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[Seanspeed]

That's just racism. The term reversed racism does not need to exist.

That person doesn't understand what reverse racism is.

And it doesn't need to exist, but no word 'needs' to exist, necessarily. Words are just tools to communicate when it comes down to it, so I'd say its a worthy term to have around, as it describes a specific phenomenon that would take a sentence or two to describe otherwise.

Its like saying 'a round object with a limited width intended for the use of rolling' instead of 'wheel'. Technically, we could get away without the term 'wheel', but its awfully useful.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

Reverse racism usually refers to somebody of a specific race that are resentful of a perceived(true or not) prejudice against them by another certain race and thus become prejudiced against that race in return. It is quite literally 'reverse' racism and an apt name for it.

EDIT: I'm shocked at how many people are quite ignorant of what this term means. Was expecting somebody else to have hit upon this as well, but not one other person has. Its a pretty well known phenomenon that goes beyond just 'race'. This happens quite a bit in the Middle East with battles over territory and religious differences, for example.

That's just racism. Reverse racism is a term never needed to be used. Its nonesense.

 

[Seanspeed]

That's not the definition most people are working off of.

From what I'm reading, people don't know what the fuck 'reverse racism' is supposed to mean whatsoever.

 

[Zoe]

From what I'm reading, people don't know what the fuck 'reverse racism' is supposed to mean whatsoever.

I have never heard your definition of "reverse racism" before. I have heard the other one that most people here are referring to quite often. Doing a search on the history of the term supports the common definition, not yours.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

From what I'm reading, people don't know what the fuck 'reverse racism' is supposed to mean whatsoever.

Well you definition has nothing reverse about it. Its just being racist because someone is being racist to them.

What's reverse about that and where are you getting your definition from?

Edit
The only version I have heard it used for is when a minority is being racist towards a majority. But that's just racism.

 

[Seanspeed]

That's just racism. Reverse racism is a term never needed to be used. Its nonesense.

Using my analogy of a wheel, its like saying that there's no need to differentiate between a wheel and a 'metal wheel'. Reverse racism would simply be a description of a type of racism. A racism born from a very specific set of circumstances.

To ignore the root causes of racism is to ignore how we potentially deal with it. Seems like an awfully British way of doing something. "Oh this is uncomfortable to talk about, so lets just simplify it and brush it off." And yes, I stereotyped British people on purpose as a joke, before anybody crucifies me for hypocrisy.

Spoiler

I am also British myself, technically

 

[qizah]

I say racist things about my own race. Am I a bad human being?

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

Using my analogy of a wheel, its like saying that there's no need to differentiate between a wheel and a 'metal wheel'. Reverse racism would simply be a description of a type of racism. A racism born from a very specific set of circumstances.

To ignore the root causes of racism is to ignore how we potentially deal with it. Seems like an awfully British way of doing something. "Oh this is uncomfortable to talk about, so lets just simplify it and brush it off." And yes, I stereotyped British people on purpose as a joke, before anybody crucifies me for hypocrisy.

Spoiler

I am also British myself, technically

HOW DARE YOU SIR. Just kidding of course.

Nothing wrong with classifying different kinds of prejudice. That's what the term racism does. Just there is nothing reverse about what you are saying.

 

[Seanspeed]

I have never heard your definition of "reverse racism" before. I have heard the other one that most people here are referring to quite often. Doing a search on the history of the term supports the common definition, not yours.

What is this common definition? Nobody here seems to have an inkling of what they're talking about.

Well you definition has nothing reverse about it. Its just being racist because someone is being racist to them.

What's reverse about that and where are you getting your definition from?

Edit
The only version I have heard it used for is when a minority is being racist towards a majority. But that's just racism.

Yes, somebody being racist because somebody is racist to them is pretty literal reverse racism. lol

I cant believe you understand the concept but still don't comprehend how 'reverse' is an absolutely perfect description of it. Racism goes one way. Racism goes back the other way. It 'reverses'. Its reciprocating racism. You can argue the semantics of it and say there might be a better term for it, but that's what it means and its hardly difficult to understand.

 

[wenis]

How about instead of using words we use a number system.

A racism power level if you will.

