Why do some people keep saying that only white people can be racist since white people have the power?

I know white people invented racism. It started when slavery in the u.s. went from being based solely on economics to being a racial institution. [[[Before that time, peoples' prejudices were religious, tribal, national, etc.]]] And I know that there have always been more white people in power than other people. But these things don't change the definition of racism. No matter who invented it or who's in power, racism is racial prejudice. It isn't discrimination, although, yes, people can discriminate BECAUSE OF racial prejudice. And it isn't seperatism or supremacy, although, yes, many racists believe in seperatism and (or) supremacy. Racism is racial prejudice and ANYONE CAN BE BE AFFECTED BY IT. And about who's in power, well, yea, there are more people in power who are white. But not all white people have some kind of power. And, in fact, those in power have no more respect for "weak" underclass white people [[[most of the population]]] than they do anyone else.

Why do some people keep saying that only white people can be racist since white people have the power?
I don't think some people are understanding what you've asked. Yes, "white" people did invent racism as we know it. The concept of biological race (what modern science has now shown as being genetic phenotypes caused by human migration) was invented by "white" men. Therefore the type of racism which is prejudice based upon so-called biological race was indeed a "white" creation. However, yes, people did harbor prejudices prior to that time- which could also be called racism (i.e. prejudice based upon social race)- but it wasn't (and isn't) limited to "white" people.





Contrary to what some people think, one need not be in a certain position, feel hatred, desire segregation/seperatism, feel superior, and so forth, in order to be racist.





Anyway... To add to what I said above regarding "race":





Re-post:





Race is only valid as a social concept. In other words, we can divide ourselves according to culture, nationality, etc... and group these differences together according to "race". This is a logical concept. I.e., it's within the nature of logic to refer to different cultures, nationalities, etc... as different races. But, as a scientific classification, it only applies to other species. To suggest otherwise is to be of the opinion that the Homo-sapien species can be divided into sub-species, which it cannot.





There aren't enough biological differences between the so-called races to consider them separate and readily distinguishable races. (NOTICE that I said, "...aren't ENOUGH differences." Only an idiot would claim that there aren't ANY differences between people. However, as I said, there aren't ENOUGH differences to determine that there are sub-species of humans. There are genetic differences between Calico and Tabby cats, for example; but that doesn't change the fact that Calicoes and Tabbies are NOT sub-species of the Felis-catus. Understand my point?)





The idea of biological race is ridiculous and was introduced by the master class for the purpose of division- to cause the rest of us to buy into the fallacy of "racial" superiority and inferiority. This led to "racial" hatred.





Race based prejudice (i.e. racism), as we know it here in the United States, began during slavery. When Africans arrived as slaves, they entered into a society in which it wasn't uncommon for masters to beat their "white" slaves to death. Owning "white" slaves was prevalent. Likewise, there weren't only "white" slave owners but "Indian" slave owners as well- and, later, "black" slave owners. (Yes, since slavery wasn't initially a race based institution, "blacks" and "Indians" who assimilated into "civilized" society could own slaves.) Were they equal in number? No, but they did exist. Inequality flourished, but it wasn't due to a racial divide or a racial superiority complex. In fact, it was more common to push "white" slaves past the point of human endurance, because "white" slaves were cheap and thought to be of lesser quality than "blacks". The "black" slaves were more expensive, and, being from Africa, they were thought to have more strength and stamina. Therefore, to lose a "black" slave was to lose a tidy investment.





It wasn't until after slavery began to shift to an order of racial inequality that "white privilege" and contempt for "blacks" had fully developed. "White privilege" as we know it and contempt for "blacks" were unforeseen results of a divide and conquer method implemented by the slave masters. Up until this point, "whites" and "blacks" shared common problems. Both were oppressed and abused in ways that we can only imagine. Whites and blacks worked side by side. They socialized with one another. And, eventually, they revolted together.





