topic on a reasonable level…i admire that…many PoC have given up because the (usually white) deniers refuse to shift their paradigm away from the narcissistic belief that they have experienced “reverse racism” which in reality, means nothing…it’s just a reich wing mantra that has caught on…and appeals to the weak-minded…

      • Nyah

        ‘White guilt’…sorry mate, but trying to balance the understanding that… white people out of all the races in the western world benefit financially the most is all that seems like is being said. There is overwhelming evidence, data and empirical studies that show that race and economic standing are intimately connected.
        Racial prejudice IS personal and…if it makes you feel better IS racism on a personal level…but racism in terms that are being defined here is… INSTITUTIONAL is NOT PERSONAL….not emotional….is technical. Yes?
        By the way…Irish people didnt live in hobbit holes…Europeans had a link in architecture, story telling and many other social functions as it was shared knowledge regardless of whether there was bad blood between many of them. So the culture was a system thats institutions functioned with greater similarity …it was an entirely different system, social understanding and way of life to that of many Africans and other indigenous cultures. Welsh people can still speak welsh, Irish people can still speak Gailic, They still can use their original names. They werent hated for their RACE…thats bullshit. Irish dont all have red hair and lily white skin, they were not identified by their race but nationality…essencially normans were Germanic tribes so some had pure white hair and blue eyes and some had brown hair, black hair and similar features to that of irish people and other Europeans.

        • Nyah

          correction… Angalos were Germanic tribes

        • dudders09

          So Irish didn’t live in honor holes and could use the internet…… check. Just making sure I’m jotting down all you morons idiotic statements to rationalize why blacks are the only victims of racism. Efing cry babies. Wwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh omg. Black mob violence against whites occurring in epic purporting across America while media turns a blind eye. You guys have it so look effing bad

      • Jain Hayles

        I don’t feel ‘white guilt’. Shame, maybe. But I acknowledge white privilege.

      • Tom Krager

        and if a post like yours doesn’t change their mind what will? Nothing . . .

    • Matthew Horvath

      Yep, blacks can’t be racist. I’ve never seen a black person call a white person a cracker, redneck or start a fight with someone because they are white. Oh no, wait, yes I have..

      Also, even going by your (and other racist nutters) incorrect (and racist) definitions of racism (one which totally excludes an entire race’s right to be defined as victims of racism), in countries which are predominantly black (and ruled by black people), then those black people are racist and any white people in that country are not racist. Though racist people are racist people, no matter the colour of their skin or the country they are in.

      Anyways, this has already been explained to you numerous times (and more eloquently than I ever could) by the other guy, and you didn’t listen to a word he said, so why should I bother?

      There’s no point in try to work out a dialogue with racist people who refuse to even accept that, because of their colour, they can ever be racist.

      In fact, people like you are switching off my ability to care about race issues altogether. You keep attacking people (because of the colour of thier skins) who do care that racism still exists and want things to change, while denying that those same white people cannot be victims of racism and continually blaming them for all your problems. Good idea segregating white people from every other race like that, it worked so well in the past, eh?

      So yeah, you keep pushing your perspective that it us whites against you blacks all you want and that all white people are responsible for your problems and we are all racist; all it’s doing is creating apathy from me and from others. It also shows me that if roles were reversed (like in the film White Man’s Burden) that the racism and prejudice on display would be far worse and more overt.

      Anyway, do tell, have you (or would you) ever dated a white person and would you enter into a serious relationship with one?

      • Chel

        Sorry to break it to you but “cracker” is not a racist, or even a racial slur. I also never said that black people couldn’t be racist. I even said in another post that black could be racist, so you either haven’t read what I’ve been posting or you are just trying to make things up.

        What is so hard to understand? Whites colonized majority of the world. The affects of colonization, and white supremacy are EVERYWHERE. What happens to a white person in a predominately black country, still isn’t racism. Historical context plays a big role. I mean, 500 years of genocide, enslavement, and pillaging is not equivalent to someone being called a “cracker”. (That’s including every country/ continent that was invaded and colonized by whites).

        White people are not victims of racism, and doubt they could actually survive if they were victims. I doubt that white people are presently prepared to deal with the media that states that what they look like is ugly. They are not prepared to deal with a prison industrial complex that incarcerates white men at alarming rates. They are not prepared to deal with the stereotypes that black women deal with by virtue of being black-mammy, jezebel, welfare queen, matriarch, sapphire to name a few.

        They are not prepared to be stopped and frisk, they are not prepared to have the government watch your family like a hawk just because they are white. They are not prepared to live with the fact that their life has never held any value in this country. They are not prepared to be stalked in a store for shopping while being white. They are not prepared to have a racial slur that dehumanizes their entire existence. They are not prepared to have their history not be the core material. They are not prepared for white men, women, and children being killed every 28 hours by a cop or vigilante. They are not prepared to have their sons be stripped of their childhood. They are not prepared for stereotypes that dehumanizes them, and causes them to get killed, attacked, or face actual job discrimination.

        I might date a white person, but they would have to prove themselves. I have nothing against white people, this may come as a surprise but my grandfather is white.

        • Matthew Horvath

          Sorry, but you’re either lying and playing dumb or you genuinely don’t know (that is worse) but calling a white person a cracker is racist.

          Let me educate you or something you probably know already. Cracker refers to someone cracking a whip, as in a slave owner. So, therefore, black people who throw out the word cracker at white people are saying all white people are racist, (potential) slave-owning oppressors. You obviously agree with that. Does your white grandfather know you have this opinion of him?

          You really need to look up what the word racism means. It doesn’t mean what you think it means
          I also have to wonder, if your grandfather got attacked by 3 black guys who called him a “honky”, pretty much told him it was because he was white, and he ended up in a serious condition in the hospital. Would you let him know it wasn’t racist, in your opinion?

          How about if they treated as a less serious crime (like they would in my country) because it’s not a hate crime? Do you agree with that?

          I’m guessing you’re saying Spanish people are white now? They aren’t. Yeah, they aren’t black (and generally have very overt racist attitudes) but they definitely not the same race as me. What about the Nazi’s, are they lumped together with all us evil white people even though my country fought against them because we didn’t agree with what they were doing.

          Also, not every country was colonized (by white men or otherwise) and
          not every country colonized was black. Not proud of my country, but
          their colonizing of other countries was nothing to do with skin
          colour. It was to do with taking any country that wasn’t ours
          (regardless of skin colour) in an ultimate quest for power. This may seem crass, but we were very much “equal opportunities” when it came to take over other countries. Just ask Scotland and Ireland. Christ, we pretty much fought our own people over the parts of America we’d colonized after initially taking it from the native Americans. This is how the US became the US, more or less (those Spanish people played a part too). So you saying it was a targeted effort by white people against black people seems a bit ridiculous when we were even fighting our own people.

          You should really read up on the Islamic Crusades too, just so you can educate yourself on the fact that it isn’t only white people (or Spanish people, which you obviously, and incorrectly, label as white people) that colonized countries in the PAST. I also find it amusing that any country who took part in their own colonization attempts are or labeled as the same people all committing the same “racist” crime for the same reasons in unison, yet you want to ignore the fact that certain Islamic countries have a long and bloody history doing the same thing.

          “White people are not victims of racism, and doubt they could actually survive if they were victims”

          Wow, how racist is this; you’re basically saying that white people are inferior and weaker (mentally and physically) than black people. Very racist and very ignorant and I couldn’t disagree more.

          I feel for those that went though segregation over there in the US and I applaud those that stood up and fought against it at the risk of their lives. I also applaud those white people who stood up for the rights of black people (when they didn’t need to) at the risk of their own lives too. I hope I would have had the guts to stand up for someones rights like that when it doesn’t benefit me. You insult the memory of those white people that died fighting for the rights you have now (when it would have been much easier for them to do nothing) by labeling them oppressors.

          Anyway, you weren’t even born during that period of time, and I doubt your parents are old enough to have experienced that disgusting period in time, so you can stop playing the victim for that one.

          Annoyingly enough, I agree with some of your points you’ve made. No-one should be discriminated against or treat differently because of the colour of their skin or because of their background. I disagree with how rampant you are making it sound though. I do not believe for one second you experience that level of racism on a daily basis. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen, but you’re making it sound like you’re living in 50s America, and we both know that’s BS.

          • Chel

            I know the history of the word “cracker” it still isn’t racist. 1) There were white AND black slave owners and overseers that whipped their slaves. 2) There were a group of cowboys in Florida named “Cracker Cowboys” because they used a certain whip instead of a lasso. 3) There were even baseball teams named Crackers. The Atlanta Crackers and the Atlanta Black Crackers. Black people did not make “cracker” up to oppress and dehumanize white people. They had no power then they had no power now.

            My white grandfather is actually a civil rights lawyers who understands institutionalized racism. What do you mean treat it is a less serious crime? You do realize that when black or brown people kill whites they are more likely to get the death penalty than a white killing a white person? Or the fact that in cases when it’s a white victim and the offender is black or another PoC justice is almost always served, and the offender faces a harsher sentencing than he would if he was white.

            Spanish people are people who came from Spain, so that has to deal with nationality not race. People who come from Latin America speak spanish but they are Latinos or Hispanic, which is an ethnicity and not a race either. Anyone can be Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish though. About your country, from the UK, right? They did fight against the Nazis but how are they doing now? UKIP? BNP?

            The British actually invaded all but 22 countries… That’s basically 90% of the globe. Shall we think about all the continents that were invaded? North America, South America, Africa, Australia, then parts of Asia. Breaking down into all the countries would take too long. Even though they didn’t colonize on the basis of race, it was still used to dehumanize people. All those years of people being dehumanized doesn’t just go away when people want to start being nice. The historical and intergenerational trauma is real.

            I haven’t been saying it’s just about black people, although a lot of America history has to do with blacks there are other races involved. The difference in the colonizations that took place in other parts of the world is whether or not the oppressed people on the basis of race or religion. Majority of the colonization that took place in history people were being oppressed because they were a christian, jewish, or muslim.You can’t hide your race, when you are being oppressed because of it. Also other people that might have oppressed people on the basis of race didn’t go and colonize the world, they colonized a few specific areas.

            I wasn’t being racist when I said I doubt white people could survive, I wasn’t calling them inferior either. White people have always been taught their history, they have always been looked on as better, their ancestors have not faced the same history as many PoC. So honestly white people would not know what to do they have been in the position of power for so long.
            The things about the great white allies then and now, they were actually good allies and didn’t try to invaded an be a part of everything. The white allies that wanted chafe new they had to protect the PoC that were facing discrimination. The went and taught other whites. White allies now don’t do that. They are more about being nice and trying to police PoC behaviors even though the anger that PoC and other oppressed groups go through is justified.

            Actually, both my parents faced discrimination and racism head on. Especially my mother with her parents being a interracial couple in the south. My father had to deal with housing discrimination that blacks faced in the north. I’m also not playing the victim either, I haven’t talked about the discrimination I have faced. I have been talking about how white supremacy affects the world, how whites are not victims because of white supremacy and white privilege. I’ve only mentioned things that PoC deal with when a topic was brought up. So I haven’t been playing the victim.
            Well no one calls me the N-word when I walk down the street so I guess thats good. But, the racial disparity in America is actually worse than it was in the 1950s. We don’t have the same laws the way we did in the 50s. Eh but, schools are actually more segregated now than they were 60 yrs ago.

          • Tom Krager

            none of what you said changes the fact that black s use cracker as a racial slur for white person. Do you not know that’s what they do?

          • Chel

            A cracker is type of food. Even though blacks do use it about white people the word is not oppressive or dehumanizing. The history of the word is not about it being dehumanizing either.

          • Tom Krager

            It kind of is tho. They are trying to insult you and make you feel less buy calling white pl cracker. why else would they do it? Saltine . .. ever been called that?? You think being called a literal cracker isn’t being dehumanizing?

          • Chel

            The word cracker was never made by blacks to oppress whites. The word cracker isn’t censored, the word cracker is not equivalent or comparable to the N-word.

          • eilismaura

            http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/114806/where-does-the-term-cracker-come-from-and-how-disparaging-is-it

          • Chel

            You just sent me to a forum where people are discussing the word, that isn’t proving anything. 1. Blacks did not make up the word to oppress whites, they had no power to oppress whites. 2. The people discussing are even talking about the same history I listed.

        • Tom Krager

          Cracker is a racist slur and white ppl did not colonize the world.

          • Chel

            Cracker is not a racial slur. Cracker is not a racial slur. It was never made by blacks to dehumanize or oppress whites. Blacks had no power to oppress whites, the word cracker has no deep oppressive history behind it either.

          • Tom Krager

            your talking about blacks as tho they are some kind of organized group . . .as if they are a school of fish or something. im sorry but plenty of blacks have had much power over the lives of white ppl. Watch the news sometime and look at the instances of white ppl being brutalized by blacks. How is that not having power over someone to oppress someone if you are beating or robbing them?

