Calling someone the N-word used to be taboo, now it seems like the other way around. Black folks and others get upset when the N-word is used in certain contexts, but calling someone a racist? "Whoa whoa hold up now, you can't say that" - Shey
Considering I never *ever* use the N word, and I might refer to someone as racist, I would have to disagree here. Racist is also an adjective, rather than a name, as in "boy, is it racist if I stereotype this way", as opposed to the N word which has no right place in my vocabulary. - Louis Gray
Are you talking about so-called 'reverse racism'? - Akiva Moskovitz
That's a good point Louis, to clarify, I mean in the context of using it to describe someone. Not just using it in a sentence. - Shey
Racist is one of those overly subjective words. A lot of people who wouldn't have been considered racist back in 60s might well be today. I've had people call me racist before just for noting stereotypical behavior. I think "racist" is a pretty useless word - it's over broad. I'd rather say something specific about someone's behavior than just call him a "racist." - Tad, better than boredom
I have no qualms using the word racist in either a forward or reverse sense. Then again, I have also used the N-word, including references to the name of Feldman's video, when it was appropriate for the occasion. - Ontario Emperor
@Akiva No, reverse racism doesn't exist (man i really need to write a post to explain that) - Shey
I think there are certain parts and implications in both words that provide the same level of disgust when being called the word: nobody wants to be so dismissed and demeaned by a single, solitary word; that someone has boiled down everything about that person and encapsulated in that one word, and in the case of "racist," no matter how true it may be. Heck, look at the reaction to the word "lurker." People want to explain who they are beyond a single term. - Mark Trapp
An Aryan Nation member is certainly a racist, but more specifically he has a violent hatred of all non-whites and would like to see them forcibly ejected from the US. That says a lot more than just "he's racist." My grandmother was racist, but she was a sweet old lady who wouldn't hurt a fly and truth-be-told one of her best friends in the whole world was the black woman who helped her clean her house. Calling both of these people racist doesn't convey very much information. - Tad, better than boredom
It depends on who you're conversing with and who you're addressing as a racist. Some people may look at it and think "quit playing the victim role" and others who really know you will stop and ask the reason why. - Mona N.
@Mark That's along the lines of what I'm thinking. It seems that the shock value has definitely increased because either a) ppl equate racism with only the KKK type groups OR b) folks think racism is a thing of the past - Shey
I'm glad I bumped this up, great discussion all, thanks for the thoughts so far. - Shey
Shey, I agree which is why I used quotes around the phrase. - Akiva Moskovitz
I like what Mark and Tad said. People don't want to be dismissed with a single word, especially when that word carries such evil connotations. What can you say after that? How can you explain yourself? Or, for some people, how can you live with yourself? - ♫ Rahsheen™
I think there is a "Nu Racist" movement or it could be perceived that way with the upcoming US elections. From what i can tell there are people who will think you are racist even if you not just because you don't want to vote for a black person but it's not the person you don't like it's their views - Cecil Sandus
I think you're right, Shey: like, "How dare you call me racist? How can I possibly be a racist?" With that level of disconnect of what you mean and what that person thinks of the term, I wonder if it's more productive to talk about it in different terms. Any time you reduce someone to a word or a category, it forces a radical reaction: but if you explain that what they said or did was inappropriate or offensive, it's not about who they are, but what they did. I think you've been great at making that distinction in this whole Loren Feldman fiasco. It's not about him, it's about what he did. It deflates the enormity of the racist charge and brings it back to a solvable problem. - Mark Trapp
@Mark That's exactly why I'm not quick to use the word (racist). I try to use it as a term to address behaviour, but now it's a word that's used as a derogatory term to label someone. - Shey
Yeah, in a way it is because not many people want to be called and/or accused of that anymore for fear of disapproval. Before more people were openly proud of being racist because it was more accepted. - Sandra Williams
Not that some people don't deserve the label -- I think the problem is that many can't get past the label and move on to address the behaviour. - Shey
Being raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, I've been fortunate to have never experienced racism. But when I moved out East, it was a complete eye opener for me... It was interesting to see how geographic locations make a HUGE difference in people's general demeanors =( How is like up in Canada? - Mona N.
