Can Blacks Be Racist?

clay
August 16 2006, 12:50PM

ive wrote papers and debated this topic constantly in school ... for me, racism has to do with race plus power and the super exploitation of the most exploited so blacks cannot be racist -- they can be prejudice, which is just as painful as racism on an individual basis. Blacks do not have the "power" to be racist -- people would disagree and argue that racism and prejudice are basically the same thing.

-G-
August 16 2006, 1:06PM

I don't get it, he says that blacks are racist, but he gives definitions and examples as to the reason we cannot be racist. I noticed that he did not dwell to much on "Prejudice" and "Stereotyping" which blacks have the power to be. And as for Oprah, Condi and Colin, they are victims of the same racist society that permeates America...And for the record, they all needed assistance from the "White Ruled Society" to become Oprah,Condi,Colin. And they all cater to a mostly white, work for mostly white, subconsciously racist macro system. If it were not for that macrocosm, there wouldn't have been an Oprah,Colin, or Condi...blacks will never have power in this country, unless whites give it to us, and that is the truth....thus proving my point that blacks cannot be racist, because racism is all about power. And it will continue to be about power. This is not a micro societal problem, its institutionalized on a macro societal basis.

Tyler
August 16 2006, 1:07PM

Blacks can be racist. Black hatred or mistrust of white people is not rooted in a belief that whites are inferior or inhuman, which distinguishes it from white racism. It actually is closer to prejudice, than racism. It's not true hate. It's a symptom of unhealed wounds.

This is an important distinction.

Most importantly, we must as black people begin to understand what racism means and what institutional racism means, and what white supremacy means. There is no such thing as black supremancy, and contrary to popular opinion, black nationalists was never rooted in any desire to annihilate white folks. Black self-sufficiency does not equal anti-white. Blacks do not have the power of institutional racism.

So this argument is important, but is often presented disingenuously, as if to equate how we feel about white people with how they feel about us. They are not the same. They can't be the same.

ka-os
August 16 2006, 1:08PM

The ongoing debate sparked by Randy Boyd's comments is testament to the fact that black people can be racist. Angry separtists are fond of the term snow queen - if a white man were to use its equivalant (my personal disgust of which prohibits me from using it) - he would rightly be branded racist. Claiming that each member of a particular race is identical in motive, thought and action is blatantly racist and prejudicial. But, ultimately, we have white racists and black racists. It's the people who rise above it that count - the rest are disposable.

jared
August 16 2006, 1:15PM

Sorry, ka-os, I think you make the subject of Randy Boyd not selling his books as a race issue, when that isn't the case. Real racism is out there, and a man who can't sell his niche books is hardly the one to be crying racism. He, and nor you ever mentioned why his books don't sell to white gays? I don't know if this Andrew Sullivan is the same right wing writer who has disparged blacks for years, so, his take on anything of a racial issue is moot, since his idea of "equality" usally means people like him. And, sure blacks can be racist, they are human and some like to dish out what they get. Its, not right, but, race in the USA is always on the forefront, always has, always will be, no matter how many good people try to make it go away.

clay
August 16 2006, 1:24PM

sorry - i didnt notice that Keith addressed what i typed about race and power in the last paragraph of the post ... i do think that homophobia and sexism are a little different from racism when it comes to power ... but i do see what you're saying and I think either way acts of discrimination are not acceptable regardless of who it comes from. At the end of that day we get caught up in semantics.

Rodney
August 16 2006, 1:25PM

Dr. Joy Leary writes, "while Black people have many have prejudices, and at times even feel hatred towards white people, perhaps even causing many fear, the reality is that Black people lack the ‘power’ to affect the lives of white people as a group. Black people’s feelings towards white people do not preclude a white person’s ability to get a loan, receive fair treatment by the justice system, acquire education, etc"

Castiron
August 16 2006, 1:28PM

Let's put it this way. If blacks can be racists, then our racism is meaningless and of no consequence. Blacks have very little power in America. For Black racism to really hurt,you need to add power. Blacks calling gay white men in Harlem derogatory names doesn't not affect those white men's finances or access to health care. It merely makes them feel bad. Take a look at the banking, finance, real estate, law and education industries. They are almost all white. All of America's most coveted institutions and markers of mobility are systemically designed to keep blacks out or marginalized them. I'm not claiming that we are victims, because more than ever before, blacks are gaining entry into these institutions. Look at the significant increase in the number of blacks who now own their own homes. We've come a long way baby, and we've done it despite racism.

nova
August 16 2006, 1:50PM

Whether you wanna call it racism or not, those folks are hurling insults at complete strangers and passersby. Hate is hate, plain and simple, and saying that black folks cannot be racist doesn't excuse the behavior. Wrong is wrong no matter what terminology you use.