          • Chel

            You aren’t understanding… White person being attacked by a black person is not the same… Oppression as a SYSTEM is structural and institutionalized. What that white person is facing is something on a individual level. Whites as a whole are not being oppressed, they benefit from the oppression of PoC.

          • John

            Yea, but the media is making black look like they are menacing. There are many instances of white policemen commiting police brutality against PoC but th
            at is not mentioned as much as what you said.

        • dudders09

          So is the definition of racism tied to just historical occurences? If so then imquite sure no one alive today on the slave.. So why would calling them a crack a be ok? I notice you have made blacks the only victims in your definition of racism.oh snap you blacks better be carefully with that monopoly, I smell white imperialism rubbing off on your white privileged gatherings

          • Chel

            I haven’t made blacks the only victims in “my” definition. I actually said in a different post that PoC can not be racist to whites. I included all PoC. I’ve been talking about white supremacy being a global problem. I’ve talked about women in different countries and what they are doing.

            Also stop assuming it’s all about slavery. Do you realize horrible things happen even after slavery ended? People that were oppressed in the past are still alive. The Civil Rights movement happened just 50 years ago…

      • WHITE BOY (SUPREME PACKAGE)

        HEY MATTHEW PLEASE CHOP OFF YOUR FINGERS SO NOBODY WILL EVER HAVE TO READ THE SHIT YOU CALL YOUR COMMENTS OK? YOUR A DISGRACE TO THE HUMAN RACE GO HOME AND CRY TO YOUR OTHER RACIST FRIENDS YOU A-S-S-H-O-L-E

        • Matthew Horvath

          lmao, Pipe down with your white-guilt anger, you f**king idiot. I’m racist and my friends are? Really? You don’t have a clue what you are talking about. My wife and friends will have a good laugh about that. Do you judge people as racist if they don’t secretly want to be black, like you?

    • Kat

      Ignorance.
      This is like saying women can’t be sexist toward men. Yes they can.
      I understand its not comparable. If you would make that your argument instead of this extremist viewpoint, people might be more receptive. I challenge you see past whatever anger or hurt you’ve experienced and really look at what is going on in the world today.

      • Chel

        Women can’t be sexist towards men. That also involves privilege + power as well. Misandry does not exist, men do have male privilege they also hold so much power. Reverse racism and sexism do NOT exist. If you are a member of a group that is privilege, you cannot be oppressed by the same institution that has granted you preference.

        Seriously though who wouldn’t be angry? Do NOT try to police my feelings or tell me how to deal with it either. I am not for that tone policing BS. Were your trying to be an “ally” or something by giving me that awful advice?

        Want me to look at what’s going on in the world today okay! Heres a few questions from me talking about the world today:

        How does the fact that black men facing longer sentencing than whites who commit the same crime not make you mad? How does the fact that law binding citizens have their privacy violated just because of where they came from not make you mad? How does the fact that little black boys are getting stripped of their childhood not make you mad? How does the fact that people deal with colorism which comes from white supremacy not make you mad? How does the fact that black and hispanic men are more likely to get the death penalty not make you mad? How does the fact that simply being black decreases your chanced of getting a loan approved by 25% not make you mad? How does the fact that studies about PoC get banned because white people think it will make them look bad not make you mad?
        How does the fact that a white man WITH a criminal record is more likely to get a interview callback than a black man with a clean record not make you mad?

        • LardMasterFlashForReal

          Right, you’re regurgitating the same muddled thinking that was taught to you. The difference here is that I’m thinking on my own terms, while you’re trotting out an old line. Again, some academic making a claim does not make it true. There is absolutely no consensus (nor will their be) on this business of only people with power having the ability to be racist. It’s an unproven, specious claim. I reject it because it fails the basic logic test.

          If you wish to talk about institutional levels of bigotry, I’m all for it. Great idea. But don’t sell this nonsense about racism not applying to all human beings. Prejudice is *not* the right word either – that could apply to many things; it merely means a judgment made before hand. I, for instance, have an unreasonable dislike of people from Yorkshire. I also dislike Minnesotans (sorry!). I pre judge them. Not specific to genes or race. Racism, however, is.

          Look, I’m not one of these people parading about claiming white people have it bad. We don’t – it’s great on this side of the fence. I mean, *real* good. I’m just a stickler for reasoning and semantics. Please reconsider your position and think about using the best language possible to make your case.

          • Chel

            Actually no one taught me anything about this topic. Anyone can see that white people do have privileges. Anyone can see that even jokes and stereotypes about white people aren’t dehumanizing or causing them to face discrimination. Anyone that pays attention can see how the media covers events when it involves whites and PoC. Anyone can see that Eurocentric standards of beauty has shaped people’s views on who’s beautiful and not. The racial disparity is blatant, and white supremacy is blatant. No one had to teach me anything, I’m able to observe and see on my own.

            I’m going to stick with my position. White supremacy which has taught people around the world that whites are superior is the reason why white people are not victims of racism.

    • Tom Krager

      it doesn’t make sense and It ignores reality . . . it also ignores the definition of racism . . lol come on dude you cant seriously be this silly.

      • Chel

        Its actually not that hard to understand. If there are white people that can understand how colonization and white supremacy is what society was built on, then I don’t get why it’s such a hard concept for other whites to understand.

    • dudders09

      So if someone who is a white victim from black mob hatred should just realize it’s the blacks inalienable right to kill a cracka? Your such a silly hoe

      • Chel

        If a black mob went out to kill a white person they would probably get life or a death penalty. You can look at cases of black on white crime and see what happens to the black offenders. If you are going to insult someone at least use the correct spelling of YOU’RE.

    • Emily

      But in an earlier comment you said white people can’t be racist to other white people. but black people can be racist to other black people?

      • Chel

        No, I never said that… I never said that at all.

  • Chel

    I haven’t listed any of my problems. I have listed problems that are facing people on a GLOBAL scale though. You can keep telling yourself that but white people are not victims of racism.

  • Chel

    Please read my comments carefully. I was talking about slavery in America. I know there were black slave owners outside of America, but again I was talking about America for a specific reason. What is so hard for you to understand? You should also look up that not every single slave that came to the New World was sold by other Africans. Many bought their way because they thought they were going to see the New World but were tricked, many were kidnapped by Europeans, and of course the majority was sold by other Africans. I never said they weren’t, so I’m not sure what you are trying to prove.

  • Chel

    Ugh you are so boring. White people aren’t facing any discrimination on the basis of their race. White women are actually the biggest recipient of Affirmative Action. If you were to look at the data about race quotas and Affirmative Action, you can see that White people are suffering. On this link I’m giving you they listed a links that provide more information scholarships etc. Go read and learn. Or you can just google the statistics yourself. Plus there are even scholarships for white people so it’s not like only minorities get race based scholarships.

    http://fyeahcracker.tumblr.com/post/86453264259/how-can-i-respond-to-people-who-get-mad-because-poc-get

    http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/20110902racescholarships.pdf

    • White people be like…

      Chel, I genuinely applaud you for actually persevering against these white bigots, but they are either entirely ignorant or willfully ignorant. Remember that an important facet of privilege is the fact that those who hold it do not see it (unless they hold genuine concern for other people and actually try to learn about it).

      These people aren’t going to listen. I don’t know why they’re even here. They EVIDENTLY did not read the article or else paid it no mind.

      I thank you for fighting, where many like myself would have been unwilling to engage. You’ve inspired me and I hope I can draw strength from you to call out racism more often.

      Hats off to you.

  • Chel

    I didn’t avoid anything, I address everything in a reply that is directed towards me. It’s not my fault white supremacy and white privilege is the root of everything. Also in that comment you are talking about I mentioned “reverse racism” in the last paragraph because it’s funny how white people say it’s reverse. I mean what they are basically saying is that they started the racism, and discrimination. So how could it possible reverse and negatively affect them, when they have always been benefitting from it?

  • Eric

    The naive and wholly brainwashed writer of the article is an unfortunate part of our society. For it is we, normal people, who must endure the stupid spew of gibberish which has been published in an attempt to say black people are somehow incapable of being racist towards other nationalities.

  • david gorski

    im a white hetero christian male and this article is painfully ignorant. i only needed to read about two paragraphs before i realized that the indoctrination and brainwashing the author received from america’s public “education” system was complete.

  • H

    This racism against settled real well on here:
    http://sometruth-beta.tumblr.com

  • Howard Milstein

    The piece is ingenuous, adulterated lleftist propaganda that is politically and historically inaccurate. A leftist a dream and fantasy world that is in her mind!

  • Doniboy

    What a foolish little article. Your disgust with white people is sickening. Grow up.

  • paul

    Your premise that it is impossible for
    “minorities” to exercise racism is false because, 1) it assumes white
    people (or the majority of white people) act in concert, with the same
    motivations and the same goals, intentionally or otherwise subverting the motivations
    and goals of “minorities” and 2) that racism relies on
    “global” control and not “local” control.

    Regarding (1): How
    can any person with certainty claim that a white Jew, Catholic or atheist,
    white homosexual, a white middle-aged man/woman, a white young man/woman, a white
    political conservative or a white political liberal share the same motivations
    and goals? While there exists a broad classification known
    as the “white race”, it requires a “leap of logic” to claim that white people
    as a whole systematically act as a group to subjugate “minorities”. So
    diverse are the motivations and goals of white people that many adopt the
    views/concerns/issues of “minorities” and, as a result, become part of that “minority”. In this way the “power” of the “minority” is
    transformed and increased and can, like any other “power”, be applied
    inappropriately.

    Regarding (2): It
    just a falsehood to believe that racism can only exist on “global control” basis. In fact, I would argue, it is “local control”
    that is the breeding ground for all types of racism almost exclusively. Local influence or power by “minorities” can
    and do exert control over the global “majority”. A perfect case in point is the NBA and its reaction
    to Donald Sterling’s comments. While everyone
    is in agreement that Sterling’s comments are detestable, the actions taken by
    the NBA are a direct consequence of local control by the “minority”. While many believe the actions taken by the
    NBA are justified, that is not the relevant point. The point is whether the NBA would have
    taken the same actions against an owner if he were black and made racist
    comments against white people. (In the
    same way that Al Sharpton’s and Spike Lee’s racist comments and actions are all
    but ignored by today’s society.) Any place or situation where “minorities” have
    local control, whether it be economical, political or otherwise, can result in
    racism against the “majority”.

  • paul
  • Jennifer Ebunilo

    I get where you are coming from with this 100%. Reverse racism is such an idiotic term. In it’s defintion, reverse racism should be a POSITIVE thing meaning no one acts toward racism but you know, some people don’t think well enough.

  • aus

    I hope the author knows America is not the centre of the world and in Australia ‘minorities’ get way more than anyone else

  • Wasatchwoman

    Is there such thing as reverse sexism?

  • HOODYWOOD RECORDS

    BROVO! Finally a white person who gets it Great article!

  • redcan

    Reverse racism is just racism by a black person. If you’re black, you don’t know what it is like to be white. If you judge a white person prejudiciously or to a different standard than a black person – you are racist. BTW, white people do find the term ‘crackr’ offensive.

  • redcan

    If we are all striving for equality, why promote the idea that only white people can be racist?

  • Matthew Horvath

    Calling a Chinese person a “yellow man” is extremely offensive and racist. tut tut.

  • shane

    The funniest part of all of this is this argument originates from The Bell Curve, which also stated that blacks are on average 20 IQ points less intelligent than whites, and their curve does not stretch out far enough, that is why their societies have remained stagnant. The book also goes on using this argument and your arguments to assertain that blacks cannot be racist because they hold no systematic power, due largely to lower iqs and our intellectually dominant Western Culture. So by following The Bell Curve, you either agree with his assessment and agree their are massive IQ differences between blacks and whites and IQ differences between geniuses in males and females which if believed undermines all of feminism by stating it isnt patriarchy but innate ability that separates men from women, or you denounce all of it and see that there are numerous power structures, and within cities like Detroit there is not a single white member on the boards and many people refused to vote for Duggan because he was white, and people like myself are often pulled over and oppressed by. police for driving while white in a black neighborhood, and this fits all your so called paradigms for racial oppression and social dominance. But of course I doubt you even knew this originated from Critical Race Theory, a book feminists have been dismissing for years.

  • Josephus Jones

    You are speaking from an ideologically-narrow, patronising, America-centric, CRT standpoint. Your students deserve better.

    Racism (which is not necessarily institutional) has existed since the beginning of time and has been present in EVERY society. Would you say that prejudice and discrimination by Han Chinese against minorities in China is not “racism” because it isn’t derived from “the West?” Or that the centuries-old Arab slave trade of sub-Saharan Africans was not grounded in racism, because it was not “Western?”

    Get off your high horse and realise that racism, slavery or indeed institutional privilege, does not necessarily involve “white people” and does not only occur in the “West.”

  • Pling Plong

    Racism is a word that has been around for a while, it is a word that has a specific meaning both according to the dictionary and according to the people.

    http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/racism

    As the author of this article, you are in a position of power, power to influence. That means you have a responsibility towards the people that you affect with your words.