 

[Zoe]

What is this common definition? Nobody here seems to have an inkling of what they're talking about.

The majority race being the target of racism.

People who use "reverse racism" are morons because racism is racism.

 

[spindashing]

The majority race being the target of racism.

People who use "reverse racism" are morons because racism is racism.

Exactly. I've never heard the other definition of reverse-racism at all. This is a first for me.

What a dumb term.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Reverse racism usually refers to somebody of a specific race that are resentful of a perceived(true or not) prejudice against them by another certain race and thus become prejudiced against that race in return. It is quite literally 'reverse' racism and an apt name for it.

EDIT: I'm shocked at how many people are quite ignorant of what this term means. Was expecting somebody else to have hit upon this as well, but not one other person has. Its a pretty well known phenomenon that goes beyond just 'race'. This happens quite a bit in the Middle East with battles over territory and religious differences, for example.

I was under the impression that "reverse racism" might arise from the resentment of being discriminated against, but it's not inherent in the definition. My understanding was that the term simply means "racism against the dominant/oppressive group (usually whites)" and the cause of that racism could be anything, including, but not limited to, resentment.

Anyway, I agree with OP that's it's a problematic term. It implies racism is somehow directional, that it requires a specific power relationship between the two groups involved. I think the simplest definition is the most useful, which is discrimination, hostility, or judgment based on racial group membership.

 

[Seanspeed]

The majority race being the target of racism.

I think you need to delve a little deeper into this, because that really isn't different from what I'm talking about at all.

Its not about being racist towards the majority race just because they're the majority. The racism occurs because, often in human history, a majority suppresses a minority and feelings of superiority and rightfulness are widespread - racism, in other words. It can occur in other groupings like nationality and religion, but race is one of the common identifiers. And the people who feel persecuted, this minority, a race in the example we're talking about, grows resentful and becomes racist towards the majority race in return. That is 'reverse' racism.

Its exactly what I'm talking about.

Women hating men because they feel persecuted would be 'reverse sexism', as an additional example. It does not have to be a majority, necessarily. A person can dislike you and you might dislike them back in return. Its the same sort of thing.

 

[Stinkles]

I have only ever used or heard it used in thuddingly obvious satire.

 

[andymcc]

You do realize you're just generalizing/stereotyping people yourself now, right?

you wound me deeply

I'm talking about experiences with my own family.

 

[Seanspeed]

It implies racism is somehow directional

It can be, though.

That's now how all racism works, but its how some racism works, definitely.

 

[slit]

I thought this thread was about the literal translation of the word, not cultural connotation . The OP states he thinks the semantics of the word is silly and he's right.

 

[cwmartin]

I think you need to delve a little deeper into this, because that really isn't different from what I'm talking about at all.

Its not about being racist towards the majority race just because they're the majority. The racism occurs because, often in human history, a majority suppresses a minority and feelings of superiority and rightfulness are widespread - racism, in other words. It can occur in other groupings like nationality and religion, but race is one of the common identifiers. And the people who feel persecuted, this minority, a race in the example we're talking about, grows resentful and becomes racist towards the majority race in return. That is 'reverse' racism.

Its exactly what I'm talking about.

Women hating men because they feel persecuted would be 'reverse sexism', as an additional example. It does not have to be a majority, necessarily. A person can dislike you and you might dislike them back in return. Its the same sort of thing.

'revenge-racism' makes more sense to what your talking about. That's more of a modifier on the motive of the racism, and it's still just racism.

Your analogy before with the wheel, it would be more like calling a wheel an "upside down wheel". We get it, its a wheel.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

What is this common definition? Nobody here seems to have an inkling of what they're talking about.


Yes, somebody being racist because somebody is racist to them is pretty literal reverse racism. lol

I cant believe you understand the concept but still don't comprehend how 'reverse' is an absolutely perfect description of it. Racism goes one way. Racism goes back the other way. It 'reverses'. Its reciprocating racism. You can argue the semantics of it and say there might be a better term for it, but that's what it means and its hardly difficult to understand.

I understand what your saying but

A) that is never the term I have heard it used for (and you haven't provided where you got that definition from yet)

B) I still don't agree that term makes sense. Reverse something normally means opposite. Not going back the other way. You don't have to go forward first before you reverse.

