If you don't like to think of yourself as 'a racist' but you accept that you benefit from institutionalized racism, that's just because you don't like the word racist. Which in itself is okay, I think it just requires or should spark some examination in individuals: Why don't I like being called a 'racist' even if I can accept that I benefit from institutionalized racism?
Unfortunately people rarely engage in that kind of self-examination, they just froth at the mouth.
I think it's because the most popular use does not just mean 'anyone who benefits from racism'.
If someone asks me 'Are you a racist?' and I say 'Yes' without any further explanation then what my admission communicates is a lot more nasty and vile than 'I benefit from institutionalised racism'. It's a socially sensitive question anyway so I don't want to have to spend my time justifying an atypical and controversial definition every time the subject comes up :oP
It's all about use and meaning. Words are truly defined by use and so if I try to inject academic definitions into common use then I'll just create misunderstanding and make myself look bad and I don't want that.
So, when a person asks me 'Are you a racist?' then I'm going to answer the question as it was meant.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:29 pm (UTC)Unfortunately people rarely engage in that kind of self-examination, they just froth at the mouth.
no subject
Date: 2009-10-09 04:41 pm (UTC)If someone asks me 'Are you a racist?' and I say 'Yes' without any further explanation then what my admission communicates is a lot more nasty and vile than 'I benefit from institutionalised racism'. It's a socially sensitive question anyway so I don't want to have to spend my time justifying an atypical and controversial definition every time the subject comes up :oP
It's all about use and meaning. Words are truly defined by use and so if I try to inject academic definitions into common use then I'll just create misunderstanding and make myself look bad and I don't want that.
So, when a person asks me 'Are you a racist?' then I'm going to answer the question as it was meant.