    Just like the dictionary states, racism is “Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior”

    Please DO NOT hijack this word and exclude a people from it because it will cause confusion and will give people the percieved rights treat a people worse. I have already seen people make nasty remarks towards white people and when confronted with it, laugh at it claiming they are in the right because they can’t be racists.

    People are going to have the original definition of racism in mind when they think and act, so please do not redefine this word. If you want to have a word to describe what MINORITIES experience in a place where they are the minority, please come up with a word that fits the purpose because what you are doing right now is dangerous.
    It is about the majority that is in power in each specific country right? As “A naive article” said, if I travel to another country and shout RACIST words to the original population, I am still being a racist. Maybe they will just laugh at me because of my clearly unfavourable position, but it is the act in itself that matters, because racism already has an established meaning.

    You and anyone else that sais there is no such thing as reverse racism are only contributing to dividing this world further. If you want to help people, help people.

  • Pling Plong

    Sorry, I just have to add this.

    When you say to a white person, (or any other person whose skin color is the norm in their specific country) you cannot be subjected to racism, you therefore say to the white person:
    “You cannot be subjected to prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against you, nor can someone act this way against you based on the belief that their own race is superior.

    Likewise, you are saying to any non-white person “You cannot be prejudiced, discriminate or behave in an antagonistic way towards a white person, even if you discriminate, hold prejudice against or behave antagonistically towardsa white person”

    In other words, because of free interpretation, you are giving people an excuse and an alibi to discriminate and subject white people to racial hatred.

  • A WHITE BOY (SUPREME PACKAGE)

    ANYONE WHO SAID THAT RACISM DOES OCCUR TO WHITE PEOPLE IS NOT ONLY DUMB BUT AN ASSHOLE. first of all you all need to pull your dumb adult white whatever values that are shoved up your ass out because i’m about to tell you why your dumb. first i’m white. and i’m a boy. i literally am the luckiest person there is nothing better then being white and a male because what is anything negative about being those two things? being white i’m automatically given a huge advantage for doing nothing and being a male is just the icing on my big white cupecake. anyone who says that being white isn’t better is AN ASSHOLE YES A ASSHOLE SORRY PAULA DEEN. then you got this ” your being racist to white people” NO YOU CAN’T BE RACIST TO WHITE PEOPLE AND ONLY WHITE PEOPLE WHO ARE ASSHOLES SAY THIS BECAUSE THEY WON’T ADMIT THAT THE WORLD THEY LIVE IN IS SO FUCKED UP AND THAT THEY HAVE MORE ADVANTAGES THEN ANYONE! you CAN’T be racist to white people since literally racism Racism is when intolerance in government laws, attitudes and ideals of a society are ingrained in a culture to the point where patterns of discrimination towards a certain race are institutionalized as normal. Now even after that definition you are gonna be like “well dictionary.com says thats not the definition” well listen up honey THE DICTONARY WAS WRITTEN BY WHITE PEOPLE AND GUESS WHAT? THE FUCKING DICTONARY THAT YOUR READY IS WRONG IDC WHICH DICTONARY IT IS TRUST ME IT’S WRONG YOU ASSHOLES. when someone is making a jab at you that relates to your white skin its just them calling you out by your privilege! ” i was bullied in school for being white so that’s racist” NO ITS NOT ITS SOME KID MOST LIKELY NOT WHITE WHO IS BEING MEAN TO YOU BECAUSE HE IS MAD THAT HIS MOM DIDN’T GET A JOB THAT SHE QUALLIFED FOR JUST BECAUSE SHE WAS OF COLOR. ” he called me a cracker” FIRST BITCH YOU BETTER SHUSH EVERY WHITE PERSON I KNO LAUGHS AT THAT WORD UNLIKE WHEN SOMEONE SAYS NIGGA YES IF YOUR WHITE YOU CAN’T SAY THAT BECAUSE YOUR NOT BLACK SORRY YOUR LIFE MUST SUCK SWIMMING IN ALL THAT PRIVILEDGE. PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN’T BE RACIST TO YOU BECAUSE EVERYTHING IN THEIR SOCIETY THE ECONOMY THE GOVERMENT EVEN THE FUCKING LAW IS BUILT UPON THEIR WORK FOR US WHITE PEOPLE. SO WHEN SOMEONE OF COLOR IS BEING MEAN TO YOU AND YOU THINK THEY ARE BEING RACIST STICK YOUR FINGER IN YOUR ASS AND PULL OUT THE SHIT YOU ARE BECAUSE I’M DONE WITH WHITE PEOPLE ACTING LIKE BEING WHITE ISN’T A GIFT SO YOU KNOW WHAT KEEP ACTING LIKE PEOPLE OF COLOR CAN BE RACIST AND THAT BEING WHITE ISN’T AN ADVANTAGE JUST WAIT AND IN A FEW YEARS EVERY SINGL RACE OF COLOR IS GONNA START DOING WHAT WE DID TO THEM ON US SO HAVE FUN WITH OUR JOBS AND COLLEGE ACCEPTENCES AND OUR SAFETY BECAUSE IT WON’T LAST LONG I PROMISE YOU. AND WE DESERVE EVERY SINGLE BIT OF IT TOO BECAUSE US WHITE PEOPLE ARE ASSHOLES!!! oh and that guy with the “well i suppose i’m going to be that one white person” NO YOUR NOT SADLY A LOT OF FUCKS LIKE YOU ARE ALIVE AND WASTING ALL THE RESOURCES ON BEING ASSHOLES!!! either take my advice and be a human or KEEP BEING AN ASSHOLE idc your going to hell anyways sorry being white covers everything but a sure ride to heaven! anyone who disagrees with my comment can go fuck themselves with knives because i hate anyone who disagrees sorry hope i didn’t hurt your white feelings i know its a hard life being white!

  • http://www.divaonadetour.wordpress.com Linda Burke

    Love the post – and anyone who wants to really dialogue (instead of throw opinions around, which unfortunately often happens with topics like this) should check out the latest blog entry on http://www.jeremiahgibbs.com. It is a well-written example of one (white) man’s experience of racism – and yes, I agree that there is no such thing as “reverse racism” — Racism has many layers…..

  • Johnny James

    Racist or not, you are really f–ed up. Developing stereotypes that are dominant over other opinions is a load of bullshit. Hate is hate no matter what motivates you or who you are or what color your skin is. Failure to accept that basic fact is stupidity.

  • Seriously Sick of This

    In Canada I have it no better than anyone else. From where I stand no one is in any better of a position than anyone else. You know what breeds racism it is ignorance. Anyone can be ignorant; every race has its racists. All of these things are exercises in power no matter what the person’s skin colour is. Get over yourself. People still saying they are at a disadvantage because they are (insert whatever colour or ethnicity here) are just creating excuses that aren’t even valid in these days. Yes, whitey controlled it all and set it up in the past and yes built into the laws there are western moral codes but honestly everyone has to obey that code and unless you are rich or something we all suffer under the same laws. This old argument from the 1980s needs to roll over and die. Oh and there is no such thing as “reverse racism” it just is called racism plain and simple. Oh by the way, grouping all white people together is just racist in case you didn’t realize it.

    • James Allan White

      Can I say Amen? :) Racism will exist as long as we keep it as a dialogue. The news and elections always dialogue race so that we cannot get past the idea that were suppose to be seperate because of skin color. White people taught their children racism and black people retaliated and taught their children racism and I suppose hispanics taught their kids racism all because not following the right path. To abolish racism we have to learn to forgive and Love each other as the inteligent animals we are. A Lion does not hate the Zebra he just wants to eat and the Zebra does not hate the Lion he just wants to Live.

  • objectivemisandrist

    If there is one person that disagrees with the “white people experience racism too”, like the very wonderful and admirable Chel (I applaud you brave soul), there are 10 attackers gang-raping their argument with cries of “someone picked on me once because my ancestors who were insane unhuman psychopaths and the current main powers holders of the world share my skin color but hold up I’m a good person and you’ve hurt my white feelings so I’m going to call you ASSHOLE AND START TYPING IN CAPS BECAUSE I’M SO HATE FREE” and a few people of color saying “racism is racism cuz hate is hate”. You are all just projecting exactly what you are and how you feel, which is why you are on this blog and commenting dissenting “arguments”. Chel, I just feel bad for all of these really sad people who feel the need to lash out because they want people to know that white people have feelings too. Let’s name a few Hollywood movies to prove that point. Titanic. White people. The Notebook. White people. How many black films can you name that aren’t about slave history? Hmm…. can you even? You know you are ugly on the inside and your white skin may not be evidence of that but you’ve shown everyone how disgusting you are, and you are continuing to make white people look bad. :/

    • James Allan White

      I remember the racism in Army basic training in 1977 and it was real. Age 17 I was in the barracks shower at Fort Jackson South Carolina when four black men entered and told me to get out that they were there first. When I refused they were going to kick my ass. They would have if a Korean wouldn’t have stepped in and made a Miagi rescue like in the Karate Kid. I do not know what I did to cause them to want to kick my ass. I cannot see this as anything but a racist agenda. I do acknowledge that History was not good to black people in America and everywhere that Europeans used them as slaves. Since you are black I presume could you explain to me if black people hold animosity over the slave issue that created the racism in the first place? I feel that there is reverse race hatred which is constructed from the relization that white people were advantaged through the course of American History. I believe affirmative action has decreased the disadvantage that black people experienced, and, many black people have surpassed the low middleclass to poor white people. So, racism is real and it comes from all races on ANY GIVEN SUNDAY. Peace and neutral discussion we have to work towards getting past the past and building the future to be race free and Human Race positive.

  • GodIsWithYou

    To my fellow commenters …. It’s not that black people cannot discriminate… It’s not that black people aren’t capable of corruption…but when it comes to racism…black people cannot be racist because it’s not blacks hating whites because of the color of their skin. It’s blacks hating white privilege which stems from systemic racism. I don’t expect for those who are white privileged to get it because when they wake up in the morning they don’t have to think about being black…they don’t worry about their sons and daughters going for a walk outside at night…they don’t have to make sure they are dressed up to go into a store because if they don’t they will be profiled…it’s things that white people have privilege and they don’t realize it because they never had to live a life without it. STOP BEING SO DEFENSIVE…LISTEN AND LEARN!

    • James Allan White

      I see your point, but, I declare, that: sincerely, the majority of whites do not hate blacks, or, profile them, or, prey on them. These white people do not understand why racist hate towards black people still exist. Who are the white people that still want to hurt black people? Where are they raised? Why are they still hating black people? What is the source of that racism that has not been abolished?

      • http://cultureandpsych.blogspot.com/ GodIsWithYou

        Hello Mr.White, I do believe that you sincerely do not hate blacks or profile or prey on blacks. Now-a-days when people apply for jobs, online they make them take an online test. These test typically ask questions some where along the line of “do you think most people steal” do you think most people are good” and etc. The reason why jobs ask those questions is because typically people are culturally/ethically biased. People generally believe that people are a certain way based upon their own life or culture. Which is why the idiom “birds of a feather flock together” is so popular. People generally hang around people who are like minded thus seeing things from a lens that is specific to who they are and what they are around. I applaud you that you weren’t defensive with your response.Where are those people who hate or believe in white supremacy you ask? They’re all around. READ The New Jim Crow Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness…. READ System Racism by Joe Feagin (WHO IS A WHITE PROFESSOR)…. YouTube Jill Elington A Class Divided…. White privilege isn’t meant to be straight forward. Please watch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbIUEiDBPPg

  • Anonymous

    Dictionary definition of racism-the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, esp. so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races or prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on such a belief

    White people do experience racism all throughout the world and internet. People will assume that I’m racist just because I’m white, or people will assume that because I’m white I’m some whiny little jappy rich brat. Just google it and you will find a lot of pictures advertising quite offensive stereotypes about white people. So no, it’s not “boohoo you got chased home for being white.” that is a form of racism and prejudice. So next time you go and make a politically incorrect article please do your research.

  • lee

    I’m white and grew up in an orphanage in Hk. You people dont know the meaning of racism.

  • James Allan White

    I am 54 white man living in San Antonio for 5 years now. I use my Chapter 31 benefits to attend UTSA. I am a minority in San Antonio, Tx. and the University. I am not a privilaged white person. I grew up lower middle class and was denied entry into General Motors plant in 1979 because of affirmative action. My uncle worked their, my father in law and a Mexican friend of the family. I used them all as references but was still denied entry. It hurt but I found entry into the Military and finished a 20 year career. I have been a christian since 1971. The philosophy that Jesus taught did not support any particular race, or, racism; therefore, I pulled away from that white peer pressure to develop a white supremacy attitude. My point: racism exists in all of us no matter what race we are. Racism is something that requires self control. You become a racist when you unleash that racism that everyone contains from their sociological experiences. I experience hateful looks from Hispanics, Blacks, and even Arabic Muslims. It hurts and I feel that white racism wanting to come out, but, my faith and undserstanding of the devine philosophy that Jesus contributed to this world helps me to maintain self control and focus on Love. :) Jesus said: Love one another as I Loved you when I was with you. He died for standing up for what he believed in. I believe he is the Son of God and is resurrected and the Holy Spirit is available to all of us. To lead us away from temptaion to be racist, a hater and all those things that contribute to continuing racism in the world.