 

[Seanspeed]

you wound me deeply

I'm talking about experiences with my own family.

You do realize that there are conservatives that exist outside your family right?

You are generalizing. And I'm constantly amazed at how many people, even in the defense of racism, manage to do it completely unknowingly, without realizing its the same sort of thinking involved. People are just trained to think that only certain forms of prejudice need to be looked out for, while our own natural tendency for prejudice is overlooked and many people don't learn the proper underlying cause for these things. Its basically just 'racism = bad' and that's it. No attempt to really look at the human psyche and understand why racism happens in the first place. People get this cruelly simple idea that people are racist just because they are inherently awful people or something.

Nobody ever wants to dig deeper.

 

[Vicetrailia]

What is this common definition? Nobody here seems to have an inkling of what they're talking about.


Yes, somebody being racist because somebody is racist to them is pretty literal reverse racism. lol

I cant believe you understand the concept but still don't comprehend how 'reverse' is an absolutely perfect description of it. Racism goes one way. Racism goes back the other way. It 'reverses'. Its reciprocating racism. You can argue the semantics of it and say there might be a better term for it, but that's what it means and its hardly difficult to understand.

What you are talking about is reacting to racism...still just labeled racism.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

You do realize that there are conservatives that exist outside your family right?

You are generalizing. And I'm constantly amazed at how many people, even in the defense of racism, manage to do it completely unknowingly, without realizing its the same sort of thinking involved. People are just trained to think that only certain forms of prejudice need to be looked out for, while our own natural tendency for prejudice is overlooked and many people don't learn the proper underlying cause for these things. Its basically just 'racism = bad' and that's it. No attempt to really look at the human psyche and understand why racism happens in the first place. People get this cruelly simple idea that people are racist just because they are inherently awful people or something.

Nobody ever wants to dig deeper.

I think your looking to deeply into this. I absolutely believe we should look into and try to understand causes etc etc. I just think the term reverse racism is utter nonsense and doesn't help anything, especially when no one even agrees what it means (here's a hint, its because it doesn't mean anything)

 

[Seanspeed]

'revenge-racism' makes more sense to what your talking about. That's more of a modifier on the motive of the racism, and it's still just racism.

Your analogy before with the wheel, it would be more like calling a wheel an "upside down wheel". We get it, its a wheel.

Just because you feel there may be a better term to use doesn't mean the existing term is not relevant.

And yes, it is still racism, but is it really so harmful to classify this specific form of racism? What do you, or anybody else, have against it?

And no, your analogy is terrible. An 'upside down wheel' is nonsensical. It does not help describe the type of wheel at all, while 'reverse racism' does specifically address a type of racism.

I know from personal experience that understanding prejudice and where it comes from is the ONLY way to deal with it properly. I'm not talking about racism with me personally, but prejudice manifests itself in countless forms and I make a constant effort to root it out and try and look past it. Trying to simplify racism into one all inclusive, 'no exception' category seems like a bad way of dealing with such a harmful prejudice, if you ask me.

 

[Seanspeed]

I think your looking to deeply into this. I absolutely believe we should look into and try to understand causes etc etc. I just think the term reverse racism is utter nonsense and doesn't help anything, especially when no one even agrees what it means (here's a hint, its because it doesn't mean anything)

It does mean something, though. Explain how it doesn't mean anything.

Its a very specific cause of racism. Why on earth would you want to overlook it?

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

It does mean something, though. Explain how it doesn't mean anything.

Its a very specific cause of racism. Why on earth would you want to overlook it?

Because its not accurate. You still haven't provided where you got this definition from. I have never heard anyone else use it that way.

If you have a term for that one situation then you need a term for them all. But there isn't. Also its not needed. You first identify something as racist and then can try and understand its cause / root. Naming it doesn't help anything. Each case of it is to specific or unique to do so.

 

[Seanspeed]

Because its not accurate. You still haven't provided where you got this definition from. I have never heard anyone else use it that way.

If you have a term for that one situation then you need a term for them all. But there isn't. Also its not needed. You first identify something as racist and then can try and understand its cause / root. Naming it doesn't help anything. Each case of it is to specific or unique to do so.

