What constitutes a non-racist?

[berlitz23]

How can one legitimately designate themselves the label of 'non-racist'?

[9]

Does anyone actually refer to themselves as a "non-racist"? I kind of hope not, it's a pretty weird term. Are you asking whether someone can legitimately consider themselves 'not a racist'?

[berlitz23]

Does anyone actually refer to themselves as a "non-racist"? I kind of hope not, it's a pretty weird term. Are you asking whether someone can legitimately consider themselves 'not a racist'?

It would be better to couch the question in those terms perhaps

[scarletghoul]

Someone who doesn't view human beings as seperate races...

[28350]

People now are usually subconsciously racist in one way or another.
This can be fixed.

Anti-racism is a direct and conscious opposition to racism.

[Quail]

I'd say that to be "not racist" you acknowledge that people have differences, but accept that they don't matter. People from different parts of the world tend to have different facial features and body types, but in the end are all people and shouldn't be treated any differently. There is no 'superior' set of characteristics.

[counterblast]

Someone who doesn't view human beings as seperate races...


Someone who acknowledges that viewing the world in these terms is an extremely privileged position, and who acknowledges that as long as wealth and power is unevenly distributed racially, as long as whiteness is universally epitomized and culturally prioritized, and as long as non-whiteness is fetishized or deemed "exotic" -- that humans are inevitably part of "separate races".

Racial utopia or a postracial society happening overnight is some feel good white academia bullshit. You don't become post racial by overlooking the problems people of color face on a daily basis and one day saying "oh, we're all the same now!"

Saying "race" doesn't ACTUALLY exist (as true as it may be scientifically), ISN'T being an ally, so long as the concept of race oppresses millions of people. Deconstructing race is a process, that begins by first acknowledging racism is heavily ingrained in our society, and by making amends for the way you and others oppress people on a daily basis.

[Nwoye]

Someone who acknowledges that viewing the world in these terms is an extremely privileged position, and who acknowledges that as long as wealth and power is unevenly distributed racially, as long as whiteness is universally epitomized and culturally prioritized, and as long as non-whiteness is fetishized or deemed "exotic" -- that humans are inevitably part of "separate races".

Racial utopia or a postracial society happening overnight is some feel good white academia bullshit. You don't become post racial by overlooking the problems people of color face on a daily basis and one day saying "oh, we're all the same now!"

Saying "race" doesn't ACTUALLY exist (as true as it may be scientifically), ISN'T being an ally, so long as the concept of race oppresses millions of people. Deconstructing race is a process, that begins by first acknowledging racism is heavily ingrained in our society, and by making amends for the way you and others oppress people on a daily basis.
you can recognize the socio-economic effects of the social construct called race (and fight against them) without separating human beings into abstract categories.

[Bad Grrrl Agro]

Someone who acknowledges that viewing the world in these terms is an extremely privileged position, and who acknowledges that as long as wealth and power is unevenly distributed racially, as long as whiteness is universally epitomized and culturally prioritized, and as long as non-whiteness is fetishized or deemed "exotic" -- that humans are inevitably part of "separate races".

Racial utopia or a postracial society happening overnight is some feel good white academia bullshit. You don't become post racial by overlooking the problems people of color face on a daily basis and one day saying "oh, we're all the same now!"

Saying "race" doesn't ACTUALLY exist (as true as it may be scientifically), ISN'T being an ally, so long as the concept of race oppresses millions of people. Deconstructing race is a process, that begins by first acknowledging racism is heavily ingrained in our society, and by making amends for the way you and others oppress people on a daily basis.

Well said!!! :thumbup1: :thumbup:

[counterblast]

you can recognize the socio-economic effects of the social construct called race (and fight against them) without separating human beings into abstract categories.

There is nothing abstract about the prison industrial complex. Try again.

[Dimentio]

Racism is not only reactionary and distasteful, but also a threat to all human beings living on the planet. When our current socio-economic system is quickly reaching the exploitation point where it will break the neck of the global eco-system, all ideologies which view human beings as separate from one another and advocate solutions only for particular groups are threats against all of humanity.

[Ocean Seal]

Someone who only believes that there is one race worth preserving, the human race. :)

[A.R.Amistad]

Well, it all depends. I think one can easily be an anti-racist individually by actively opposing racism, but it might be hard for someone of a privileged racial caste living in a capitalist system, since they benefit in one way or another (often unwillingly) from racism. Eliminating capitalism and class antagonism is the prerequisite to abolishing racism completely. But it is a noble thing to stand up against racism individually.

[Ocean Seal]

Well, it all depends. I think one can easily be an anti-racist individually by actively opposing racism, but it might be hard for someone of a privileged racial caste living in a capitalist system, since they benefit in one way or another (often unwillingly) from racism. Eliminating capitalism and class antagonism is the prerequisite to abolishing racism completely. But it is a noble thing to stand up against racism individually.
I agree with all the points made there. Sometimes I find myself too critical of anti-racist liberals because I know that they live well because of racism, but I forget that a step forward even if it is just a half step forward is a step forward.

[A.R.Amistad]

I agree with all the points made there. Sometimes I find myself too critical of anti-racist liberals because I know that they live well because of racism, but I forget that a step forward even if it is just a half step forward is a step forward.


Its just like the labor aristocracy theory. When speaking purely in terms of classes (large groupings of people) the labor aristocracy seems reactionary because they are more prosperous as a result of imperialism. Still, an individual member of the labor aristocracy could still become a very valuable and dedicated revolutionary.