  • Guesty

    This is utter liberal garbage.

  • Jay Simons

    REALLY? SO just because you are black or some other skin color or race means you can’t be racist? This is beyond stupid…Racism is racism regardless the color of the bigot.

  • Anthony Rae

    Hello Sara Luckey, I have a question regarding our “white privilege”…as both myself and my girlfriend are homeless…and white…so where do we get our privilege?

    It’s obvious that this is a one sided, emotional rant that didn’t spend enough time on the draft table before publishing. May I ask how many countries you have visited? And just curious if you are aware that racism is something that persists in all cultures, against all cultures, it’s a disgusting and pervasive thought that has poisoned children because they will read articles like yours justifying their own thoughts, and before you know it, indoctrination kicks in and you will never look back.

    There are only just problems, not in regards to one race or one gender, or even one species! We need to learn to respect all life, and until articles like this, that allow for a thousands year old disgusting belief to still persist, go away, then we will be looking around at one another constantly wondering… “Hmmmm…I wonder what it is going to take to change the world.”

    Good question, start with number one next time instead of poking the finger at everyone else.

    “Our zealous search for justice, is often little more than our instinctual yearning for retaliation dressed up to look respectable” -Dan Dennett

  • Troy

    Poor little girl, you obviously have a lot of growing up to do

  • Kat

    I just have to disagree. I’ve experienced it… and it is real… and it does hurt. I don’t go around talking about it. And I do agree that it is to a MUCH MUCH lesser degree than my friends families experienced not too many years ago by our ancestors. It is also to a lesser degree than what is still expererienced even today. Reverse racism, as we’re discussing here, exist because of what happened in the past here in the states. It wasn’t as long ago as people want to make it out to be. It is still fresh on some of the older generations’ minds and I’m more than positive that this trickles through to our generations today. Not that I need to defend myself but I am very liberal and I have a soft heart. I hurt when anyone is discriminated against.
    This article’s very essence is a bit racist because you are grouping all light skinned people into a category, downplying their experiences, and saying “you can’t experience this because you are white.” That seems like discrimination to me. This is like saying Germans can’t be discriminated against because they discriminated in the past against Jews. It is just very closed-minded. I understand the sentiment and I also understand that there are people who go on innapropriate rants about how “hand-outs” and “African American ____” Groups/Societies (fill in the blank) are reverse racism. I disagree with that completely. However, I know that I have been shown hate because of the color of my skin, which happens to be white, and it hurt. And that is racism. It ALL needs to stop but we have to all help with that, whether we have experienced it or not.

  • Matt

    If you are white, all you need to do to potentially experience racism is go somewhere in this world that is not white-dominant. In the US, people of color tend to bear the brunt of racism, but this is not true everywhere. The fact that racism is cross-cultural and pre-dates western institutions shows that racism is not inherently perpetrated by whites and aimed against people of color. Instead, it would appear that it is perpetrated by the closed-minded against anyone who is different from them.

    Racism, in some forms, is institutionalized, and this form of racism is clearly problematic and clearly causes more problems for more people than other forms of racism. However, not all racism is institutionalized, and it would be unwise for us to forget that once a society’s racial prejudices are internalized into an individual, that the individual also needs help – not just the institution.

    By merging racism and social power dynamics into one argument in the way that you have done here does not so much illuminate racism, but illuminates social power structures. Perhaps you are trying to bring to light two separate, but overlapping, social problems

  • Kellymarie McColl Beggs

    Racism is racism whether the perpetrator and/or victim is black, white, Asian, or purple polka – dotted. Racism is discrimination based on RACE. I’m certain that parents of Kriss Donald would argue that their ‘reverse racism’ experience was racist to the core. Their fifteen year old son was murdered by an Asian gang who specifically hunted for a “white” victim. You can read the article here:

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1533624/Boy-murdered-by-gang-in-search-of-a-white-victim.html

    By writing such an article you have immediately condemned all of the positive work done by people from all races to encourage diversity and equality. In the USA there are “no-go” areas for Asian people, Black people, Hispanic People, White people etc. In Africa, there are tribes who banish/kill any members suffering from albinoism because their ‘white skin’/lack of melanin pigmentation is a “curse”. They are murdered for their body parts in other areas as some consider the albino gene holds ‘magical’ curative abilities. There are hundreds of thousands of victims of racially motivated crimes from all backgrounds. Not one society can claim to be racism free. Yes, there may be events which may be misconstrued as racist, however unless society makes inroads into the relevant awareness required, there will sadly be one – sided comments such as your article.

  • raphjd

    Much of the language that’s used in this article is from a white hating tumblr page that white hating racist frequently link to.

    Racism is racism, plain and simple.

    If it’s racist for a white business owner to refuse to hire blacks, then it’s also racist for a black business owner to refuse to hire whites.

    Affirmative action discriminates against lower income white and asians, while benefiting all people of all other races regardless of income levels.

  • raphjd

    The language in this article is from white hating websites. In fact, I would bet that much, if not all, of it is cut n paste.

    According to white hating racists and those suffering from blinding white guilt, a black boss can refuse to hire whites and not be racist, but reverse that and it’s always racist.

    Affirmative Action actively harms poor whites and asians, while unduly helping wealthy blacks and hispanics. So while it maintains the status quo of helping the rich, it’s actively discriminating against poor whites and asians because of their race.

  • Varanen

    This is a terribly moronic column. I really despise dogmaticism, and it really shines through here.

    What if I, as a white person, moved to saudi arabia (where being brown skinned muslim is the norm) and people started hating on me because of my skin colour. How would that NOT be racism? Occasionally you have good points but you let them derail completely due to your overload of ethnocentricity. There is structural racism, and there’s individual racism. Stop pretending like the first one removes the possibility of the latter one ever existing.

  • John Oh

    I agree, ‘reverse racism’ isn’t real, but it’s more a terminological thing. ‘Reverse racism’ would just be tolerance. Other than that, disagree, whites can be the victim of racism.

  • Nyah

    ‘a bit heavy, though, on the oppression the Irish faced, and a bit light on the common tendency displayed by many Irish Americans today, that is, to forget that their ancestors were allowed to work their way into whiteness, and to “achieve” all the gain (and loss) that that entails, while others were not allowed to do that. I sometimes grow weary with hearing white Americans say, “Hey, I’m Irish, and we suffered too, but we made it, didn’t we, so why can’t they pull themselves up by their proverbial bootstraps?” And so on.’

  • Miguel

    I was taught by a black professor in an Institutional Racism course, that yes, reverse racism does exist. I was shocked to learn this, and didn’t immediately accept the idea, but he was right. Picture a place like Haiti, for example. If you’ve ever been there, you would see that whites are discriminated against, kept from jobs and from participating in society on a daily basis without fear of violence.

    It is not such a black and white issue.

  • This is “journalism” LOL

    …..You’re an idiot. Unless you simply wrote this to bring traffic to your site. In which case you’re a pathetic idiot.

  • Nyah

    There is no definitive Celt or Anglo-Saxon look. Many of the Romans were in fact Britons who adopted Roman ways of life (known as Romano-British) in the three and a half centuries the Romans were in Britain.

    You could claim that Celts were light-skinned and red-haired, Anglo-Saxons blond and blue-eyed and Romans olive skinned, dark hair and dark eyes – but that would not be accurate, they are stereotypes that have been applied.

    It is not safe to assume all English were Anglo-Saxon nor all Welsh were Celt. You are also missing other waves of immigrants in the centuries in between.

  • Nyah

    Your picture is from 1899 and was from the U.S, no? Brittish didnt consider you a different race til at a time way after ‘brittish’ came into contact. The correct term would be angalo-saxon (Germanic) and also Norman (French/ Germanic). After 1066 there were many whites who were considered Celts who were actually a combination of Norman and some old Roman ancestory.

    “However, I sometimes encounter citizens of the U.S. who claim to be “Irish”instead of white, when anyone looking at them would clearly see them as “white” instead of “Irish.” I mean, just how many generations does this sort of “Kiss me, I’m Irish! Don’t worry, I’m not white!” card last?

    White people still routinely complain about people of color who supposedly “play the race card,” but they rarely blame other whites for playing what amounts to the ethnicity card. That card is routinely used to dismiss discussions of today’s racism — “Yeah yeah yeah, my ancestors had it bad too! They were the ‘blacks’ of Europe, and they even got called black in the U.S.!” And that kind of talk usually leads to this kind of talk: “If my people could do it, why can’t they too?” Never mind that those Irish who were called “black” and other slurs didn’t have to stay black, and thus didn’t have to struggle with all that black and other non-white Americans still have to face.

    Do you encounter white people who make these kinds of selective, derailing appeals to the sufferings and hard work of their ancestors?

    I’d like to happily drink some green beer today while wearing something green and kissing someone who claims to be “Irish.” But too often, the memory of Irish oppression becomes a weapon for beating back explanations of how white racism remains an entrenched, pervasive set of problems.

    It’s classic, delusional bootstraperism. “

  • Jemma

    Blame me because I’m white. Blame me for everything my ancestors may or may not have done hundreds of years ago. I’m just a prejudiced, racist oppressor. My opinions and views don’t matter because I clearly have no idea what I’m talking about since I’m just an ignorant white girl. I’m also the epitome of white privilege for raising these points.

  • Racism is never cool.

    I’m a white male, and I realise that perhaps I can never truly understand what PoC go through, often on a daily basis, even in the country I come from. I’ve never had any real awareness of racism, against me, in the UK – and I know that this naivety is a gift of inherited privilege.

    But – I don’t live in the UK anymore. I live in a country where I am the racial minority. I get the very strong impression that the author of this article has never travelled to China… well, things are very different here. The treatment of white people here, that I’ve both seen, and experienced, can be worse still than any situation cited in the article above.

    Even to call one type of racism “reverse racism”, is basically a strawman argument. You’re setting it up to fail. Why not call it what it is? Racism is racism, and it is abhorrent. Regrettably though, it seems to be a common feature to all cultures around the world. Protecting the “in-group” by rejecting or degrading the “other”…

    Sure, the author lives in the US – a predominantly white-centric country. That’s pretty shitty. My own homeland, the UK, is just as bad (or, historically, perhaps even worse).

    But, it’s insulting (and potentially dangerous) to go throwing these half-baked ideas around as if they apply to everyone who’s reading your article. Maybe there’s some truth in your words, as they apply to your own backyard… but if you took the time to have a look at the rest of the world, I think you’d find your theories somewhat out of touch with the reality.

    Denying someone rights, or basic human respect, based on the colour of their skin, is unacceptable – but you don’t help matters by saying:

    “It’s not okay to be racist to this person… but that person? Yeah, you can say what you like to that person. It doesn’t count, because their ancestors were a bunch of b*stards and they have the same skin colour as most CEOs.”

    Racism won’t be fought with knee-jerk reactions like this. Not through an attack on the perceived privilege-group. Surely it’s a better use of your time to advocate for no racism, to any person, any time?

  • Nyah

    thats BS. When white people came here they were on the page with the whole situation. They mostly agreed with the colonization process and that the indigenous were ‘uncivilized heathens’ and the blacks were ‘inferior sub-species’. There was no real movement to share equally with the indigenous. Many white people are associated with slavery and the mass inequality that it brought as it was not stopped earlier nor prevented from happening.

  • be333

    Straight from dictionary.com. One of the definitions of racism is…
    ”

    hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.”

    There are definitely blacks that do this just based on someone skin and what they think that person represents. There are asians that do this to blacks and whites. Mexicans that do this to asians and black, etc… Every race has racist people. So yes there are blacks who are racist against whites. Just because it isn’t SYSTEMIC racism does not mean it isnt racist.

  • dave

    I think the term reverse-racism is elitist in itself. ITS JUST RACISM. Is it only reverse because the whites are the superior race? We are the MINORITY. So that is the only thing to explain this retarded term.

  • anon

    I agree that reverse racism isn’t real, because racism is. And just because you happen to match the racial characteristics of those in power does not mean you cannot experience racism. I was just cornered by four very threatening individuals, who said, “Whities better get outta here. You white girl better leave now if you don’t want trouble.” By the way I had said nothing to anyone and was in line for a late night pizza. Earlier today I was told I was “not a white girl, just European, but that doesn’t mean you’re not pretty baby.”This is not to negate that other people experience this daily and institutionally. I just to say that it can go the other way occassionally. I have nothing to complain about in the grand scheme of things. A cop would have sided with me, no questions asked (shameful), and while I was nervous, probably no harm would have come of me no matter what the situation. While institutionally, this is insignificant, it does not mean my experiences did not exist and that I was not hurt by the incidents. Just because it is not institutionalized and not a frequent occurrence, as minority racism is, does not mean that reverse racism is silly or impossible.

