Regarding racism....

[Fountain79]

I've heard arguments that racism is not about disliking or disapproving of another race but about having the power to impose harm on another race. With this arguments only whites, those in power, can actually be racist. Has anyone ever heard this belief or hold this belief?

[seriousstan]

1. I have only heard it from people using it to excuse their racist views.

[William Seger]

8. I'd say that it's any race-based prejudice

I.e., making presumptions about someones moral character, intelligence, etc., based on race. Usually, it's the belief that ones own race is superior to others, but I don't think that's a necessary part of the definition.

(Edit: sorry, meant to reply to the OP.)

[Asgaya Dihi]

2. It's not just about power

Racism can apply to anyone. A black guy gets pulled over and hassled because he doesn't look like he belongs in a nice car to some cop and that's racist. A white guy can't walk safe through some neighborhoods because of his color and that's racist too.

Racism is real enough and lots of people are hurt by it, mostly those who don't hold power though which is why it's one sided to some. It can come from any side though. It isn't always by intent, some would argue that they thought our drug war policies were a good idea and they didn't know but this is where we ended up. Looks racist to me, in effect even if intent is debatable. The fact that it doesn't hit the news and our politicians aren't talking about it I'd say is racist as well. If those numbers applied to us we'd sure care. www.prisonsucks.com

[MadMaddie]

3. Racism is everything that you mentioned.....it is true those

in power or feel that they have some power ex: Nazi's against Jews, KKK against Blacks, Neocons against gays....Black Muslims against Whites and the list goes on...they feel they are empowered to do harm to a group they dislike....


The last 6 years have pulled the mask off the bigots and hate mongers...this administration has been feeding this crowd with hatred of immigrants, poor blacks and whites in Katrina.....Muslims.....
it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better...this administration has set this country 20 years back...

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

4. No, Cause It's A Stupid Definition. But I Think You Know That.

Whoever said it didn't know what in the world they were talking about.

[blonndee]

5. Well, no, I've never heard anyone say they hold this belief

and I'd like to point out that while the vast majority of power in this country may indeed be enjoyed by white individuals, that's only collectively, as there are plenty of nonwhite people who enjoy varying degrees of "power." I just don't like the sound of your second-to-last sentence. It seems to work to confirm a disempowerment of nonwhites.

[Fountain79]

7. It's not my views...

merely those who hold that definition of racism. For the regard, I think anyone can be racist. I've heard a fair amount of racist statements made from Mexicans towards blacks, etc. I have also heard black people make sweeping generalizations about white people and such.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

6. I think anyone can be racist.

I hate when the term "reverse racism" is used to describe a minority disliking a majority race. There's no such thing - they're either racist or they're not.

However, if an African-American (or Native American...or Japanese...or Hispanic...etc) distrusts all whites, I can totally understand why.