Reverse Racism is Not a Real Thing

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Reverse racism is white supremacist propaganda.

Racism is the belief that race is equated with particular traits and those traits make one race superior over another. This then results with an unequal distribution of power based on race. In America, the white people are the ones that hold the power over the Black people. Prejudice, on the other hand, is a preconceived opinion on another race that is not based on experiences or reason.

You cannot be racist against white people. It is a simple fact. Racism is reliant on power. You can’t be racist against those who hold the power. Racism without power, is simply just prejudice. The systemic relationship with power holds the white people on top while oppressing Black people and PoC. When prejudice is combined with power, it is racism and that racism is used to control and oppress Black people in America.

Zeba Blay, a Huffington Post Black Voices writer, explains, "Because remember, in a society where white is seen as the default race, all history is white history. But racism isn't just someone feeling superior to another race and then discriminating against them."

White is the default in this country and everything is hyper focused on whiteness. Think of some of your favorite shows and movies. How many black characters can you think of? How many play an important role? How many have substantial lines? Shows and movies have been only showing and highlighting white people since the beginning.

Some people like to claim that “well there’s BET and bars just for Black people, and dating apps, and schools. Black people are allowed to have things just for themselves but white people can’t, so reverse racism is real”. Anyone who claims any of these things is conveniently forgetting American history. Black people and white people were legally segregated, on a national level, until the 1960s. The reason Black people have “Black only” schools and restaurants, etc. is because they were legally not allowed to go to the same places as white people.

Another common claim brought up by idiots is “what about white history month?”. In case any of you forgot, the history taught in schools is white history. It is completely white washed, devoid of any real conversations about Black people. We are taught that the Founding Fathers were great men that did so much for America, yet the textbooks conveniently leave out the hundreds, if not thousands, of enslaved people that the Founding Fathers kept captive and raped and tortured.

Reverse racism is an absurd claim. If anything, the people accused of it are most likely complaining about the system that is created to keep them down.

The fact of the matter is, white people hold the power in this country. From TV, to movies, to news channels, to everything – white people have the power so you cannot claim reverse racism when you live in a society that systemically pushes you to the top while creating a much more difficult experience for any non-white people.

“Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre.” Alberta Civil Liberties Research Centre, 2014, www.aclrc.com/myth-of-reverse-racism. Accessed 2 July 2020.

“Definition of RACISM.” Merriam-Webster.Com, 2018, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racism. Accessed 2 July 2020.

“Is Reverse Racism Really a ‘Thing?’” General Commission on Religion and Race, 11 Feb. 2017, www.gcorr.org/is-reverse-racism-really-a-thing/. Accessed 2 July 2020.

Lewis, Philip. “Here’s Why ‘reverse Racism’ Doesn’t Actually Exist in the US.” Business Insider, 15 Apr. 2016, www.businessinsider.com/heres-why-reverse-racism-doesnt-actually-exist-in-the-us-2016-4. Accessed 2 July 2020.

“Racism.” Anti-Defamation League, 2018, Https://www.adl.org/racism. Accessed 2 July 2020.