  • Goranson

    According to the line of logic in this article, and in other articles like it, the best solution to racism would be dis-intigration, or mono-cultural, mono-ethnic communities. Since white people are apparently unable to be oppressed and their society perpetually oppressed people of color, it would then logically follow that only by separating white people from everyone else could that oppression ever cease to exist. Strange that authors like this talk about this problem but then stop at complete non solutions like “we need to have a dialogue about racism” or “we need to listen to PoC talk about experiencing racism” as if that was any solution to anything.

    Why not end white oppression right now by ending white interaction with minorities? Then whites could only oppress and exploit each other.

  • Beth

    “There is no system of oppression in America that actively works to
    oppress and subjugate white people. Sorry to break it to you, but your
    individual suffering is just that, individual. The individuals acting
    against you do not have the institutionalized power to actively oppress
    you in every facet of your life, nor would their racism be upheld and
    supported by government, media, and legislation if they did. Because
    you’re white.”
    I’m white and a woman, so as a woman…there is institutionalized power that can oppress many facets of my life. Also, what happens when you’re born with one privilege and not the other (ie. as a white woman or a black man)? Why isn’t sexism taken as seriously as racism? There was a video on the internet making fun of a white woman and her reaction to a black man in an elevator. It’s a common stereotype that white women are scared and racist when it comes to black men. But shouldn’t the fact that we’re stereotyped in the first place be considered equally sexist?

  • jo robin

    Thank you, thank you, thank you. I feel as though I have been saying something similar, consistently, since I moved out of activist circles and back into one of the whitest Northern states in the country. Basically whenever someone tells me about that time a black person threw a rock at them, or that time someone called them cracker, and declares it reverse racism I try to say as simply as possible: “I’m sorry that happened to you, and it was not cool. BUT…trying to compare your one instance of prejudice or bigotry to thousands of years of cultural and systemic violence against PoCs is akin to being the rich kid on the school trip where every student is only allowed to carry the same amount of money. Your screaming about how you have a RIGHT to buy more, meanwhile completely oblivious to the kinds in the class who literally don’t even have as much as the maximum.” It’s petty and it trivializes absolutely real, deep, and awfully violent oppression.

  • canarycoal

    There is Racism and there is Institutional/Systemic Racism. I am incredibly suspicious of those in the social justice movement that attempt to confuse the two. Anyone can behave in a racist manner. Even in a world where power + prejudice = racism.

    Power is not only expressed within institutional systems. Individual Power can come from being a supervisor and power can be an act of violence using a gun. When one abuses their individual power while motivated by prejudice, that person is committing an individual act of Racism.

    Stop hiding individual acts of racism behind the discussion of institutional racism. It serves nobody.

  • Jain Hayles

    It was only a couple of years ago that I got into an argument about just this. I was commenting that a Black woman was being ‘racist’ Anyway, I was being told that a Black person couldn’t be racist; because Whites have all the power, Blacks are ‘predjudiced’, not ‘racist’. At first I was saying, “Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to call it. YOU know what I mean”. So, I checked it out, a Professor had been named. I can’t remember his name, but I checked him out. EVen then, I thought it was bullshit. Then, after weeks, I think, I got it. Your article articulates this very well. I think I would’ve gotten it sooner, if I’d read your piece first.

    Also, it’s always amazed me when I see White people kissing up to Black people, looking for approval for being so UN-racist. Then, if they don’t get the ‘approval’ they expect, they get pissed, attack, and come with the reverse racism or ‘race card’

  • canarycoal

    There is Racism and there is Institutional/Systemic Racism. I am incredibly suspicious of those in the social justice movement that attempt to confuse the two. Anyone can behave in a racist manner. Even in a world where power + prejudice = racism.

    Power is not only expressed within institutional systems. Individual Power can come from being a supervisor, or what about the power of a gun? When one abuses their individual power while motivated by prejudice, that person is committing an individual act of Racism.

    Stop hiding individual acts of racism behind the discussion of institutional racism. It serves nobody.

  • be333

    I changed my mind. I guess you’re right that reverse racism is technically not real. But there is such a thing as blacks being racist against whites.

  • Vikinglord

    This has become a nation of victims and sensitivity police propaganda to keep the hate alive and keep people feeling helpless to help themselves. This article is irretrievably inane. I sure hope this person is actually paid to spew this dribble, but in today’s world, probably.

  • Data KING

    As a white person with an education let me teach you all something. This ARTICLE is your enemy. It is using your racial qualities to build increasing controversy in order to make advertising money off of you.

    You’ve been played, not by race, but by GREAT Marketing.

    Black minorities have lost, white supremesists have lost, I have lost, you have lost… we have all lost.

    You are all numbers. Data analysis is the SLAVE OWNER and the numbers are all the SLAVES. By visiting this site, can you guess what YOU are? ;)

  • Kalevera

    This article has some good points. Some.
    There is no such thing as ‘reverse racism’, I agree.
    I agree because racism is just racism no matter which race it is against.
    Every race has people that dislike other people from another race.
    White people can most definitely experience racism just as any other race could.
    To say that whites can’t is kind of racist in itself, no?
    And why would there be a different word for racism against whites (reverse racism)?
    Get a grip. That is so stupid.
    Racism is bullshit no matter which race it is against.
    Its not a contest on who gets the most racism directed at them in a life time.
    NO ONE of any race should ever have to experience any racism but unfortunately, people do still have to endure living in a world where racism clearly still exists.

  • Denise Bland

    Thank you for setting the record straight!

  • Tom Krager

    oh .. . so that news article about a white family being beat (yes the entire family) for being in the “wrong neighborhood” and being “white” weren’t actually instances of racism . .. I get it. Glad a fucking feminist had to educate me on that one. If you didn’t notice the sarcasm, my comment was full of it.

  • Obviously…..

    During the 1970s, a support group in Birmingham, created to combat racism, offered to pay employers to hire black workers. That’s how I, a white person, lost my first job. That is a systemic, economic, power structure. I was turned down for another job with the county because of the color of my skin. I didn’t fill the quota. Another systemic, economic, power structure. And, a friend who applied for an educational opportunity was turned down because she was black, which made me very angry. Don’t dis white experiences. Listen to them. They are a part of the whole picture of people of every color trying to figure out how to change social structures and systems. The goal is to make it good, with great respect for everyone. Keep fighting. And keep evaluating. Just understand that all experiences add more to the learning opportunities.

  • Equalitymeansequality

    My family is interracial. We adopted my African-American sister when I was about 4 years old and in Mobile, AL. My oldest memory is having the back of the family station wagon rammed by a bunch of bigots in a pickup truck because my father dared to raise hell after we were refused seating together in a segregated restaurant. Don’t you dare try and tell me I’m not a victim of that disgusting racism too just because I’m white. Bigotry can strike anyone anywhere and even white people have the right to an opinion. If you don’t like open forums where whites can share their experiences too then I’d suggest you stick to books.

  • mosullivan15 .

    Quick apology for those reading this; I am writing in word and
    copy pasting into disqus because it is very slow for me, so the formatting is
    quite odd. On with the show~

    Dealing with you is very difficult Chel, because you have an
    opinion and are willing to defend that, come hell or high water. The problem
    here is that you seem to ignore any point that is legitimate, and rebut the
    weakest points. You are what is called an ideologue, or a person who has a near
    fanatical belief in a system, political view, or something of the like. I, as a
    person, like to put on an idiotic front and argue with legitimate idiots. I do
    this because having an IQ of 157, and only being in contact with people who
    understand the way the world works gets very boring. However, having talked
    with you, and seeing as you have trouble dealing with what I wrote, you clearly
    are not in any way an intellectual.

    Now, let’s start by walking through all of your mistakes. In
    your first paragraph you say “You try to equate things that aren’t even related
    to each other. For instance when you talk about white girls hair being
    ‘unprofessional’”. Well, that point was made in response to you saying that
    black people are told their hair is unprofessional. I replied by saying that
    both white and black people are sometimes told that their hair is
    unprofessional, and that there is no racial component. No job ‘polices’ hair
    whatsoever, except the military, and they have a guideline to how one must wear
    their hair. No matter what is said, people interoperate what they see on the
    news. That’s why we have people like you, that’s to say people who are wrong.
    You continue with your incoherent line of thought with ‘Jobs aren’t creating
    rules that are forcing white women to change and assimilate’. Well, jobs aren’t
    doing that at all. Perhaps there are a handful of jobs that are created by
    racist bigots, but for the most part they do not force assimilation. However,
    because you like that word so much, let’s look at its literal definition. According
    to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, assimilate has many meanings, but the one
    you probably are trying to use is ‘to cause (a person or group) to become part
    of a different society, country, etc.’. Now, how would saying something like
    ‘wear a suit and reasonable hair’ cause assimilation? You’re final string of
    words is ‘cosmetic companies tell women of colour that lighter is better’. I
    have made the point that people with a lighter completion are told darker is
    better. The most attractive skin tone is generally considered to be a
    Latin-American colour. Just as a fun little add on, you say ‘when ever you try
    to come back you use illogical fallacies.’ I can understand you not
    understanding the thoughts of a better person, but you go on to say ‘what’s so
    pathetic about you is…’ which is ad hominem, and therefore a fallacy. Also, as
    you would know if you ever when to school, you understand that you need
    reliable sources. Not sites with obvious biases like ebony.com or Al Jazeera.

    As for ‘Lumping all Asians together’ I am simply saying that
    people from the Asian continent are the most successful, y’know, the way you do
    with white people? In fact you expressly said that white supremacy puts white
    people at the top, even though there are entire groups of white people who are
    unsuccessful as a whole. I am by no means saying they are all the same, nor am
    I denying that they have individual cultures and histories. I’m sure that there
    are people who are being ‘fetishized’ but that’s most likely a problem faced by
    a minority, not the entire race-gender group. Calling me ‘a ignorant asshole’
    and saying I shouldn’t be expected to learn is very far off who I am as a
    person. If you actually had a basic understanding of who I am you’d know that I
    was in Afghanistan pushing out the Taliban for stripping people of their
    rights, specifically women. I was fighting to revoke what they’d done as far as
    taking people’s freedom to religion and instituting corporal and capital
    punishment.

    For the last bloody time, Rwanda was a series events that was
    set in motion way back when Rwanda had its first king. The whole monarchical
    dynasty was Tutsi. The Mwami (king) Rwabugiri created a system wherein the
    Tutsi were rulers, and the Hutu were labourers. After Belgium left the country,
    the Hutu kicked the Tutsi out of Rwanda to Uganda. The displaced Tutsi moved on
    to create the Rwanda Patriot Front, and caused a civil war. The RPF
    assassinated the president of Rwanda, causing huge racial tension. The genocide
    started when the segregationist president Juvénal Habyarimana was killed by a
    SAM missile. You are free to blame colonialism, but the fact of the matter is
    that to do so, you have to ignore literally a thousand years of history, and be
    wrong.

    Now, you may have missed the point of women engineers to global
    warming. If you ever went through grade 12 math, you’d have learn that there is
    something called correlation. In math, this means a relationship between 2 sets
    of data. So, we see that in 1995, only 11.6 percent of engineers were women,
    and it has risen to 17.6 in 2004, to 22 in 2008, to 46 in 2014. Now, if the
    average world temperature rose from 0.2 degrees from 2004 to 2014. Now,
    OBVIOUSLY women engineers aren’t the cause of global warming, but there is a
    set of information that would show they do, proving you wrong. However, this is
    important because it is a great example of the contribution of the Arabic
    empire. They discovered that correlation is not the same as causation. That
    means that because two sets of data appear to be linked, doesn’t mean they are
    related. So, just because fewer African people got a job in a couple of tests,
    doesn’t mean there’s racism at foot. Now, as for looking at history, well
    there’s a lot of things that would make me thing that the world is better and
    more fair today than ’20,30,40,50 years ago’.
    There has been stuff like the fall of the KKK (especially considering
    the third clan no longer has a racist viewpoint) or the removal of segregation.
    In fact, one might say that people like you (Anti-Caucasians) show that racism
    against non-Caucasians has most been rooted out, which is for the better. Now,
    as I was saying, early resumés have an up to 30% higher chance of being
    accepted over those who submit their resumés at the last minute. It does have
    something to do with their diction, google that word so that you understand
    exactly what that means.

    Now, you try to refute what I said about how ludicrous one of
    your ideas was. You say to praise European standards of beauty is to be white supremacist.
    That is a complete fallacy. If praising the viewpoints of one society is bigoted,
    then praising Afro-centric viewpoints is racist right? Or is there a double
    standard?

    Now, my understanding of respectable politics is that people who
    are visually different than the majority must act a certain way in order to be
    accepted as equal. This is bullshit. All people must act a certain way in order
    to be respected not just minorities. If you think about a street person or a
    drug addict, there is no respect for them regardless of race. This whole theory
    just looks at the hoops minorities have to jump through, but not the hoops that
    the majority has to jump through because they have a starting biases. The same
    goes for everything that people shouting “That’s racist”. They start with the
    conclusion and then find evidence to support it, just like what you did. It’s
    called the echo chamber effect. Racism in Hollywood can be dismissed as
    artistic choice.

