Is racism a permanent facet of capitalism?

[Lobotomy]

is it conceivable that racism could be eliminated under capitalism, or is it here to stay? There are some minor examples of racial/ethnic prejudice disappearing in capitalist societies. for example, Irish workers used to be second class citizens in the US, but by now the prejudice associated with their condition has pretty much completely disappeared, and being Irish is no longer seen as being inferior.

obviously the oppression that the Irish faced in the US is minor compared to that of blacks or latinos, so perhaps it is inappropriate to compare the two. but is it possible that racism could be eliminated under a capitalist mode of production, even if it were to take centuries?

[Zav]

Racism is a product of Racialism and in turn Imperialism, not Capitalism, so I suppose it's technically possible, but it is the goal of the bourgeoisie to keep the workers divided, so it isn't likely.

[NewLeft]

Racism is a product of Racialism and in turn Imperialism, not Capitalism, so I suppose it's technically possible, but it is the goal of the bourgeoisie to keep the workers divided, so it isn't likely.
No, racism based on the unscientific definition of race is a product of capitalism. It is not merely imperialism. The expansion of capitalism is the expansion of racism.

Is it possible to have a capitalism without racism? I can't answer that, but capitalism has never existed without racism.

[Ocean Seal]

Because of the way that capitalism developed historically I would say yes. Otherwise perhaps no, but it doesn't appear that racism is going away anytime soon.

[Manic Impressive]

Capitalism is a mode of production racism is a social construction the two are not mutually dependent they are separate and can exist without each other. It is possible that wage labour, the state, classes and everything else which is capitalism can exist in a society where the social construct of race and gender have been abolished. This means that it is also possible that these social constructs could exist in a world where the means of production are in common ownership, although this is less likely for obvious reasons.

This is then the fundamental difference between the politics of single issue groups like black nationalists and feminists. They may appear to be allies and many see that capitalism is not in their interests but the main reason they fight the system can be cured through reforms. Whereas our goal can only be achieved through revolution.

[homegrown terror]

capitalism is entirely dependent upon the fostering of an "us and them" mindset, and in most capitalist societies, skin color happens to be the easiest difference for the ruling class to exploit. there are other differences they exploit (gender, orientation, religion etc) but "race" seems to be the most common. so yes, capitalism could exist without racism, but it won't ever happen.

[GerrardWinstanley]

Racism is a fundamental feature of the dominant ideology --indispensible to capitalists-- by which global imperialism expands and reproduces itself. The myth of white Christian Europe's exclusive claim to an Ancient Greek cultural pedigree.

We are told that what we inherited both from the Greeks and from Christianity set the stage for the West's unique experience of modernity and progress and that the misfortunes of the world's dispossessed, instead of being a feature of ever-growing exploitation and polarisation under capitalism, can be ascribed to certain cultural defects. Just like old-fashioned white supremacy, this has the effect of dehumanising the great majority of the world.

[Sea]

Capitalism doesn't necessarily require racism.

For capitalism to flourish, however, there must be exploitation. Racism provides a very convenient way to justify this exploitation.

[Firebrand]

There may not always be racism but there will always be discrimination on arbitary basis designed to keep people divided.
So there will always be victimised and marginalised groups under capitalism, the nature of these groups might change but not the fact of their existance. These divisions are too useful a tool for the ruling class to abandon them.

[Rafiq]

No. Capitalism is defined in a very strict and objective manner. The capitalist mode of production doesn't require Racism to function, though, at times, it has necessitated it in the same way that it necessitates "Multi culturalism" throughout the western world.

[Vorchev]

obviously the oppression that the Irish faced in the US is minor compared to that of blacks or latinos, so perhaps it is inappropriate to compare the two. but is it possible that racism could be eliminated under a capitalist mode of production, even if it were to take centuries?

This statement comes off as racist.

Forgetting blacks and Hispanics, the point is Irish, among other Catholic immigrants, were exploited under the liberal Protestant social gospel during the melting pot era. The point was to prey on Catholic sensitivities (which don't recognize "Total Depravity") and encourage immigrants to assimilate through work rather than community participation.

Coincidentally, Hispanics have been enduring the same encouraged workaholism despite their Catholic heritage. In fact, the Mexican socialist revolution after WW1 (AKA Cristero War) synthesized with Catholic sympathies to discourage workaholism. The government only stopped persecuting Catholics following American pressure on the advent of WW2 because America needed Catholic support to stand on the frontlines.

Since the secular annihilation of the Catholic church in Mexico, standards of living have plummeted, and Mexicans have been surging over the border from a loss of holistic closure. They believe people are obligated to work to prove their dignity rather than believing personhood is dignified in itself. Even after WW2, the government monopolized the country's oil industry, and ran it into the ground following the '70s oil crisis towards favoritism rather than investing in public infrastructure or welfare.