-G-
August 16 2006, 2:00PM

Nove: We do not justify people being called names, because that does not have to do with institutionalized "RACISM"..so your point does not address blacks being racist. However, the point of power seems to be overlooked in a few of these post, therefore rendering this discussion to just us blacks calling people names and hurting their feelings. Which to me proves my point that blacks cannot be racist.

hermit
August 16 2006, 2:11PM

There can be no doubt that "power" and racism are inextricably linked. Racism is the social and economic dominance of one group by another based on factors of race or ethnicity. Blacks certainly can be prejudiced against whites (or any other group for that matter) but in the current dispensation are incapable of dominating them economically or socially. Therefore, blacks cannot be racist.

Giovanni
August 16 2006, 2:26PM

Am going to have to agree with Nova here but the question itself is somewhat silly - black people can be anything white people (et al) can be and that includes racist.

nova
August 16 2006, 2:32PM

Sure, G. I can accept that.

All I'm saying is, once you take the word "racism" out of the equation, then what does the debate become? I just feel like it's too convenient for us to constantly debate the racist aspect of it, because it's a debate we've been having for years and will continue to have. If Andrew Sullivan (who I've had a brief professional acquaintance with) doesn't understand that "black racism" comes from a different place than white racism, then I ain't surprised. The issue for me is my own (black) people perpetuating hate. Power be damned, you can't really claim to be the victim if you're hurling homophobic or racial slurs at anyone.

Shawn
August 16 2006, 2:55PM

Using a handful of examples like Oprah and Condi are insufficient. The exceptions should never serve as a sufficient sample pool. With that being said, I'm not sure that I believe that power is an essential
part of racism, but because of my uncertainty I prefer to say that Blacks are prejudiced instead of calling them racists.

The bigger question is whose idea was it to do that foot-on-foot photo session?! And why the white foot got to be on top?

TerrenceSays
August 16 2006, 2:58PM

I posted this on another blog so I guess reposting it here shouldn't be a problem.

I recently took a three and a half day workshop called "Undoing Racism" with the People's Institute For Survival and Beyond out of New Orleans. The workshop was bold, confrontational and enlightening and the discussion basically echoed a lot of the sentiments here. The workshop suggested the following:

1. Race is a "specious" science created by whites.

2. Race is social construct embraced by places like the United States, Australia, South Africa.

3. Black people cannot be racist in predominately white-run countries because we do not "control" the institutions that are set up to maintain white privilege.

Systems such as legal, criminal, transportation, social, political, educational, financial/business, medical/health, military etc. were (are) all set up to benefit white people - not minorities.

Whites in power can make changes in the systems to benefit them on a whim.

To be continued..

meme
August 16 2006, 3:03PM

TerrenceSays you said it!

Stuffed Animal
August 16 2006, 3:04PM

I am not prepared to say that any African-American believes that "racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race." I'm just not convinced that we arrive at our antipathy toward Whites, Asians, Latinos, etc from that place. Keith seems to believe prejudice and racism are synonymous, and I don't. Racism is a philosophy. I think all human beings have the capacity to become racists. However, the effective practice of racism depends on location, demographics, and power dynamics. As for Andrew Sullivan, he's just writing about Black racism in order to stir up his core conservative White readership. They enjoy that crap. I'm not inclined to let him yank my chain when I know he has an ulterior motive.

kms
August 16 2006, 3:20PM

Yes Blacks could be racist especially to other communities of color. What about the Outkast incident in 2004 where one of the members dressed up in feathers and steortypical images of Native Americans? Native American communities were very upset about this incident? I am both of African and Native ancestry so I understand both sides. There have been racist acts Native Americans have done to blacks as well historically and people with African. It is not just limited to these racial classifications, but in communities of color as a whole. We call internalized racism but it is still racism. Overall, most people of color do not have the power instutionally to be racist towards whites, and even the Oprah's and Condi's can only go so far because remember there boss is white. Furthermore, no matter how racist a Black person, or Native American can be in does not stop the fact of the whites benefiting from slavery of both Red and Black people, Native American holocast genocide, Asian American labor etc.

-G-
August 16 2006, 3:26PM

When this is all said and done with "RACISM" "PREJUDICE" "STEREOTYPING" is "DIFFERENT". And since this is not about prejudice and stereotyping, racism has a lot to do with power. Its about power, and it will always be about power. We can manipulate the definitions based on our own feelings about our own people and our own "prejudices"....But I digress. MAYBE IF BLACKS WERE MORE RACIST, WE WOULD HAVE MORE EQUALITY...MORE SELF SUFFICIENT...AND A SENSE OF SELF-EFFICACY.

TerrenceSays
August 16 2006, 3:30PM

Continuing...

4. Blacks and other minorities who rise to the top of any of the systems are mere "gatekeepers" of white privilege.

5. The systems have to be "reconstructed" to be truly diverse or inclusive of all people.

6. White people have an innate sense of privilege - even poor whites. That sense of privilege/entitlement is there whether they act on it (or realize it) or not.