    Respectable politics: http://www.gradientlair.com/post/62640967706/dear-can-you-help-me-a-bit-im-trying-to-find-your

    Well, the way the criminal court works in basically the whole
    western world is fairly similar. They use what’s called a jury system, which
    involves a number of random citizens with no legal education. The citizens hear
    two groups speak, see whatever evidence there is, and make a unanimous decision
    as to whether the defender is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Now, occasionally
    you’ll get a handful of inbred racist hicks on the jury, but for the most part
    they make fair decisions. So, that brings us back to correlation and causation.
    Just because there is a racial disparity does not mean there is racism.

    You move on to talk more hardly understandable stuff, saying
    that education favours white people, and go on to say that, of all thing, the contributions
    of black people to civil rights is ignored, when the there are books about Rosa
    Parks, who’s major achievement in life was sitting on a bus, when people quote
    Martin Luther King Jr constantly, and when Malcom X is a pop culture icon. We
    even have a Black History and Asian Heritage month, is that not enough for you?

    There
    are some backwater states that don’t expressly ban firing someone over matters
    of sexuality, but there is some that are pushing through legislation to fix
    that. That takes a very long time, and I feel fairly confident in said this isn’t
    a matter of bigotry as much as it is a matter of not feeling the need to tell
    everyone to play nice.

    You
    move on to say on of the funniest things I have ever heard, so I’m going to put
    the full quote in because I just love it:

    “I
    realize you as a white guy do not know anything about social issues or know
    anything about critical race theories. So you might want to just stop trying to
    act like you do. Don’t let your bigotry define you.”

    Now, I
    understand that you as a feminist likely fall at the lower end of the
    intelligence bell curve, so I’ll explain why this is so funny. You start with a
    racist statement, saying you as a white guy DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT SOCIAL
    ISSUE, which is a great example of a social issue called discrimination. How?
    You assumed something about be by merit of birth, which is basically the
    definition of discrimination. You use the term “critical racial theories” which
    show both your delusions of grandeur and your overplaying of what you perceive
    as racist. “So you might want to just stop acting like you do” amused me
    because it was a great example of how great you think you are. You don’t know me
    save for 2 short opinion pieces, yet you deem yourself well versed in who I am to
    tell me how to behave. My favourite part of everything you have written with
    the account name of Chel was the last 6 words of the rant to attempted to me
    reply with. “Don’t let your bigotry define you”. You don’t know me at all, yet
    assume I am a bigot. That’s the great thing about the femarchy, when you dunces
    start to lose, you yell bigot and run away. I know what you’re “thinking” Chel,
    I have in fact called you bigot, racist, sexist and so one, but that was obviously
    an exaggerated joke.

    People
    like you are interesting to me for a reason. I rarely interact with those so
    far below my station, but I make an acceptation when I am proving a point and
    in this case I am proving the existence of the Dunning Kruger effect. Your vast
    stupidity was rivaled only by your how much you think of your intelligence.
    Anyways, I have proved my point so please go back to desperately trying to get
    attention on forums and tending to your cats , and have fun dying alone and
    unloved. Shoo now.

    • Chel

      Making excuses about the racial disparity, and denying your privileges is not proving a point… I do not consider or call myself a feminist because of the history behind feminism and how it was literally made to help white supremacy. Also because mainstream feminism or “white feminism” seems to always ignore WoC. I consider myself a womanist before I consider myself a feminist. There is a difference between to too.

      1. White women are not getting told their natural hair is unprofessional. I’m assuming you didn’t read the links because ebony and Al Jaseera were talking about two different things. Ebony was talking about black women’s hair in the work place. While Al Jaseera was talking about skin bleaching. Both are a reliable source is because black women are the ones dealing with the problem. So a black person is more likely to write about things that other blacks have to deal with since White men don’t care, and white women aren’t dealing with it. I also gave you 2 other links besides Ebony that talk about black women hair in the workplace. So you could read those, and not act like I didn’t provide you with links about the topic. If a black women with straight hair is still looked more professional than a women with her natural hair styled then there is a problem. Yeah, and some people believe the military guidelines are biased. “The most attractive skin tone is generally considered to be a
      Latin-American color”That doesn’t deny that Eurocentric standards of beauty has shaped this world, since being tan or somewhat of color is viewed as healthy.

      2. The difference between lumping Asian and whites is that one group is always being marginalized. Whites do have white privilege, having white privileges doesn’t mean white people are free from suffering in life. It means that because of their white skin they are preferred, and in a society where race matters, they are given benefits.

      The Rwanda genocide and problems still were influenced by colonization and Europeans. Colonization did help the wedge between the two groups grow, since one group was being placed above the other, which created more tension. Things could have been prevented and countries could have intervened sooner instead of just waiting. http://www.rwandanstories.org/genocide/role_of_the_west.html

      3. The thing about the women engineers example is that it’s absurd. I know women aren’t causing global warming but you were using it as a way to show how information can be twisted. The information about the racial disparity and blatant racist treatment that PoC go through isn’t being twisted. People who do the studies or make the statistics are just collecting ALL the information gathered in the different job fields, court cases, schools, or they do studies on their own. Which is how they were able to see that by being black or Hispanic makes you more likely to get the death penalty for killing a white person. They looked at cases of murder and when the death penalty was used to see. How they gathered information about the war on drugs and the racist practice of targeting minorities even though statistically minorities are less likely to be using, carrying, or abusing drugs.

      4. No one was saying “…just because fewer African people got a job in a couple of tests,
      doesn’t mean there’s racism at foot.” I wasn’t saying that at all actually, I was just showing you the racial bias in jobs. Also it’s not the fact that a “few” it’s usually more than just a “few”. Also you need to know the difference between Africans and black people who have been in America for centuries. Although white women are the biggest recipient of Affirmative Action, African who migrate to America are the ones that actually benefit from Affirmative Action more than Black Americans whose families have been in this country for centuries. So “..fewer African people” probably wouldn’t actually happen as often as you might think.

      5. “more fair today than ’20,30,40,50 years ago’”. Really? Black people were just able to vote 50 years go, it was basically legal to lynch a black person till the 1970s. Schools are more segregated now then they were 60s years agoe before the Brown vs Board case. The Klans were founded on racist viewpoints, the KKK still have racist viewpoints, they will always have racist view points. The removal of segregation does not mean society integrated. Does not mean that at all, the fact that if a community has 10% black population decreases the property value says a lot.

      6. This may come as a shock to you but how can I be anti-white when my grandfather is white? Also this may come as another shock to you but Caucasian =/= white. White people are not Caucasian. That has been debunked, and it is wrong to call white people Caucasian.http://www.firstpost.com/world/the-racist-history-of-caucasian-945375.html
      http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2008/08/do_white_people_really_come_from_the_caucasus.html

      http://www.straight.com/blogra/526526/five-reasons-why-we-should-stop-calling-white-people-caucasian
      These are the Caucus people from there are Caucasian. The Kardashions are Armenians they are Caucasians. The guy who bombed the Boston Marathon was a Caucasian. Mountainshttp://www.generationaldynamics.com/ww2010/caucas2.gif

      7. The person in charged of the study made their resumes all they had to do was check if they had a NON-violent drug possession offense. It wasn’t like the testers had to come up with their own fake credentials. Like I said it had nothing to do with diction. Pager, gave them credentials with the same job experience, education etc. There was nothing drastically different about them. There is a study that talks about people with “ethnic” or “black” sounding names facing problems in employment. So that could also be a factor in this. The word diction has more than one definition and the way that you originally used it “Diction is how a person speaks, and affects a first impression by a
      lot.” And then I explained how it wasn’t about voice, if you were wanting to talk about someones writing then you should have said that, but you didn’t.

      8. No one is praising Afro-centirc beauty. No one is trying to get darker to make themselves look black or close to it. People are literally bleaching their skin because they want to be lighter and closer to white. Women in Asian countries are bleaching their skins and others are having cosmetic surgery to get the “Western look”. No one is doing that to make themselves look and appear black.

      9. I know who Gradient Lair is, I also know the black women behind the page and what she believes. I’m kinda surprised you would use her a source, especially from knowing what she says about white people. You should actually keep reading her page and you might actually learn something. Also respectable politics is more than what your making it seem. People believe that if blacks men were to just pull up their pants they would get the respect they deserve. No, black men don’t get the respect because black men have never been respected. People think that by wearing a suit you will be respected. No, MLK was attacked while he was wearing is suits. People seem to think that if black people stop using AAVE they will get respect. No, people will not give you respect just because you decided to change. Black people have never been respected in this country even when they did try hard to better themselves and their communities. What makes people think they will finally be respected now?

      10. “Now, occasionally
      you’ll get a handful of inbred racist hicks on the jury, but for the most part
      they make fair decisions.””Occasionally” You do realize that there has always been problems in jury selection http://www.eji.org/raceandpoverty/juryselection
      http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/06/23/lyon.racial.jury.selection/

      11. Just because there are books about Rosa Parks, and MLK doesn’t mean that black history is still being ignored. You do realize there are tons of other black Civil Rights Activist that are pushed aside. Medgar Evers, Huey Newton, Angela Davis. Schools don’t teach about Rosewood, Tulsa, or the Atlanta attacks towards black communities that were flourishing. Schools don’t teach about the MOVE bombing that happen in Philadelphia, that the Philadelphia police orchestrated. Schools don’t teach about Native American history as much as the should. They don’t teach Asian contributions that have helped this country. Activist leaders that are ignored in history class: Yuri Kochiyama, Richard Akoi, Stokely Chamichael, Cesar Chavez. They were trying to ban Mexican-American studies which would have taught history about Latinos in Arizona and Texas because they the people opposed it thought that it would make kids dislike white people. Even in World History classes they don’t teach more in-depth history about the civilizations in Latin America, the many different Empires in Africa, the different empires in South Asia, and East Asia. Having a Black History or Asian Heritage month is not enough if thats the only time we talk about PoC while every other month is for whites.

      12. Lastly, excusing and trying to ignore that racism is the cause of the racial disparity in society won’t solve anything you’re just ignoring the root of the problem which is white supremacy. You haven’t proved any points though, making excuses isn’t proving a point. Making trying to reason with the problem isn’t proving a point. I’m allergic to cats actually, and I have family and friends that love me, I also won’t die alone. There are other people out there in the world that know what I’m talking about and don’t deny their privileges, they also know and understand structural racism, and how white supremacy is the problem. White people, and men can not be oppressed by the same institution that has given them preference. So they are not victims of racism and men are not victims of sexism.

      • mosullivan15 .

        I am not denying my privilege, I am saying that you need to prove something before you say it exists, not with circumstantial little remarks. You say point at some BS and say look at how this proves white supremacy (which of course it does not). You have a nasty habit of bringing race into everything. You literally call main stream feminism white feminism.

        Well, regardless of why a certain skin tone is attractive, who is born closest to it? Caucasians? Nope. Africans? Nope. Central Americans? Yes. Regardless of whose ancestors boned who, the standard of beauty benefits of the North American are people with a Middle American skin tone (along with some others).

        You make what must be a joke by saying “The difference between lumping Asian and whites is that one group is always being marginalized.” Then say “Whites do have white privilege”. That is possibly the best example of marginalization I have ever seen.

        Sure Rwanda was influenced by colonization, but it was mostly caused by the 1000 years prior to European involvement. As a person who works with military I have looked over the situation of 1993-1994. With the Somalia episode, going into Rwanada could have caused massive loss of life. Of course, looking back over what happened, we have 20/20 hindsight and believe that going into Rwanda would be a good idea.

        The whole point of the women engineers is that it is absurd, but there are very sexist/chauvinist people who actually believe this. There is something called a survivors bias if you’ve ever heard of it. Basically it so goes that people who are looking over information find studies where the remaining population are fallaciously compared with the historic average despite the survivors having unusual properties. I like this because it applies to everyday life. We all have a bias, and far more importantly we don’t like to admit to that. So, when we look at information in any form, we select stuff that agrees with our existing opinions. So, we click on a link that says something we want to hear, and accept it as fact. As a result we all get into a swing of self-contained echo chamber. This is very dangerous because people end up giving themselves radicalized views. There are social experiments that “prove” and “dis-prove” racism, and depending on how you think going into it, you’ll think differently coming out of reading a study. Some people say that there is blatant racism, others say there is racism but it is very rare, and only has slight effects on the average person. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9_MVPq1SJY)

        You say white women are the largest receivers of affirmative action, and to that I say only obviously. White women make up the largest “marginalized” group, and are therefore the largest receivers. This doesn’t prove racism, it just proves that white women are a larger demographic than African people.