The master class started to fear that, together, slaves would become capable of overcoming their masters. And, thus, racism was born by planting seeds of fictional "black inferiority". "Blacks" were chosen as the inferior race for two reasons: 1) With Africans being lesser in number, it was anticipated that they could be easily controlled and forced to remain in slavery, which was the most desired outcome since 2) they were more valued as slaves.





The above shift occurred at different times in different colonies and regions due to various factors. The master class polluted the land with lies of "white superiority" and began offering benefits to the socially inferior "whites". Laws were enacted which forbid relations between "whites" and "blacks", which required that "white" servants whose indentures were complete be given food and land (The same didn't apply to "black" servants when their indentures were up.), and which imposed strict restrictions on "black" servants and slaves. Some masters freed their "white" slaves or permitted them to purchase their freedom. This created a loss of labor which was a problem addressed by extending the indentures of "black" servants indefinitely- leading to the end of servitude and the dawn of a society completely reliant upon "black" slavery, a society that also systematically destroyed American Indian life, and a society that embraced "white privilege".





The master class didn't anticipate that their successful divide and conquer method would later also succeed in destroying their slave system. Convincing "white" people of their "superiority" led to hatred of "non-whites". There were some "whites" who opposed slavery for moral reasons, but many opposed slavery because their hatred for "non-whites" was so intense that they wanted them out of the picture (hence the KKK, Jim Crow, etc...).





Understandably, many "blacks" grew to resent "whites". But the master class used this to their advantage. And, thus, racism has infected both "whites" and "blacks". Likewise, as this nation became more and more of a melting pot, what began among "whites" and "blacks" spread to all other groups of people- which was/is encouraged by the master class.





Racism was, and still is, a ploy to support the rich and powerful- to guarantee that they remain wealthy and in control (while the rest of us suffer from poverty and injustice, buy into the lies that only one "side" is suffering, and then blame the other "side" for that very suffering- suffering that was caused, and is perpetuated, by the master class). Racism isn't going anywhere unless people remove their blinders and realize what the master class has done.





The powers that be have always regarded us as inferior- all of us who are "low rank", "uncivilized", "unworthy", etc... Nothing will ever change if we continue to swallow the lies, play the blame game, and fight amongst each other. They want to keep us right where we are in order to ensure that we remain oblivious to the fact that they've never really been motivated by so-called "race". We're all being manipulated, just as we've always been.





The master class still lives. And yes, they primarily consist of those labeled as white people. But white isn't why they continue to rule. They continue to rule because they've managed to keep most of us ignorant, which is precisely why history isn't taught and reported accurately. Awareness of "white slavery" would fly in the face of "white superiority" and threaten to destroy the master class.
Reply:"i know white people invented racism" Sorry dude, but there are examples of one race of people being used by another as slaves since the beginning of time. If you are going to be taken seriously, try not to open your question with something that idiotic.
Reply:White people did not invent racism. It has always been around.
Reply:sure anyone can be affected by it.....but in what way? whites will never deal with lynchings,segregation,jim crow....blacks do not have the adminstrative power to act on their racism in the same way the whites have in the past and can do in the future.There is a huge difference between the two.
Reply:"SOME" people? Only blacks think this way... like Oprah said, to black people, it's always about race.
Reply:White people don't have "power".....they just force themselves on people who could care less if they existed.
Reply:Racism was occurring way before that, and whoever said only White people can be racist?
Reply:Only white people can be racist. Racism (white supremacy) is something they created, how can we use their system against them??
Reply:I GOT NEWS FOR YOU..... WHITE FOLKS ARE NOT THE ONLY RACISTS OUT THERE..... BY FAR!!
Reply:I AGREE WITH YOU ALL THE WASY.aNY RACE CAN BE RACIST.
Reply:i know black people who are racist. and asians too. and arabs... i think anyone can be racist.
Reply:I don't think that only white people can be racists, I just don't believe that "reverse racism" exists, as anyone can be racists and affected by racism, albeit in many different ways.
Reply:you just answered you own question.





congrats.
Reply:only people with power can carry on racism so if blacks had power and did the same stuff,theyd be racists