7. All white people are racist because they continue to allow "the systems" to operate in their behalf.

8. Because white people control the systems, they are the only ones that can change them.

9. Poor people (mostly people of color) can rise up to change the systems faster, but are often pitted against each other for crumbs.

10. There is no such thing as "black privilege" or "reverse racism". Affirmative Action and other programs that were established to empower blacks needed whites in power to sign off on them.

Just like they gave it, they took it away. See #3.

TerrenceSays
August 16 2006, 4:19PM

Last,

The workshop offered so many other good observations. Most attendees - black, white, Latino - were astonished. And of course there were some blacks who expressed the whole, "Can't we all just get along", "I have white friends" plea.

They apparently missed the point. We can sing and hold hands all day, but until there is true parity in the systems, whites have (and will continue to have) the advantage. This is not to suggest minorities in power controlled white countries should not strive for success because they (we) should.

Although race relations have improved some, the system of white privilege has not.

Ultimately, blacks can be "racist" (ie. hate or not like whites or other groups, etc.) based on the tradition definition of "racism", however, the new definition relates to "power" and "control" over a group based on race.

Bruce Knotts
August 16 2006, 4:31PM

I am white and have loved people of color all my life (57 years of it). When I came out and was put out of my family, African Americans took me in and treated me like family. I have felt that way ever since. That was in California. Now I live and work in Washington DC. Interracial dating here is very difficult and problematic. After trying to date here for about a year, I eventually ventured outside the region and formed a wonderful relationship with an African American from Dallas, Texas. We are pretty private, but it is clear that many African American gays in this town resent our relationship. We hang out with two other interracial couples and they report the same issues. Some African American friends are bold enough to state right-out that it just isn't right for black man to date outside the race. Somehow, it is seen as a betrayal of the race. If that ain't racism, I don't know what is.

cmoney
August 16 2006, 4:34PM

Of course Blacks can be racists. How about the Black cab driver that refuses to pick up Black men? What about the Black kids who go into Asian stores and speak mockingly to the people who are about to serve them food (which isn't a smart thing to do to someone preparing your dinner!)? Acknowledging our own racism doesn't let anyone else off the hook. In fact, if we expect any group to change their behavior towards us, don't you think it would be a good idea to at least set the example by NOT doing the same thing they do? And that nonsense about "Blacks can't be racists because they do not have power" just gives us license to act like out in the same manner as those we accuse of being racist towards us. I don't buy it. We do have power in many situations. We can hurt people, deny people and favor some people in many situations. Some of the most hurtful things I've heard said about other groups of people have been uttered by other Blacks. It seems we like to dish it out, but don't want to take it

meme
August 16 2006, 5:08PM

Firstly, racism is a belief that race is the primary determinate of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race. Racist is the behavior: prejudice or discrimination. Anyone can be prejudice or discriminate, we do it every day. For example, the friends we choose, foods we prefer to eat, the music we prefer, the flavor of ice cream we like best and the like. However, Racism in American is a European construct based on White Supremacy. racism in American is instutionalized in every facet of life. For example, historically, politically, socially and economically, white supremacy was by and large the law of the land in the United States before the American Civil War; and for decades after Reconstruction; the same is true of apartheid-era South Africa, and of parts of Europe at various periods of time, most notably under the Third Reich. African-Americans can be prejudice or discriminate against others; however politically, socially and economically

bemused
August 16 2006, 5:19PM

Thank you terrance

for years this black racist thing has been simmering on the internet. Another distraction by right wing racists to justify their racism. We react to 500 years of racism . now it's 40 years since desegeration so come back and ask the question in 460 years

bruce knotts

shut your foolish mouth as you said you don't know what racism is did the racist black people not give you a job or a business loan or did they tie you to the back of their car and drag you till you were decapitated you prick.

I guess you know what it's like to be black too

theeunuch
August 16 2006, 5:44PM

Interesting discussion. Of course black folk can be racists — even among people of their own race. Some light skinned blacks are predjudiced against their darker-skinned brothers and sisters. This was carried out during and after slavery. Even today, one can hear hurtful comments that light skinnned blacks make about skin color and the advantages they sometimes have.

saint james
August 16 2006, 6:10PM

The current, accepted definition of racism disallows blacks to be racist in America. Racism is a belief in the inherant inferiority of another race/people group. If the tables were turned in this country (If blacks were the advantaged majority) rest assured that there would be many "black racists" in America. Then we would have the "power" to be racist A whole lot of us would flip the script in a minute if the situation was reversed.
Racism is a condition of the psyche, conditioning and a philosophy. I know of black folk who have racist beliefs (ALL White people are evil, etc.). The ONLY reason they do not act on a large scale with their twisted idiology is simply because they don't have the opportunity.