It sounds like you dont understand the definition, not me. This all the more evident because you're not trying to correct me by saying what the 'real' definition is, but just repeating that I'm wrong.

As for needing to label this, I've gone over that. Nothing ever needs a specific term. It just sometimes proves useful for communication. If it becomes used on a wide scale, then it becomes a legit, knowable term, and choosing to disregard it doesnt invalidate it.

 

[Vicetrailia]

White cop calls me a nigger...
In reaction I call the cop a cracker...

REVERSE RACISM!

Lets be real, only a specific group wants to utilize the theorized term "reverse-racism". It is used when something appears to be anti-white coming from minorities.

But this is simply racism, regardless of the race targeted.

 

[OmegaTreeFish]

It sounds like you dont understand the definition, not me. This all the more evident because you're not trying to correct me by saying what the 'real' definition is, but just repeating that I'm wrong.

As for needing to label this, I've gone over that. Nothing ever needs a specific term. It just sometimes proves useful for communication. If it becomes used on a wide scale, then it becomes a legit, knowable term, and choosing to disregard it doesnt invalidate it.

I guess you arnt reading anything I say if you give a reply like this. I have already explained why its wrong. I even explained what most people use the term for. I finished by explaining they are also wrong. Its a nonsense saying.

But just because I assume you won't reread anything I have already said here it is

- it makes no sense because the reverse of something when used in such a way is used to mean opposite. Not when something switches directions. If you want to look at it logically reverse racism would be the opposite of racist. What that is could also be debatable of course.

- people commonly use it when a minority is being racist towards a majority race.

- how does this one situation need a specific term? Do you think problems like racism can be dumped into small sub groups? What other types of racism are there? Just racism and reverse racism? What if someone was at first racist because of parents but that was later fortified when he was insulted by someone of that race? Is he racist or reverse racist? You see its nonesense because racism isn't that simple. Each case is unique and needs to be looked at that way not decided into subgroups. That's one reason racism exists today, because that's what we do to ourselves.

Now I have gone over all that can you please tell me where you got your definition of it? I am guessing its just how your understood it and are somehow baffled no one else sees it that way when everyone else already knows its common use.

 

[AuthenticM]

no, reverse-racism is when you treat someone as better or superior to others based solely on their race..

That's still racism.

Work on your knowledge of semantics.

 

[Sparkedglory]

I always have and always will hate that term. It's so fucking stupid

 

[BajiBoxer]

I say racist things about my own race. Am I a bad human being?

Yes.

 

[Unbounded]

I have never heard your definition of "reverse racism" before. I have heard the other one that most people here are referring to quite often. Doing a search on the history of the term supports the common definition, not yours.

You could say the exact same thing about a lot of terms, really.

 

[Blackage]

I always thought Reverse racism was exactly that, racism in reverse, but reaching the wrong conclusion because of how you worked your way back to a racist conclusion.

For example, if a white person walks up to a black guy and calls him the N bomb with malice, that's racism.

Reverse racism would be if a white person is friends with a black guy, and calls him the n bomb casually, then somebody else sees it/records it, and tells other people who take offense and accuse said white guy of racism THEN you have racism happening in reverse.

The act itself wasn't racist, but instead of going from point A->B(White guy caling black guy a N which resulted in racism), you're going from B->A(Black guy was called an N by a White Guy, it must be racist because the act itself is racist without context).

 

[Ala Alba]

Huh, I always though reverse-racism meant going too far in the name of equality that you end up discriminating against a different race.

For example, some might say that Affirmative Action was an example of reverse-racism, because it is a policy meant to combat racism against minorities that goes too far and actually discriminates against the majority.

In other words, reverse-racism isn't a result of malice but over-compensation.

Kind of like people complaining against being overly "politically correct".

But I guess I'm wrong?

 

[Machine]

The term has been in use since the '60s and has a commonly accepted meaning. Let's just admit that it is grammatically incorrect and move on. Why is it that this discussion reminds me of the recent one regarding the word "gypped"?

 

[cwmartin]

This thread is just living proof the term makes absolutely no sense. We've heard about 19 different variations of what it 'could' be.

Hint: It's nothing.

 

[slit]

What if the racism is sideways?

