Does racism only work one way?

[Libre2]

twitter.com/MrNishKumar/status/1544372542097559554

Not sure what I think about this really, but I can see it causing absolute outrage if it were the other way round.

I don't think anyone would consider white men to be marginalised in British society.

But they are. White working class boys have the worst outcomes of any group, with the exception of the travelling community, who are completely marginalised.

Racial prejudice is literally just a synonym for racism. It's what racism is, prejudice based on race.

Why does the distinction need to be:
Racial prejudice and then racism

Why can't it be:
Racism and then systemic racism

Why can't it be:
Racism and then systemic racism

Well because then you'd have to define 'systemic racism' and show how it's not just racism. Given that we have racial equality under the law, you'd have to be quite specific. I think there's probably a good argument for saying there is still some institutionalised racism within certain systems, such as the police force - but then I think even that is a massive generalisation these days. I don't think there's such a thing as 'systemic racism' that is just a vague force that floats around in society. I think it's much like 'patriarchy' in the sense that it's quite meaningless unless you attach it to specific systems.

You could also argue that 'positive discrimination' is a form of 'systemic racism' in that it builds racial discrimination into a system, such as a company.

I think the UK law is a bit weird to include nationality as racism, but there we go. People can be any race or ethnicity and belong to a nationality.

A black what exactly?!

If you mean a Black person, then fucking well say so. Dehumanising, racist language is not ok.

Well because then you'd have to define 'systemic racism' and show how it's not just racism.

I'm more directing this to people who believe that racism can only be racism going in one direction due to power structures etc. They want to say that racism isn't racism, it's racial prejudice, and racism is saves solely for "racial prejudice with power". I don't really understand why they have to change the definition of racism to claim that systemic racism is a thing. You could just add an extra word onto racism if you feel that way, no need to change the meaning of a word.

Reverse racism is like misandry vs misogyny.

A woman saying something sexist about a man might still be sexist, but in the real world the history, meaning and potential impact is totally different between misandry vs misogyny.

Everyone can have racial prejudice, but white people weren't and aren't affected by racism, not in real terms, not in ways that matter, not in the real world.

So most of these discussions tend to be in bad faith.

As I said, like sexism, is prejudice based on sex. It goes either way.

If someone wants to claim anything about patriarchy and power imbalances as a structural level, against women, then call it systemic sexism if you want - don't go changing the word "sexism" claiming you can only be sexist if you have prejudice AND power.

Give over, it's not racist to point out that rich white men contribute significantly more than Asian men to the bullshit in this country.

You can be racist to rich white men too but it’s a joke and a relatively harmless one.

The mistake people make is to go from noticing that the most privileged tend to be white men to thinking that this means that if you are a white mail then you must be privileged.

It’s so clearly untrue, but forms the whole basis of this “you can’t be racist against white people” trope.

But on the other hand they are much less likely to stab you,

Racism and prejudice are linked and seperate.

It's to do with power and the hierarchical society we live in. Some black people may have prejudices against white people in this country, but it's a prejudice and not racism.

English is not my first language, what’s the difference between what I wrote and what you did?

Everyone can have racial prejudice, but white people weren't and aren't affected by racism, not in real terms, not in ways that matter, not in the real world.

But that's just not true. Someone noted above, the gangs in Rochdale targeting white girls. Another person noted how their friend's parents disapproved of her for being white. Someone else mentioned a Polish person getting beaten up. There's plenty of anti-white racism and of course it affects people. If you're told you're less than others because of the colour of your skin, that is going to hurt. No matter if someone with the same colour skin as you is prime minister or president.

I think it's fair to say that generally in the UK we've seen a lot more racism against people who aren't white than those who are. But it's wrong to say that white people aren't affected by racism when they experience it. I think it's way more acceptable these days to be racist towards white people - whiteness is used as a synonym for being uncool, horrible, self-centred, etc etc. People seem to think it's okay because black and Asian people have experienced a lot of racism from white people. I think we should be aiming for less racism all around, not more racism against white people to balance things out!

Really? Maybe try looking at the history of these so called awful Countries that you speak of, before making such an ignorant statement. But I would not be surprised if that would be too difficult for you.

Utter rubbish. I say that as a non white woman. It’s absolutely possible to be sexist to men and it can be just as harmful as sexism to women (in fact it’s often the other side of the same coin).

Generally in British English we would say a 'black person' or 'white person' rather than simply 'black' or 'white'.

I think we're confusing cultural racism with political racism.

For the purposes of the law, racism has a very specific meaning, but that doesn't always align with cultural and colloquial interpretations does it. I think it's not quite as black and white as it might appear.

Well put. Thank you.

I would expect its because the whole irish situation. Lots of history to look up there!

Of course rich white men are not the problem in the world, what a stupidly ignorant statement to make.

I'm always confused when the definition of racism shifted to become tied to privilege.

It was a couple of decades ago in American universities, where academic theories around racial disparities in society filtered out into the mainstream as proven rather than theorised and then everyone was told if they didn't believe or even questioned those unproven theories,then that made them racist. Robin D'Angelo - and her disgusting racist books didn't help. I laugh whenever I see them earnestly recommended on here.

Eh?! Who's more likely to stab you??

OK, thanks.