From Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reverse_racism?wprov=sfti1
'Many advocates for racial justice argue that reverse racism is just misinterpreted racial prejudice. According to Calgary Anti Racism Education (CARED), "Racial Prejudice can be directed at white people (i.e. white people can't dance) but is not considered racism because of the systemic relationship of power."[15] Some sociologists do not believe in the existence of reverse racism because of the hierarchy in which those who are in the subordinated position do not have the power to commit reverse racism without larger, institutional support. Based on David Wellman's definition of racism in Portraits of White Racism as "culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities," reverse racism could not exist because it cannot defend advantages of racial groups who are disadvantaged in society.[16]
Paul Kivel writes in Uprooting Racism: How White People Can Work for Racial Justice that instances of reverse racism are generally rare, and that many claims of reverse discrimination lack merit. According to Kivel, charges of reverse racism are "usually a white strategy to deny white racism and to counterattack attempts to promote racial justice".[17] Reverse racism is also said to deny the existence of white privilege and power in society.[18]'
Thus, reverse racism is a myth because of the power dynamic of the dominant culture, white people, over people of color. POC have NEVER held any power. They were brought here from Africa and subjugated to slavery, rape, beatings and lack of rights. We are a racist nation and until we collectively, as a nation, admit and own this truth, we will NEVER begin to dismantle this scourge.
This racism continues today and is defined by Wikipedia as,
'Institutional racism (also known as institutionalized racism) is a form of racism expressed in the practice of social and political institutions. Institutional racism is also racism by individuals or informal social groups,[1] governed by behavioral norms that support racist thinking and foment active racism. It is reflected in disparities regarding wealth, income, criminal justice, employment, housing, health care, political power and education, among other things. Whether implicitly or explicitly expressed, institutional racism occurs when a certain group is targeted and discriminated against based upon race. Institutional racism is mostly implicit in our ideas and attitudes, so it is often unnoticed by the individual expressing it (see implicit bias).
Institutional racism was explained in 1967 by Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael) and Charles V. Hamilton in Black Power: The Politics of Liberation, stating that while individual racism is often identifiable because of its overt nature, institutional racism is less perceptible because of its "less overt, far more subtle" nature. Institutional racism "originates in the operation of established and respected forces in the society, and thus receives far less public condemnation than [individual racism]." They go on to give examples:
"When white terrorists bomb a black church and kill five black children, that is an act of individual racism, widely deplored by most segments of the society. But when in that same city--Birmingham, Alabama--five hundred black babies die each year because of the lack of power, food, shelter and medical facilities, and thousands more are destroyed and maimed physically, emotionally and intellectually because of conditions of poverty and discrimination in the black community, that is a function of institutional racism. When a black family moves into a home in a white neighborhood and is stoned, burned or routed out, they are victims of an overt act of individual racism which most people will condemn. But it is institutional racism that keeps black people locked in dilapidated slum tenements, subject to the daily prey of exploitative slumlords, merchants, loan sharks and discriminatory real estate agents. The society either pretends it does not know of this latter situation, or is in fact incapable of doing anything meaningful about it." [2]
Institutional racism was defined by Sir William Macpherson in the 1999 Lawrence report (UK) as: "The collective failure of an organisation to provide an appropriate and professional service to people because of their colour, culture, or ethnic origin. It can be seen or detected in processes, attitudes and behaviour which amount to discrimination through unwitting prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness and racist stereotyping which disadvantage minority ethnic people."[3]'
Wikipedia: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutional_racism
Therefore, POC cannot be racist, yet they can be prejudiced towards anyone. Anyone can have an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed about someone without knowledge or have a preconceived feeling/attitude towards someone.
Racism means the dominant group, i.e. white people, think we are superior to other races. POC just wante to be treated equally, have a place at the table, and have access to all the same things whites have without discrimination and hate.
I recently got called an anti-white lesbian by a former friend i found out was racist. This person said i ripped on white people way too much and that i hate white people. Actually, i recognize my privilege as a white person but also I am a minority being that i am a queer Jewish woman. I recognize i have degrees of racism in my life through some of my attitudes and thinking. I HATE it but i am trying to dismantle this scourge. I am trying really hard to shut up and listen to my POC community and educate myself. I am often ashamed of being white because of the problems it often entails for POC. I am NOT anti-white
To my community of friends who are persons of color, I want you to know how sorry i am about racism and my own racist attitudes. I am trying hard to listen, to learn, to excise it. I am not patting myself on the back for recognizing this evil nor do i think i am some super woke person. I appreciate your friendship, your love, and your righteous anger. I am doing my best to do my small part in dismantling systemic racism so that you may live a free and full life.
Thank you for reading and chewing on these important words. My hope is that we can ALL learn to shut up and be better listeners.
Shalom!
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