ka-os
August 16 2006, 6:16PM

Jared, if you read my comment, I refer to the Randy Boyd controversy, not Mr Boyd himself and his issues. I mention it in the context of the outrageous comments made and the hatred for white people it exposed. Further, I believe I DID in fact address the reason why his books don't sell to white gays, if you take the time to read my previous comments. I stated that everyone knows that the gay media - like 'gay society' in general - is blatantly skewed in favour of caucasians, is dominated by caucasians, and caters more or less exlusively to caucasians. It ain't rocket science: most gay men are white, most most gay men prefer white partners, and most gay men have no interest in people who aren't white. Clearly, this is a separate problem - there is no disputing that racism is alive and well in the gay community.

jared
August 16 2006, 8:07PM

ka-os, my bad, sorry i misunderstood where you were coming from, thanks for clarifying it.

LaFontaye
August 16 2006, 8:20PM

Yeah on the heels of an earlier post, the pic accompanying this thread is quite disturbing personally, as I would never allow the sole of an alabaster foot to rest on top of mine in such an acceptable and forgiving fashion. Now, having captured the Ebony foot mashed down heavily and firmly atop the pasty toes of the other, would have been my preference; I'm just saying...

Oh sorry, I banter, now what is it we're discussing here?

Gary
August 16 2006, 9:20PM

This discussion solidifies my view that the word 'racist' should not be used, because it is so loaded of a word that it creates more heat than light. Prejudice, discrimination, abuses of power, and hate are more helpful.

Mel Smith
August 16 2006, 10:34PM

The Chinese and others groups also experienced oppression. However, I think those groups do not let their past oppression keep them from succeeding. Black people can definitely be prejudice. I don't know if we should use the word, 'racist.'

Michael-Vincent Crea
August 16 2006, 11:01PM

As I've expressed & taught elsewhere 'white,''whiteness,'
'being white,' and 'white privilege' is not only a mental
illness and or expression, thereof, it exists still as the
single most deadly malignancy upon our Humanity-Divinity, ALL of us, Beings born out of our common origin of Africa.
One need only witness the unabated and ongoing genocides
against Africans, not the least against Black Americans,
are subjected to individually, communally, culturally and
systematically worldwide. The Anglo-Ameracism that served
as both Hitler's hegemony and South Africa's apartheid
models are superceded by the Bush dickcheneyship's global
domination, that fails to halt horrors against 1.5 million
Darfurians, as Zionist--Jewish & Christian--extremists
exterminate 1000+ Lebanese/Palestinians & 100+ Iraqis/day.
3.5 Billion was paid to 8,500 thieves giving back Gaza, but a FEMA calculated KKKatrina killed Blacks by contract.

Steve
August 16 2006, 11:38PM

meme - I agree with you completely. Racism is not about power, though it may be used for those purposes. Racism is about distinguishing differences between people based on their ethnic background, while overlooking the similarities and ignoring their basic humanity. Sadly, in my experience, blacks are at least as race concious as any other group, and perhaps more than most. There are not many ethnic groups who are not race concious. And being concious of race makes one, by definition, racist.

So, let's get used to it: We're ALL racist to some degree. Very few people are exempt. Now what are we going to do about that? If most of us are racist at the core, how do we overcome that? Let's focus on this aspect of the race question, and maybe we can make some progress.

Michael-Vincent Crea
August 16 2006, 11:43PM

The arbitrary, caprious and anti-human applications of
discrimination and prejudice--'white,' Asian, Hispanic or
Latino, Native 'American,' etc., MUST be rejected, denied
and abandoned. One poll found 83% of lacks self-defined
their ethnicity as "Black." So Be it! Or whatever one has
chosen to self-identify, as integration NEVER meant MLK Jr
needed Irish, Italians or others present to respect and
satisfy his Human-Divine needs: hunger, thirst, sleep, travel and free exercise of ALL inalienable/innate rights!
I have both Italian & Irish rational and racist relatives.
NON-Blacks freely identify & live their lives; not Blacks!
My One World Life Systems ministry "Serving One God [LOVE]and Developing One World for the Common Good of Humanity"
seeks to eradicate what my friend Carol Taylor,RN, 1st US
Black Stewardess calls "colorism;" See www.racismtest.com,
"BAN the 'Race' Word: Many Colors, One Race," says Carol.
Michael-Vincent Crea, Pastor & Founder
One World Life Systems

cmoney
August 17 2006, 12:05AM

I think people are splitting hairs on the racism definition. I'll just leave this story: When I put my house up for sale 3 years ago, my Black, bible-thumping neighbor (who I thought was a decent person) came over to say she would miss me and to beg me to NOT sell my house to any Latinos. I told her that was illegal and that whoever bought my house would probably be good neighbors. As it turned out, a White man and Latina woman with two kids bought my house. If a White person had begged me to not sell my house to Blacks or Latinos, or refused to sell to a Black or Latino buyer, I'm sure everyone up here would agree that would be racist. Why is it not racist when a Black person asked me to do the same thing? If I had refused to sell my house to Whites or Latinos would that not be practicing racism? Call it what you want, but I'm glad I did the right thing and I hope that no one treats me or you the way my neighbor wanted me to treat Latinos.