 

[killdatninja]

OP is right, but there is no other term that properly describes the racism against ones own race.

Self-Racism is the closest thing I can think of..

 

[Satch]

OP is right, but there is no other term that properly describes the racism against ones own race.

Self-Racism is the closest thing I can think of..

yes there is

 

[raigeki11]

Lets be real, only a specific group wants to utilize the theorized term "reverse-racism". It is used when something appears to be anti-white coming from minorities.

But this is simply racism, regardless of the race targeted.

Pretty much what I was gonna say. Once on the Colbert report they had a bit about this term being used by guys like Rush Limbaugh and Glen Beck and Colbert summed up what they meant pretty nicely: "It's the opposite of the way you're supposed to be racist"

I really hate hearing this term because I feel like the white people who say it are putting themselves on a pedestal by saying it's somehow different if they're the ones someone doesn't like. It really does sound like they're saying racism against minorities is 'proper' racism and it's this thing of theirs that's being turned against them.

Sometimes I hate being white :/

 

[Rosenskjold]

Are you aware that in the field of acamedic discourses it's a very valid term that has many well-considered arguments? Or are you just basing it something random you read?

 

[Angelus Errare]

The majority race being the target of racism.

People who use "reverse racism" are morons because racism is racism.

This.

 

[backflip10019]

Regardless/irregardless.

 

[JCX]

reverse racism sounds like a porn category.

 

[Armaros]

Are you aware that in the field of acamedic discourses it's a very valid term that has many well-considered arguments? Or are you just basing it something random you read?

Until you provide direct sources, you are just using an Argument from Authority fallacy.

Or in other words
showmetherecipts.gif

 

[Boss Mog]

Wouldn't Reverse-Racism be not judging people by the color of their skin? You know, the Reverse of Racism?
As far as I am concerned racism is racism regardless of race. Anyone who uses the term "reverse racism" has lost all credibility just by the sheer idiocy of using the term.
Can we stop using this stupid combination of words together please?

The reason the term reverse-racism exists is because of the notion , that still very much exists today, that only white people can be racist, even though that is very far from being factual.

That whole controversy with the Far Cry 4 cover where people thought the oppressive antagonist was white wouldn't even have existed if he had been black. Nobody would've said "oh no this black guy is oppressing the asian guy, that's so racist". These days if a white person has any kind of beef with a non white he is immediately seen as a racist even if the beef is a personal thing that has nothing to do with race. South Park even made fun of this in their "Cartman's silly hate crime" episode.

 

[Massive Duck. C.M.]

The reason the term reverse-racism exists is because of the notion , that still very much exists today, that only white people can be racist, even though that is very far from being factual.

The term "reverse racism" exists because racists got shook when things started changing for the better. The funny thing is not only does it acknowledge that racism is being perpetrated in the first place, it shows that they feel wronged for being taken to task and/or having their policies challenged. When people use "reverse racism" to refer to things like affirmative action, which while the application of is admittedly flawed and uneven, such a thing would never have even been necessary if racism hadn't been so deeply ingrained in society in the first place, and never mind the fact that the largest group to benefit from AA is white women.

It's just a weak attempt to deflect.

 

[Zoe]

That whole controversy with the Far Cry 4 cover where people thought the oppressive antagonist was white wouldn't even have existed if he had been black. Nobody would've said "oh no this black guy is oppressing the asian guy, that's so racist". These days if a white person has any kind of beef with a non white he is immediately seen as a racist even if the beef is a personal thing that has nothing to do with race. South Park even made fun of this in their "Cartman's silly hate crime" episode.

I still think that guy looks Asian.

 

[DoktorEvil]

The term "reverse racism" exists because racists got shook when things started changing for the better. The funny thing is not only does it acknowledge that racism is being perpetrated in the first place, it shows that they feel wronged for being taken to task and/or having their policies challenged. When people use "reverse racism" to refer to things like affirmative action, which while the application of is admittedly flawed and uneven, such a thing would never have even been necessary if racism hadn't been so deeply ingrained in society in the first place, and never mind the fact that the largest group to benefit from AA is white women.

It's just a weak attempt to deflect.

Do you happen to have a source for that? I'd like to read that study.