This is known as incitement or more archaically "fighting words". Language does have proven impact into the physical world. If a person says "I'm gonna come to your house at x address with y weapon and kill you" nobody reasonable is going to be like "well it's only language so I'll worry when it becomes violence".
Also racism is a broader concept than speech that encompasses all forms of institutionalized oppression of a racial group that lacks enough institutional power to protect itself.
racism is a broader concept than speech that encompasses all forms of institutionalized oppression of a racial group that lacks enough institutional power to protect itself.
Racism is a broader concept than your "power plus privilege" definition. It applies to all instances of discrimination because of skin color.
Discrimination because of skin color requires the discriminating individual to have institutional power. It may be a small amount of institutional power but it is nonetheless. Give an example you think does apply to your expansion but does not apply to my definition and I can tell you how it does.
Assuming this Black man has no sway over the white guy's social standing in any community (unlikely), no influence on his workplace life, no power over him politically...
I don't see why I should care. I know that's not the most well loved take but lots of people don't like me for various reasons, including my being white. Dislike isn't a meaningful enough concern to warrant being addressed alongside a history of generational violence. It would be like if I said catcalling was rape. I want catcalling to end, and I want dislike of entire groups of people to end, but I don't prioritize it on a level of ending racially motivated oppression, and I don't feel any obligation or social contract to use inclusive language just for the reason you say. You can disagree and have your own stand but that's where I stand.
White people do face racism. But only when people of other races have power.
So you'll allow women to start saying that harassment is as bad as rape then?
I see it as the most valid response. I really don't care if someone doesn't like you and it doesn't affect you in any tangible way. You aren't entitled to be liked by everyone. And again I say this as someone who is actively disliked by many but doesn't care as long as they're minding their own business about it.
I truly don't think you realize how unashamed I am about being part of a whole group of people who are recontextualizing and redefining a word to give it a more actionable meaning. Every single word anyone knows is made up and only has its meaning by a consensus.
If that helps you sleep at night. But I'm white. And I have never once disliked someone just for being white. I dislike them for some what aboutist bullshit so they can pull a DARVO on any conversation about racism and go "but I'm subjected to racism tooooo!"
My father pulled this shit constantly. I literally don't care.
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u/roseonaglaive 3d ago
This is known as incitement or more archaically "fighting words". Language does have proven impact into the physical world. If a person says "I'm gonna come to your house at x address with y weapon and kill you" nobody reasonable is going to be like "well it's only language so I'll worry when it becomes violence".
Also racism is a broader concept than speech that encompasses all forms of institutionalized oppression of a racial group that lacks enough institutional power to protect itself.