Mel Smith
August 17 2006, 12:20AM

'Racist' or prejudice people think they are 'better' than us because of the color of our skin. Prejudice people need another group who they could look down on. Sometimes they do not even realize that they are prejudice. I attend graduate school and I experience it with white students. Some of them become irritated if you received a higher grade than them or if you present you educational views to them.

titi
August 17 2006, 7:22AM

The notion that blacks are not rascist simply assume we are not human...we are human and prejudice is part of human natur and imperfection. BUT OUR PREJUDICES ARE OFTEN REACTIONS INCITED BY OTHER PEOPLE PREJUDICES.Black people prejudice in that case is not something I'm willing to condemn. because that form of blacks prejudice is totaly aimed at something called self preservation..It is valide enough to be classify as self defence.But we often loose ourself in idealistic notion of preaching peace and openess.. which in turn weaken the strenght and bases of that self-preservation in the face of other people deep rooted unwaiving prejudice.A Signs of great faillure.There is nothing idealistic about the rules of survivor in nature. Eat to survive or BE eaten!! PREJUDICE HAS BEEN VERY BENEFIC TO WHITE, SO WHY! HO! WHY! SHOULD THEY STOP IT!It is apt to blacks to undestand the benefice of prejudice and use it, or rote in misery as peace making christiens..give the other chick please in the name of jesus!!!!!amen!

DeeJay
August 17 2006, 8:53AM

This question reminds me of the microecon lecture about monopolies...

Our "racism" is not the entry barrier to resources that whites employ. Why? Because we don't have that level of control over anything. White racism, on the other hand, protects their resource monopolopy.

The psychology that allows limited access to a select few among us - and the SUPER ASSIMILATED ("white-washed) types in other groups- only protects the status quo.

Collectively, those crumbs are just enough to keep us at each other's throats to ensure that groups don't collectively go off and shut the whole white power thing down.

The notion of white superiority/privlege is the glue that keeps the other whites vested in the system, like us, without a pot to piss in or window to throw it out of, they'd also challenge the system. OUr issues are within; keeping others in check to preserve access

Latisha
August 17 2006, 9:16AM

I would think so.

Why does the white foot have to be OVER the Black foot. I'll find something everytime.

Derrick from Philly
August 17 2006, 4:21PM

Look, I think it takes 400 years of dominating the earth, taking away other races' identities/self esteem, and re-writing world history, to be a racist--with any real meaning attached to the term. Black folks can resent being oppressed to the point where some of us hate white people, but to feel an actual superiority to them from childhood on? Only races that have never been ruled by white people may actually feel superior to them. Maybe the Japanese, well, they were ruled by white men from 1945 through the 60s, but they're the only group I can think of who may truly feel superior.
Concerning them feet: why do both feet have to look so bad is the question? I hope they're not gay people's feet.

tdubbs
August 17 2006, 4:49PM

ewwwww them are some ugly feet, lol. and yes i do believe black are racist also and its not excuse, we all must raise above it,

Kano
August 17 2006, 5:15PM

I think most people that have commented here have nailed the real issue: discrimination. Racism is a branch of this ideology, practice (and DNA imprint?) Truly, if all people of this world were the same colour or whatnot, I truly believe they'll find something to discriminate about. People discriminate about everything and to some extent; it is a primitive survival tactic and social construct/conditioning. Discrimination like science is either good or evil, but what makes it potent is how a person or group of persons decide to execute this human-behaviour tool. The truth of the matter like someone pointed out here is that we as African Descents have to struggle as a group of people against an aggressive other (be it Anglo-Europeans, Asians, or whatnot) for our individual/collective survival. Like always in every struggle is about establishing a level-playing field and I'm afraid that will involve some physical confrontation at times and redefining our ideologies, in essence, building our Africa Diaspora coll

CHRIS
August 17 2006, 5:18PM

BLACKS CANNOT BE RACIST.YOU HAVE TO HAVE POWER TO BE RACIST.AS WE KNOW.WHITE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER.LET US NOT FORGET IT WAS ONLY 40 YEARS AGO THAT SEGREGATION AND THE RACE BASED LAWS OF JIM CROW WAS IN EFFECT.WE CONSTANTLY FORGET WHAT OUR PARENTS,GRANDPARENTS AND GREATGRAND PARENTS WENT THRU BECAUSE OF WHITE POWER AND RACISM SO THAT WE CAN HAVE THE FREEDOMS WE HAVE TODAY.UNTIL BLACK PEOPLE UNITE GLOBALLY WE WILL ALWAYS BE THE MAIN VICTIMS OF RACISM.

saint james
August 17 2006, 5:59PM

We may always be the TARGETS of racism but we do NOT have to be perpetual VICTIMS of it. That kind of thinking keeps us down as a people. Raise the consciousness by changing the verbiage.