        You say that immigrants receive more benefit from AA than people who are born here. I should hope so. You may be an isolationist, I don’t know, but because I don’t believe birthplace should be more important than character I like this as an ideal. Even if I were looking at this through a lens not affected by my opinions, immigrants would be in a position of needing the most help, and therefore get the most help.

        You can be a self-hating racist, and even then, having a white grandfather does not exempt you from being racist against white people.

        Caucasian refers to white people in every medical dictionary. Your non-reliable sources do not have precedence over the dictionary.

        I apologize, English isn’t my first language. When I say how a person speaks, I include the voice of their writing, if that makes sense. There is also the “ethnic sounding names” thing. Now, this is by not means proof of racism, it’s just a weird result. Don’t base your outlook on that.

        Well, the most desirable skin tone is more of a copper tone. So, if darker people are bleaching their skin to be closer than white and that is praise to euro-centric beauty standards. Therefore if a Caucasian person tans themselves to get darker (and therefore closer to black) they are praising afro-centric beauty. Even then, there are lots of people who like the “black” look. Just because some people want to look white doesn’t mean no white person wants to look black or Asian.

        MLK was attacked for being MLK and the second klan along with many others didn’t like what he was doing. He was attacked for his ideals, not his clothing. You say “People believe that if blacks men were to just pull up their pants they would get the respect they deserve.” Well, you don’t get respect for puling your pants up do you? Respect to do with actions, not appearances.

        You speak in absolutes a lot “People believe that if blacks men were to just pull up their pants they would get the respect they deserve. No, black men don’t get the respect because black men have never been respected” or “No one is praising afro-centric beauty standards.” It give the impression that you’ve lost touch with reality.

        “10. “Now, occasionally
        you’ll get a handful of inbred racist hicks on the jury, but fo r the most part
        they make fair decisions.””Occasionally” You do realize that there has always been problems in jury selection http://www.eji.org/raceandpove…
        http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINIO… “ – That’s the ever-present problem, but remember racism of individuals can and does affect all demographics.

        “Having a Black History or Asian Heritage month is not enough if thats the only time we talk about PoC while every other month is for whites.” This is Poe’s law right here. Also there isn’t any “Caucasian heritage month” but there are heritage months for other ethnicities so is that racist? Is there a double standard?

        “12. Lastly, excusing and trying to ignore that racism is the cause of the racial disparity in society won’t solve anything you’re just ignoring the root of the problem which is white supremacy. You haven’t proved any points though, making excuses isn’t proving a point. Making trying to reason with the problem isn’t proving a point. There are other people out there in the world that know what I’m talking about and don’t deny their privileges, they also know and understand structural racism, and how white supremacy is the problem. “ – I will believe you as soon as you can prove what you’re saying, I support equality, and do not believe race gender or creed should effect how a person is viewed. However, you must understand what you’re dealing with. Accusations of racism are very serious, you can be fired, sued, or arrested (hate speech). Something so serious needs very serious overview. You can’t just throw that term around, and you absolutely need to prove beyond any doubt that racism is at foot before you can say something is racist. Otherwise you’re just crying wolf.

        “White people, and men can not be oppressed by the same institution that has given them preference. So they are not victims of racism and men are not victims of sexism.” – Individuals can be sexist or racist against any group, don’t ever think differently. Just because there may or may not be an advantage to certain demographics in some places of our society does not mean that a person cannot be a bigot. In fact, the belief in a advantage might (and does) cause social discrimination against the demographic with the perceived advantage.

        I’m going to be going away for a couple of weeks, so I will not be able to reply to you for a little while. Sorry for any inconvenience.

        • Chel

          You have been denying your privileges and trying to excuse them as coincidence or belittle them. I have a habit of bring race up because race matters. The fact that just by being black your chance of getting a loan decreases by 25%. The fact that just from being brown or being from the middle east makes you have to face extra scrutiny and observation. The fact that just for being black or latino makes you more likely to get the death penalty if you kill a white person. The fact that just for being black you will serve longer time in jail than a white guy who committed the same or similar crime. This even happens in schools, black children face harsher disciplinary actions than white students.

          You can keep trying to point to Latin America about skin tone, but Eurocentric standards of beauty has shaped this world.

          Saying that white people have white privileges is not marginalizing them. They do have it. There’s no denying it. Saying they have privilege is putting them at the top, not making them insignificant. The people that say racism is rare are the type of people who don’t know what structural racism is. How things are institutionalized.

          I never said that since white women are the biggest recipient of AA that it’s racist. I was literally just saying that they are the biggest recipient. It just shows that PoC aren’t taking people’s jobs, or that whites aren’t facing discrimination. AA is suppose to help fix the system that has being biased toward white men. It’s trying help people that have been and still are systematically disadvantaged. Africans who come to America have not been systematically disadvantaged by the America system. They should be able to get help, but you can’t just ignore the people that have been in the country a lot longer and still need the help. Many of the Africans that come are not struggling the way many Black Americans are.

          Caucasian does not refer to white people. White people=/= Caucasian. Try reading the links to learn more about why white people are called Caucasian. You can call my links “non reliable” but there aren’t any links that refute them. There are of research and discussions about this topic stating that white people are not Caucasian. There were even a few cases about Caucasians because they identify as Caucasian because of where they came from, but since they weren’t white, they faced discrimination in America because they looked like a Poc. The whole idea of labeling whites as Caucasians is relatively new, the idea came from a German man who believed that the people from the Caucus region were the best and beautiful. The history behind calling white people Caucasian is racist. http://www.yale.edu/glc/events/race/Painter.pdf

          http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2011/01/stop-using-the-word-caucasian-to-mean-white/#.U7B8bBaFUlI

          http://scienceblogs.com/evolgen/2007/01/11/more-about-human-populations/

          Whites can be victims of personal prejudice, but they are not victims of racism. If you understand the structural racism, or the privileges that you and others DO have, it wouldn’t be so hard to understand. Whites colonized majority of the world, because of colonization came the spread of white supremacy which taught that white people are better. White supremacy is the reason white people have white privilege. People who are privileged whether it’s being white, straight, or cis, they can not be victims or oppressed by the same institution that has given them preference. Trying to make excuses or belittle the fact that white people DO have privileges, won’t make your or anyone else’s privilege go away. Their privilege is still there, the system that has put them above other is still there. The racial disparity is caused by racism, it is caused by white supremacy and the racial bias towards cis, straight, white men.

          “MLK was attacked for being MLK and the second klan along with many others didn’t like what he was doing. He was attacked for his ideals, not his clothing.” You don’t understand how MLK is used when policing PoC.You are a white guy, you do not understand what respectable politics is, you are never held to the same standard the way women and PoC are. So I’m not even going to bother with trying to get you to understand the concept and how it work. I have’t lost touched with reality, no one is praising “Afro-centric beauty” people mock dark-skinned women, while light-skinned women are perceived to be better because they are closer to white. There are barely any black women lead roles on movies or tv shows. In the fashion industry there are people who say “no black models”. No one is parsing black beauty. Black men have never been respected in this country, their life has been disposable and was never valued. Things like that don’t just change for the good in a span of 50 years especially when it’s been going on for centuries.

          There isn’t a Caucasian month because Caucasian has become interchangeable with white which is wrong. Schools teach white history everyday of the year, white people do not need a month.

  • Hannah Snoke

    Here’s the way I see it

  • GuestAgain

    The image for this article is taken from the cover a book: http://www.amazon.com/Race-Are-We-So-Different-ebook/dp/B00DF2QSA6/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1

  • agastatyourignorance

    You. my dear, are an ignorant douchebag.

  • Sorry not sorry

    Wow, just wow. Ignorance abounds. Reverse racism is real get over it black peoples. Too bad racism has been used by too many PoC unjustly as a form of manipulation (reverse racism at its finest) when things don’t go their way (turned down for job, loan, etc) the real instances of racism are diluted. Here’s a solution for everyone regardless of color: work hard and you shall be rewarded, if you fail get better and try again.

    Beware: just cause you think your working hard doesn’t mean that you actually are ;)

  • Emoni

    Totally agree, I’m not black neither am I white. I’m mixed, and I am not racist at all. But what I don’t understand is why are MOST white ppl so mean??For instance, one day I was working (subway) and as I was preparing a meal for a customer another customer walked in so I handed the sandwich I was making for this white man to my white coworker & the white man rudely rolled his neck, his eyes & said “didn’t I tell you to fix my other sandwich girl” then said to the white boy “they don’t understand English very well do they” …. Now I’m a very educated & respectful girl & I can say I love all ppl of color, but that right there made me sick ! I just smiled in his face bc for once ppl could see that it isn’t always a black person being rude or “racist” … But man did it upset me.. I’ve never had an encounter like that w/ a white person (Even the customer I had looked at him in disgust bc it was sooooo rude) .. Maybe if black ppl weren’t held for slavery & taught half as backwards the world would be a better place & more blacks would be educated, neighborhoods would be better, safer… & think about it ppl when you’re put at your lowest generation after generation you’ll do anything to survive. But nobody talks about it I guess bc no white person wants to admit that was wrong.. But black ppl are always looked at as the criminals & how they kill each other allllll the time but ummm 6 generations ago white ppl taught black ppl that they weren’t worth shit, didn’t educate them.. Etc etc & white ppl also went around killing every “nigger” they wanted to .. Oh, but nobody talks about how they were killing all these blacks & being supported to do so… This world is pretty messed up & the only way to change it is for the elders to teach their young ones what’s really right & that every color is beautiful & that god would want to see better in us.. (Younger generations)

  • Emoni

    Besides who came up with the dumbest idea to not like someone bc of their skin color (wtf) ….. That’s extremely childish .. If god only wanted one race to exist then it would be so but don’t y’all think that if ppl of all color exist everywhere that The Lord did that so we could learn & care after one another ????

  • E. Cooper

    Systemic and institutional racism are different than racism, which is defined as “the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.”

    There is no systemic racism against white people.
    There is racism against white people.

    By failing to differentiate, you deny the truth of all people who have experienced racism, and you detract from the thoughtfulness of a valid argument against systematic racism.

  • Anonymous

    Let me see if I’m listening to you correctly.

    You say that:

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs,
    legislation and widespread media bias that contribute to the oppression
    of the rights and liberties of a group of people.”

    You then say that for white people:

    “The individuals acting against you do not have the institutionalized
    power to actively oppress you in every facet of your life, nor would
    their racism be upheld and supported by government, media, and
    legislation if they did.”

    And therefore that:

    “…[Y]our individual suffering is just that, individual. … If you experience discrimination, prejudice, or bigotry, it’s valid to
    be upset … [but it] is not valid to claim
    that it is reverse racism…”

    Okay, so what you’re saying is that once we make sure that the government, the media, and legislation all condemn white people who make a habit of acting cruelly to black people, those white people will not have institutionalized power, and therefore cannot be called racist, right?

    As long as the white people don’t have the backing of our institutions, then they’re acting on an individual level, and nothing they do can ever be called racist, right?

    Right?

    …

    …

    Or does racism maybe just need the backing of “society?” That would make sense. It’s not racism if it’s just you and a group of friends, right? Three people certainly doesn’t count as a society.

    So then, as long as we can just make sure that every town and village in America makes lots of public statements favoring people of color, then no white people will ever be able to be racist, right?

    It wouldn’t be racism for a group of three white guys to go beat up people for being black. It would only be racism if the local sheriff approved.

    Right?

    …

    …

    Or do you think that racism is something which happens when a person hates people because of their skin tone? Or treats them differently because of their skin tone?

    …because that would mean that people whose cruelty has no societal backing can still be called racist.

    …which would be inclusive of anyone. Of any skin color.

    …which would mean that three [SkinTone] guys who decide to go beat up people for being [OtherSkinTone] would be racist. Irrespective of whether [SkinTone] and [OtherSkinTone] stood for “black” or “white.”

    —

    This article’s title is misleading. It pretends that its point is to tell us why reverse racism isn’t a thing, but it doesn’t actually tell us why. Its point is not to describe or explain why; its point is merely to make the claim and reiterate it in a thousand different ways.

    As for me, I think racism is something that goes beyond institutions. I think people, individual people, are capable of being racist without any help from society.

    I think that the claim that racism requires institutional backing acquits and absolves individuals from bearing the shame of being racist in and of themselves. I think the notion that racism needs social backing makes racists seem like they’re caught up in something larger than themselves, something they can’t change.

    And I don’t think you need to have a dominant skin tone in order to be racist.

    I do think that black people face a unique institutional racism that hasn’t yet been solved, and which white people don’t have to face. But I don’t think that absolves them of any guilt they may have as individuals for racist acts they did alone. And if a black person can act racist alone, then a white person can be a victim of reverse racism.

    Because you don’t have to be a victim of institutional racism in order to be a victim of individual racism. Or individual racism.

  • Denver Goddess

    It seems all the time she spends on the internet is reading neo-Marxist Critical Theory bilge and avoiding dictionaries and the actual definition of words like ‘racism’ that they contain.
    Don’t be mistaken, folks. This is anti-white racism from the get-go and the usual predictable formula is to invoke Critical Race Theory rhetoric. I knew what was coming the minute I saw the headline, and this woman has it down pat and she’s parroting the whole spiel.
    I don’t see an original thought in this piece at all.

