The difference between racism and prejudice....a distinction I thought progressives understood.

[GumboYaYa]

"Racism is based on prejudice toward so-called racial groups. But racism goes beyond simple prejudice. What makes racism so powerful and destructive is that the negative prejudice is the basis for discrimination against "racial groups." The discrimination can take place in the job market, housing market, educational system, health care service system, or some other arena.

What this definition of racism implies is that one group has the power to discriminate against another." http://www.apa.org/pi/oema/racism/q14.html

You see, Obama's minister may be prejudiced, but as a member of a class that is subject to pervasive discrimination he is not a racist. He does not possess the power to subject another class of people to discriminatory practices based on prejudices (i.e. real racism).

I have not met a person in my lifetime who does not hold some prejudices. It is rampant here on DU. Almost all prejudice is an unfair generalization about an entire class of people based on some preconceived notion, but in order for a prejudice to become racism or sexism it has to be combined with power.

The cries of racism going on at DU today are the Republican version of the concept. It is the same world view that objects to affirmative action and rails against "welfare mothers."

Before anyone starts crying racism, or sexism for that matter, it would behoove us to use the progressive notions of those concepts and not the Republicans'.

[O.M.B.inOhio]

1. Hear hear!

I remember Dr. Alvin Puissant putting it simply: Racism is Prejudice plus Power.

[catnhatnh]

2. I have to disagree with a logic that says.....

it's only racism if a white in America does it....your proof would have to show that I, a white male with no national voice and little financial means have more opportunity to discriminate against blacks in general than say Bill Cosby would have to discriminate against whites should he choose to do so.....and this is clearly not so...Your construct fails when you assume possession of power as some kind of melanin related birthright....When you take your statement that the power to discriminate raises prejudice to racism, the logical conclusion is that both candidates have well within hand the power (money+media) and most posters on this board do not. Racism exists and is foul.Your definition seems flawed to me...

[GumboYaYa]

3. It is not my definition...it is the textbook definition of racism.

If you want to argue with someone over it, take it to the American Psychological Association.

[catnhatnh]

4. Ok....

....I'll accept it as "a" textbook definition,but not as "the" textbook definition....But thanks for the thread.I'd like to see more opinions.

[cindyw]

5. Very well put. A Black Studies professor of mine taught the same thing.

I have been thinking of him a lot lately. Glad to see someone found something so well written to describe it.

[GumboYaYa]

6. I thought that this understanding of racism is fundamental to a progressive view of the world.

It has shocked me to see the words racism and sexism so misused here.

[Lilith Velkor]

7. I didn't get it until a Black Studies major explained it to me

It also crystallized for me why accusations of "reverse sexism" are total crap.

Kicky and recommendy.

[NDambi]

8. Excellent.