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There're a number definitions of racism that preclude non-whites from the ability to be racist. Some allow for them to be considered prejudiced. Some are expressed as formulas (priviledge+power or prejutice+power) with the key concept being power. I (relatively uninformedly) refer to these as structural definitions.

The question is as the title suggests, and if you're so inclined, please explain what you think should be made of a resolution in either direction. Is it fine if it is? Should be? Should it not? That sort of thing (and why if you've the time).

Would honestly prefer supporters of these definitions to respond though all are welcome; i'd be less likely to engage with your response if it reads like a shitpost in either case.

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No one is saying that individuals of any ethnicity can't be bigoted. The point being made is that, in our current society, the societal structure that we call "racism" - the social machinery that empowers white bigots to enact violence against people of color and get away with it, and disadvantages non-white people in all sorts of other ways - lends a certain weight to the prejudices of white folks that just isn't true for the prejudices of other people. Disadvantaged people who hate all white people just aren't a threat to white people the way that even well meaning white people are to people of color.

In other words: the prejudices of those in power are a much more pressing social ill because the ruling majority ethnicity/culture has the power to actively cause harm via those prejudices.

[-] snek_boi@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 day ago

This is a matter of defining words. It’s fine to play the game of “which word best corresponds to the phenomena”, but I prefer playing another game: what function or what purpose is this word or this definition serving in context?

It would be sad to see “racism is structural” as an excuse for people to be cynical assholes (as opposed to tactical protesters). It’s much better when it’s used to achieve an equitable and fair world.

Beyond function, there’s also another framework that could help you: complexity dynamics. Racism happens within a complex system. Within that system, there are powerful actors, constraints, and constructors. Understanding this makes it clearer why, even if polite society is polite to marginal groups, systematic discrimination in schooling, credit, and incarceration are still structural racism.

If this clicks with you and you wanna learn more, let me know and I can recommend some stuff :)

This seems a very simplistic way of seeing racism. Like, to me, complex human interactions and systems cannot be simplified in this manner:

Some are expressed as formulas (priviledge+power or prejutice+power) with the key concept being power.

There's a lot more nuance than this. If you're thinking about structural racism, the legal, the opportunity given, segregational, educational and societal (even if not official) factors of racism, that's what I think it is, the amalgamation of various factors into the added institution of racism, as they are at the structural foundation of our modern society, not just a guy being racist, not just priviledge, but the educational access for black people or laws implicitly made to keep latinos out of legality (some examples).

It's not that simple. Check this and this as they're a good start.

And, to the question, in the definition I just gave, the question:

To what extent is the standard structural definition of racism structurally racist?

Doesn't even make sense, as describing the ways racism prevail in society is not racist, because the definition of racism is a lot different than this.

[-] notsosure@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 day ago

Racist means that you discriminate against people based on race.

[-] Jabril@hexbear.net 2 points 1 day ago

Are you saying it is racist to preclude non-white people from being racist?

[-] cockmushroom@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago

Not exactly, i'm asking if such definitions are examples of what they ostensibly criticize and if anything should be done about them if they are.

[-] disregardable@lemmy.zip 1 points 1 day ago

I don't know what you mean by describing it as "structurally racist". In the sense that it's viewing minorities as lesser? No. It obviously doesn't do that. It's just describing society the way we see it function. Regardless of the attitude of any individual, the structure of society is white supremacist. It's no different from saying "Someone telling you that the sky is green won't make you believe that the sky is green. It also won't prevent you from enjoying the view of the blue sky."

[-] cockmushroom@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

I don't know what you mean ...

i'm asking if it can be described as such and what people think about doing so. Not really intending to describe anything more than necessary for articulating the questions.

Regardless of the attitude of any individual, the structure of society is white supremacist

Totally agree with this!

this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2026
-5 points (27.3% liked)

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