Cel
August 17 2006, 7:45PM

First GAY is not a race.
Second give me a broke back minute. If white people can be racist, does that mean that black people can't be? Is this a new rule that we have to follow?

spit!

theeunuch
August 17 2006, 7:48PM

This is for Chris: Since you say blacks cannot be racist, what do you think of the predjudiced inflicted by those light skinned blacks who passed for white and thought they were better than their darker skinned brothers and sisters. Some of them also denied them membership into social organization (fraternities and sororities) if they did not pass the paper bag test — skin color the same as or lighter than a brown paper bag. That is the worse kind of racism or predjudice.
Furthermore, Last year, I witnessed a white guy being discouraged from attended a pickup basketball game and being called "white boy" and " wannabe nigger" by the brothers there. I felt bad for him. The POWER, in this case is being able to deny him participation in the game.

saint james
August 18 2006, 9:48AM

EXACTLY! great point.

Derrick from Philly
August 18 2006, 10:03AM

theeunuch: I usually agree with all your comments, but I have to object on the issue of color consciousness within the black community/world. I know that intra-racial prejudice existed within the black community for years. My family's skin color ranges from high yella' to jet black. As a child, I never thought about insulting (or "being better") than dark-skinned folks. As a teenager, I began to develop a "color consciousness" because all the violent gay bashing I experienced was from dark-skinned black folks--I thought it was due to my effeminacy only, but friends said my light skin was a factor in the basher's intensity. Other light-skinned black gays born in the 50's & 60's have similar stories (and I know light-skinned straights do too). Still, I never had a "light-skin only" attitude. So, the skin color prejudice within the black world goes both ways: there are many light-skinned black people who've never recovered from the cruelty they experienced from their darker brothers and sisters

Mel Smith
August 18 2006, 12:39PM

Cel, we are not stupid people on this site. Who said 'gay' was a race? Second, prejudice is wrong whether it is a race, gender, or whatever.

Giovanni
August 18 2006, 12:59PM

I feel where you are coming from Derrick - I am bi racial and grew up in a tri- racial family (adoption). Issues of identity and color consciousness were always present but never more so then when my siblings and I were in unfamilar all black situations - we were either hated or adored - there was never ever any middle ground especially with my sisters - the boys were enthralled with them - the girls... not so much. We were always aware of the curious pedestal we were both placed on and shoved off of with equal amounts of dubious enthusiasm.

I am also curious why some people insist on limiting this debate to black and white issues - a quasi racist restriction in itself. CMoney rightly points out that Asians are frequently the target of racial abuse especially in urban areas - talk to any asian american kid who went through the nyc public school system and ask them if they think blacks can be racist.

CHRIS
August 18 2006, 1:22PM

THIS IS A REPONSE TO THEEUNUCH.YOU BROUGHT UP THE LIGHTSKIN DARKSKIN ISSUE.WHERE DO YOU THINK THAT EVOLVED FROM?IT CAMES FROM SLAVERY AND EUROPEAN COLONIALISM.THE CHILDREN OF WHITE SLAVE OWNERS AND THERE BLACK FEMALE SLAVES WHERE CALLED MULATTOES.IF YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY.YOU WILL KNOW THESE INDIVIDUALS WHERE GIVEN MORE PRIVILAGES AND FREEDOMS THAN REGULAR BLACKS.MANY MULATTOES WERE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH WHITES SO THAT THE CHILDREN COULD COME OUT LESS BLACK AND MORE WHITE OR EUROPEAN.MULATTOES AND LIGHTSKINS WERE TOUGHT THEY WERE BETTER BECAUSE THEY ARE A STEP CLOSER TO BEING WHITE.BLACK PEOPLE THRU THE YEARS HAVE INTERNALIZED THIS WAY OF THINKING.YOU DONT KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE HISTORY OF SLAVERY AND COLONIALISM IN AMERICA.YOU SHOULD,BECAUSE ITS PART OF YOUR PAST.YOU FELT BAD FOR THE WHITE BOY AT THE BASKETBALL GAME.I FEEL BAD FOR THE HUNDREDS OF BLACKS THAT WHERE HUNG FROM TREES DURING MY GRANDFATHERS TIME.I FEEL BAD FOR THOSE BLACKS THAT MARCH FOR OUR RIGHT TO VOTE IN THE 50`S.