  • Anita Valium

    I stop short of saying I’m not racist; I’m inherrently racist, I grew up with parents with white-European heritage and all experiences I have and most of the people I grew up with were dictated by this. Worse, my parents were evangelical and white.
    I grew up with the sort of people who would say those borderline offensive things like “I’m not a racist, but…” and as someone who had mostly white friends I was unaffected or part of it. I don’t like the term white guilt but I’d pen some descript to express the shame I feel for both myself and for those, perhaps my own elders, who fed the holocaust that has been the disenfranchisement of people of colour.
    I don’t quite know if I can find a parallel in my own experiences to what it feels like to be a PoC and disadvantaged by either a patronising or overbearing governance, so I apologise if I don’t quite understand and am truly fortunate and grateful to be able to speak. I think it must start to affect me because I cringe at the invention of white privilege apologism and the usual phrases that come with it.

  • Tanya

    Racism, prejudice, sexism and bigotry exist in every race and culture. Open your eyes and mind.

  • Bonnie Harris

    AMEN! Thank you Sara! You have 100% described our regular experiences…I haven’t even read the comments, but I’m sure that the privileged have already commented about how “naive” or “foolish” or “unfair” you are…don’t worry about them, they are – as you said – “…complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges.”

  • James Nunya

    “Racism exists when prejudice+power combine to form social constructs”

    Wrong. Racism exists when someone has prejudice about someone else due to their race. Power and social constructs have nothing to do with it. If you hate someone because of the color of their skin then you are racist. It’s that simple.

    “When white people complain about experiencing reverse racism, what they’re really complaining about is losing out on or being denied their already existing privileges”

    Or, you know, maybe they’re complaining about some person hating them because they’re white? But, no, that couldn’t be.

  • Stephen

    Please provide your source for your definition of racism. Your definition does not agree with Webster or any other legitimate reference which I’ve found this far.

    • Dock Drumming

      Thank you.

  • Kevin Big-Iron Hodge

    I like when people tell me that something I have experienced isn’t real. I once lived in a city called El Paso, it was in Texas. It’s a border town, and the majority of residents 80%+ were Hispanic/Latino.

    I was constantly treated differently. The most interesting thing about that city, is that it being a large city, you would assume there was a progressive mindset in effect. Instead, acts of public racism often draw other people to join in as opposed to in most large cities, acts of public racism are met with adversity.

  • BRAZEKOOL

    A lot of people use ‘racism’ as a term to describe discrimination due to race. Which happens a lot, regardless of who you are, whether you like it or not, whether the people in question are using the word ‘racism’ properly or not, and they have every right to bitch about it. It ain’t right to discriminate anyone.

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  • Unnamed woman

    I’m sorry but this, in my opinion, this is very one sided and frankly (I know this is ironic) racist. You assume that everyone white feels like they are loosing there”privileges”. I am a young white woman, and I am not racist, I support equality for everyone, minority, gay/lesbian, women/men. I have had many friends say it’s not possible to be racist to a white person and I feel this is completely untrue, and for the record racism is racism it’s not “reverse racism” it’s just racism. Being a “white girl” as people call it on social media sites may not look like anything from a far but just a while ago some random person asked me to go to Starbucks with them. While that sounds nice and all it wasn’t someone asking me out it was a guy stereotyping that I just have to LOVE Starbucks cause I’m white, he asked that as a joke and before I replied went and laughed with his friends. I can’t even begin to describe how much hate that boy would get if they races were reversed. It’s incredibly rude, hurtful and racist. Now that is a very mild version of racism, but let me just end with this: racism occurs everywhere, it’s a horrible thing but honestly it does, and it occurs with ALL races and just because someone is white does NOT mean that their feelings on racism are invalid or that they are just upset because some social “privilege” is being taken away it hurts no matter what.

  • jess

    I felt like this is bullshit to be honest. I have no idea about America but in England there is such thing as racism (not positive descrimination Or reverse racism there bullshit names) towards white people following the dictionary terms of that word. There are colleges that charge more cos your white and courses you can’t go on cos your white. There are shops in some towns that will turn you away Purley for your skin colour that is the definition of racism!!!

  • Phil

    My parents are Irish and migrated to Australia. I got bulliedin primary school for having a different accent and bullied for being poor.

    The black kids wouldn’t get bullied because it was ingrained in them that it was wrong. That’s a good thing.

    However would I be justified to cry for special treatment because of my experiences and the oppression of my ancestors for hundreds of years? Fuck no.

    Also, I have travelled and worked in many non-white dominant countries and believe me, minorities in western countries such as north america have itbfar easier than minorities in the rest of the world. Especially Africa, African Americans current home if their ancestors had not been sold by other Africans to whites (and many other ethnicities mind you, whites by far were not unique in owning slaves).

    The point is, you should be thankful for the position you are in, especially if your ancestors managed to survive in far more oppressive and horrible conditions such as my own. Hating people a whole race of people is racist, regardless of what colour skin they are, anyone who tells you otherwise has a serious agenda to push.

  • god

    i laughed so hard at this article. This is ridiculous.

  • Ethan Quiñones

    Under this logic, all minorities are exempt from being racist. If a black person can’t be racist against white people, then how can they ever be racist against anyone?

  • Ava

    rac·ism
    ˈrāˌsizəm/
    noun
    the belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

    Guys no specific race is mentioned there. Because racism is simply the discrimination of someone due to their race. I don’t believe reverse racism is real simply because I believe that racism against any race is simply racism.

  • Lakook

    Your definition of racism is wrong; racism is simply prejudice or animosity against people who belong to other races. I am a Caucasian male and in no way assert that I have it worse than any minority; but to say that what I experience when assaulted (verbally or physically) by members of a different race due to the color of my skin isn’t racism simply because I am considered privileged in other areas is ignorant and comes off as you trying to excuse African Americans (or other US minorities) for any racist behavior. This is especially offensive to me being that I am a social worker who works to help an extremely diverse population (a career did not end up in by accident) on a daily basis, and experience “reverse racism” often. There is no competition to be won, racism is racism plain and simply and I think regardless of how you define it we can all agree it is an ugly and hateful way to look at people.

  • Michelle Sarabia

    Anyone can experience prejudice from someone else, and if someone is rejected because of their skin color, no matter what that color is, they are experiencing racism.

  • db

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5JbAO5_NMw

  • FatherTime

    Now tell me that reverse sexism isn’t real. Did your Crapola Crayons help you to write this article?

  • Jane

    Here is a question? Who owns language? I would never disagree that white people are in a position of power. However, I feel if someone prejudges someone based on their skin color than it is “racist,” regardless of who the person doing the judging skin color is. I don’t buy into this definition of racism as “prejudice + power” because I feel this gets blurred when you are looking at interracial tensions between say Latinos, Blacks, and Asians. In this case who really does have the power because all groups are marginalized. So does that mean none of these groups can’t be racist towards each other? What about a black man vs. a white woman? Can the woman not be racist because it is debatable if she really holds the power? While there is no doubt “institutionalized racism” is real and whites do hold much of the power, particularly white males. I think everyone needs to be held accountable and be called “racist” if they are indeed prejudging someone based on their skin color. Furthermore, no one owns language, so it is unfair to police how someone uses a word, such as “racist.” And this is coming from a racially mixed person.

  • DisgustedinKent

    1632 comments … 1632 people who have been trolled.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I3cGfrExozQ

    • Dock Drumming

      That was AWESOME.

  • Tara

    Hmmm I agree that discrimination against white people does exist because there are always people out there discriminating against a certain “type” of person. However, “reverse racism” does not exist because the word “racism” does not just apply to PoC. Racism applies to all races in my mind since (even though they are the majority) white people are still included in the races.
    There is one part of the article that really rubbed me the wrong way: where it was said that white privilege gives white people the idea that what they say matters. Just because a person is white doesn’t mean that what they say doesn’t matter. That their personal experiences are unimportant. What that sounded like to me was that only PoC’s opinions and stories are important and that’s not true. I think that everyone’s should equally matter.

  • Darrell

    Very well done Sara. I applaud you and your courage. I have confronted many whites which attempt to derail and asked them, “Are you trying to justify your bigotry??? or If it is wrong, then what are you going to do about it??” Thanks again, Sara

  • Lily Moon

    Speaking as a beautiful woman of color i think this article was a load of pretentious crap. Racisim is Racisim… it goes all ways… Anyone who tells it differently has got their head buried in the sand. This writer is a buffoon.

  • Free online dictionaries exist

    The author needs to learn the difference between “racism” and “racial discrimination.” Racism is an attitude or point of view. It does not require any power. It’s more potentially dangerous when a racist has more power, but it’s a bad thing regardless of how much power a racist person has.

    “Racial discrimination” is something that happens when a racist person who has power chooses to exercise their power to treat different races differently.

  • tbh

    You apparently don’t understand what the word racism means. Sure it’s irritating when an otherwise privileged person is complaining about being prejudiced against, but there’s nothing wrong with it. It’s as if you feel prejudice is your birthright.

  • Randall Stunningham

    So first of all, there is no such thing as ‘ reverse racism ‘. Racism is racism and that ‘ phrase ‘ if that’s what you want to call is totally contradictory. I’m sure regardless of who you are, if you live in the United States, we can pretty much all agree that blacks have most definitely been severely oppressed in many ways. Now, as a 26 year old white male who was born and raised in a predominantly black inner -city Philadelphia neighborhood known as FRANKFORD(which is still to this day a fairly segregated city when it comes to race), I am obviously too young to have even been in a position to oppress or hold back any black person from anything, nor am I racist (with the exception of Russians. .lol) so how is fair to lump every white person together as racist? Isn’t that what black people hate the most? That they seem to always get lumped together as a negative group of people? And one more point I’d like to make is that being a ‘ product of your environment ‘ is an excuse and nothing more. .. and a lazy excuse at that.

  • Randall Stunningham

    Love how every discussion like this turns into blacks acting as if they are the only people to ever have been discriminated against. When it comes to a specific race or group getting oppressed, African Americans may very well be at the bottom of that list. For example; Jews. .. these people have been enslaved and oppressed since history has been recorded, not to mention being killed off in the millions( after slavery was abolished might I add)….. and another group; NATIVE AMERICANS! !… these people were absolutely slaughtered and had their own land forcibly ripped from them.. So let’s be real black people. .. how bad have you really had it.. stop crying and rise above ON YOUR OWN… no one will help/feel bad for you my goodness. ..

  • Emilyy

    I think that this author is wrong. So if a white kid goes to a predominately black school and people bully him for being white, that’s not racism? But if it were the other way around it would be. It’s real, this article just proves it.

  • billstuart

    Hello Sara,
    I read over your article and found a lot of it to be dismissive and really not helpful. White people do experience racism and it should not be dismissed as lightly as you have done here.
    Racism against white people can be mild, like the hair touching you referenced, or it can be more severe. The last time I experienced anti-white racism was when I walked into the wrong store in Chinatown.
    There is also race-free racism, such as entering names into computers. A person named N!Keng might not be able to have his name entered into some systems because the computer may not recognize “!” as a valid letter. It’s a fairly common African name. This is the exact same problem that many white people have. A German who’s last name is pronounced “Vesser” won’t be able to enter his name into the computer either. It would appear to be “Weber” except that the B would be differently shaped and larger. It’s a German letter not found in English that means “SS”.
    With the case of the Chinese store employee who is rude to white people, how do you think she is treating people of color? If she is given the impression that it’s okay to be racist against whites, do you think she’ll be any better with Japanese or black people?
    With the computer name problem, it’s the exact same problem faced by two people. If the argument of one is dismissed, the argument of the second can be dismissed for exactly the same reason. It is racist to insist that the German man change his name to a computer readable name; it is equally racist to insist that N!Keng do the same. By dismissing the German man’s argument, your are establishing a legal precedent to do the same to N!Keng.
    Racism is racism. Whatever color it is against, it hurts society as a whole.

  • Jake

    I have an opinion on the “reverse racism” topic, but rather than sharing it, I’m just going to say this.

    Can we all just agree that any time someone of any race treats someone else differently because of their race, it is wrong? Caucasian, African American, Middle Eastern, or anywhere in between, discrimination is discrimination. Just as treating someone differently solely on their sexual orientation, class, religion, gender identity, or gender is. Assuming someone is worthy/unworthy based on an exterior criterion is immoral.

    Institutional discrimination is put in place by the people of the society. People seem to forget this. In order to remove it, all people of that society need to stop thinking in an “us vs. them” fashion and start thinking in a “human” fashion. When the vast majority of the population forgets to look at people through the scope of race, gender, etc., so too will the institution.

    Though I, and I assume, most of you, are not in positions of power, we can live our lives in a way that, if enough of us do, discrimination will cease. Arguing over the semantics of racism does not fix the problem. Treating all people as people does.

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