@Mona In Canada it's different. Racism is shrouded and concealed and not overt. It's the big elephant in the room that ppl either don't want to talk about or pretend it doesn't exist. - Shey
absolutely but it is not *new* but now it is given more power because people know about the complexity of the N-word. Humans are racist to a certain extent. I cannot stand ignorance so I guess that makes me racist for not liking ignorant people. This debate will NEVER end and people are going to argue for centuries about this the N word, racist and every -ism that exists. - TheJennTaFur
I grew up in Mississippi - an extremely racially charged environment. I went to high school less than 20 years after integration. My high school was 90% black. I wasn't part of, but certainly grew up with black culture in the 80s. That was an interesting experience. I think I ended up with a much greater appreciation for "black culture", whatever that is, than most of my white friends that I've met later in life. I think it gives me a rare view of both cultures - at least how it was then... - Tad, better than boredom
Sounds generally like the US. I've noticed the 'uneducated populous' displays blatant racism, as opposed to the 'upper class' who do it behind closed doors. The thing people don't realize is a lot of thoughts translate through eyes. I can tell by looking into someone's eyes what they're truly thinking.. =\ - Mona N.
@TheJennTaFur You probably mean humans are prejudiced to a certain extent. I agree and sometimes they're not even aware of it. - Sandra Williams
@Mona - SF is certainly not immune to racism and it surprised me to read that you *never* experienced it here. In fact, many liberals are some of the worst offenders. Subtle forms of racism, which occur everywhere, are probably even worse because you can't easily identify and address them. - swhitley
the 'r' word is the 'n' word for white people. don't think so? go up to a white guy and call him the 'r' word to his face...and you'll get the same reaction as if you went up to a black guy and called him the 'n' word... if you were white. in other words, you may get your ass kicked. now, i don't recommend trying this at klan rallies, david duke fundraisers, john birch society meetings, nascar tailgaters, or in the smoking room at the country club. and of course, your mileage may vary. - .LAG
One thing that always comes up (and I wish it wouldn't) is the notion that people in a minority group can't be racists. There's a school of thought that says only the majority has power, and racism requires "power" over another group. I don't agree with that at all. A lot of professors preach it, but it's an academic argument that really doesn't address feelings in the real world. - swhitley
@swhitley I disagree. Racism IS about power inequality -- majority vs. minority across society as a whole. Reverse racism DOESNT exist -- but can a Black person discriminate against a White person? Yes. Can a Black person be prejudiced against a White person? Yes. - Shey
@swhitley: my definition: anyone can be a bigot. racism is bigotry in a social context. racists are the bigots in the dominant social group. i'm not a professor. or a bigot. i think. - .LAG
@shey - We'll have to agree to disagree on that point. It's a matter of semantics. I studied it 20 years ago in my black history classes and I still think it's a cop out. Anyone can be racist because racism is simply prejudice based on race. Hell, you can even be racist against your own race. The "power" of a majority over a minority comes into play when racism is used to justify negative acts. - swhitley
@swhitley Yes we can agree to disagree. But I think there is a distinct difference between racism and discrimination. - Shey
I would say that racism is more the actions brought about by discrimination. - ♫ Rahsheen™
@Shey - I agree with that. Except, again, neither are confined to a particular group. The main reason I brought up the point is that I think this discussion often sidetracks the real issue. -- A white person calls a black person racist. The black person responds that it's not possible for them to be racist. Blah, blah, blah. The whole, "I can't be racist because I don't have the power," is a rhetorical argument. It distracts from the real conversation. I've seen it over and over again -- and now here. :) - swhitley
@Rahsheen Porter I agree with you that they're related, but I'd reverse the two. I can be racist and take no action at all. Discrimination requires some action because you are denying something from someone. - swhitley