CHRIS
August 18 2006, 1:53PM

CONT TO THEEUNUCH:I FEEL BAD FOR THOSE AFRICAN PEOPLE WHO HAD SO MUCH PRIDE THEY KILL THEMSELVES IN STEAD OF BEING A SLAVE .I FEEL BAD FOR ALL MY YOUNG BLACK MEN DYING IN THE STREETS.I FEEL BAD FOR ALLLL THE BLACK KIDS COMING UP WITH NO FATHER.I FEEL BAD FOR THE VICTIMS OF KATRINA AND HOW OUR GOVERNMENT TREATED THEM BECAUSE THEY WERE BLACK.AND YOU ASK IF BLACKS CAN BE RACIST!

saint james
August 18 2006, 3:28PM

White slave owners and the social construct of the day may have instilled the color consciousness into black folk but we keep it going. On this site recently there were discussions about Beyonce being black enough to play Deena Jones in Dreamgirls. This madness is perpetuated by us on a daily basis. Light versus dark, etc. We have more skin color designations than we can acurrately count; High yellow, light skninned, medium brown-skinned, light brown skin, dark brown-skinned, black, blue-black, purple....

To Chris' point; there may have been certain privileges afforded to mullato folk. They were still niggers at the end of the day. So What? I think it is certain that blacks possess the same potential for evil as any other race. That was theeunuch's point. And stop yelling!

ray
August 19 2006, 1:32AM

"blacks can be racist?" nonsense - just what is that supposed to mean? Black people can be PREJUDICED against whites of course - with good reason! Centuries of white racism which still continues today is that reason! "Black racism" is simply a response to those centuries of hostility and mistreatment - are we supposed to just "love" the people who still function in the role of our oppressor? Even though THEY (as a group) certainly dont "love" US?
I have to work around whites, and I don't"hate" them on a personal level - if they're friendly and polite to me I can be the same to them - but I don't forget whose side we're on! THEY are on one side and I am on the other!
And in America, that poor white family DOES have more power than Condolezza Rice or Oprah Winfrey - maybe not financially, but in their WHITENESS, which makes them "real" americans in a way Condi and Oprah will never be!

theeunuch3
August 19 2006, 2:02AM

The original question was: Can BLACKS be racists? Based on the consensus of the comments here, the answer should be YES.
In general hypothetical terms, no one can say with certainty that a black supervisor somewhere has never denied a white person a job or promotion simply because that person was white or some other ethnicity.
Some white people have told me they think the NAACP is a racist organization that promotes the agendas of blacks only. Duh. They don't know the history behind the organization and why it came to be.

Mel Smith
August 19 2006, 11:08AM

I think you guys should get over your inferiority complex. We have been discriminated against but Asians also have been discriminated against too. They don't have a inferiority complex. Black folks do! Our complex keeps us from succeeding. Off course, we face color prejudice today. But, we should not let it keep us from succeeding. Look at the beautiful city of Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, and many other Asian cities that are on the level of Paris, London, New York and the other western cities. We don't succeed because we think EVERYBODY is better than us. Maybe we should have been more like the Japanese and fought like warriors during the Civil Rights Movements. I bet white folks would have respected us then. The Native Americans fought back. We did not. Yet, we love to cry. People love fighting. Fighting get people respect!

theeunuch
August 19 2006, 7:03PM

Mel. I don't appreciate you comparing the plight of black folks to Asians. Yes, Asians went through hell. But our experiences here in America are unique to us. As a people, we probably do have an inferiority complex. When you've been treated like second-class citizens for hundreds of years, it does something to the soul and is passes from generation to generation. All the while, the predjudice does not go away. Our government has treated everybody better than us. Despite this, blacks have made tremendous gains.
FYI, we did fight like warriors during the Civil Rights Movement. Ever hear of the Black Panthers? Blacks fought every day and some chose non-violence. Furthermore, what does Hong Kong, Bangkok, Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul and other Asian cities have to do with this? Blacks in America built their own communities and businesses. Check out what whites did to blacks in Tulsa, Okla. in the 1920s.

Mel Smith
August 19 2006, 7:52PM

Eunuch, true but why do you guys always have to complain for? First, brother, you gay black guys are more pro black then the black hetereosexuals. Now, that is a great thing. Yet, those black brothers do not even consider YOU BLACK. Opps! I had to go there. Remember I said that we do face discrimination and we definitely must fight color prejudice. My parents are from Georgia and Alabama. They represent the Civil Rights era and I have heard the countless stories over and over again. My beef with us is based on how we always complain about color prejudice. Yet, we treat each other like sh!t. Hey, Eunuch, look how the hetereosexuals brothers treat you and me? You guys know I am right. Again, you gay black guys come on this site complaining about racism and those 'brothers' hate you just for you being you. Look at Africa. People are starving over there and those leaders are more concerned about ignorance than anything else. Now, prove me wrong? You know I'm right!

Vivian J. Paige
August 19 2006, 9:52PM

Funny that you should write about this as I have been working on a piece on the same topic. I have to agree with what others have written: blacks cannot be racist against whites because of the issue of power. They can be prejudiced, but not racist.

At the same time, as members of the majority (that majority being straights, Americans, etc), I do believe that blacks can be homophopic, racist against other minorities, and (males can be) sexist.

theeunuch
August 19 2006, 11:18PM

For Mel Smith and Vivian: My dictionary says a racist is a person who believes their race is superior to all others. All I am saying is that predjudice and racism goes both ways when it comes to black people and white people. I also pointed out that there has been predjudice even with the black race (light-skin versus dark-skin and vice versa). To me, all of it is sickening and we should do whatever we can to eliminate it.

Mel Smith
August 19 2006, 11:54PM

Eunuch, I am with you but it is also not right how we treat each other.

Gary
August 21 2006, 10:22PM

A white homeless guy lays on the street and yells the N word to all black guys who walk by. A white gay guy is surprised to find out that the black guy he is dating has a small dick. A white manager for a Denny's Restaurant refuses to hire any black waiters. Repuplican strategist Karl Rove tells President Bush to take his time in responding to Hurricane Katrina. A white guy refuses to socialize with black people....Racism? How about: bigotry, prejudice, discrimination, abuse of power, and hate?....Or, how about these? A black student calls his white teacher 'cracker'. A black guy dating a white guy is surprised that he was raised by a single mother and in poverty. A bar catering to a predominantly African American crowd refuses to let whites enter. Former Mayor Andrew Young representing Walmart says that black people should shop at Walmart rather than the corner store who are run by Jews, Koreans, and Arabs. A black guy won't deal with white guys in any way because he can't stand being around them.

mike
August 25 2006, 12:40PM

Try being a White musician who plays Jazz & Blues! You experience Black racism in mega doses!!!!

C.E.
August 31 2006, 9:46PM

Yes We Can be racist, classist, and anything else the sad fact is that it is the American Way. I heard or read someones say "if you are born and raised in the United States of America you are racist!" Well the sad fact is it is true. In the District alone the hispanic population complains of it's treatment by the Police force, particulary black officers(Washington Post), the unfortunate problem is that it works for us and we like any one love playing on white guilt. the time has come for us to say "life has not been fair since arriving, now we have to get on with it, and make for damn sure we make it much better, the best way we know how.

ashley
November 7 2006, 4:49PM

Well u guys racism is racism and there is many racist buti am a mixed person and i can tell u right now that blacks can be some of the most bigedest stuck up people ever.I mean they like whites but its just another type of hate its not even about how whites used to treat them its how whites still today look down on them as if they are trash and they are better than them thats all it is!

kevin
April 11 2007, 6:53PM

Power is held to the standard of racism only to the reference of institutionalized racism. In other words racism is built into our system ie. realstate. At death this is transfered wealth wich usualy is built from a historical stand point of wealth.

Racism is simply the belief that a race is superior or inferior to another. Plain and simple, that leaves us all in the same boat.

melinda
April 14 2007, 8:41AM

thats got to be one of the dumbest statements ive ever heard, preferring to call blacks predjudice (did i spell it right) instead of racist. if a black person is behaving or saying something in the same way a white person would, and you label the white person a racist, then the black one is no better and is a racist also. thats just dumb. wrong is wrong, and people are people, i dont care who you are.
oh and guess what, im BLACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tired of racist blacks
September 27 2007, 11:39AM

My daughter and her friends get called "cracker" all the time at her school. No one says anything because the kids calling them that are black. They are racist little kids and brats. I can't believe that parents teach their kids that. This occurs in Killeen, Texas and the kids are predominantly black at the schools here and they treat the other kids like crap for being white. They think it's okay to be mean and prejudiced to white kids. It's pretty sickening and it's also scary that the black kids can get away with this. Not saying all black kids are doing this, but definitely enough of them do it for several of my daughter's friends to say that it's quite a few of the kids doing this .

black in theory
October 27 2007, 4:48PM

I dont think black people understand what a disservice they're doing to themselves by claiming only white people can be racist. First of all, if i get chased down and beat up by 5 black kids, because i'm white, resulting in broken limbs or paralysis, whatever - that is directly affecting my POWER to get a job or be a self sufficient human being. Also, as a minority, i dont think its in the best interests to piss off all these white people. Look, the fact is that white people dont NEED to be racist, especially because we supposedly have the power, so who are we intimidated by? and why would there be a need to be racist if your not threatening us???? The absolute truth of all of this is the more black people scream "we're black! we cant be racist!", the more you make open minded, non racist, equal opportunist in every way white people become racist toward you!!!!