Black People Can't Be Racist!
I was wandering through the Customers_Suck community over on lj and came across this

Note: All the "No, they can't!" type comments are from the same person, a miss the_bee_queen Nearly a year old, but one of the goofiest things I've seen in a while that doesn't concern HP fandom.

They can't!: you cant be racist if you're a minoritity--racism is prejudice combined with power--in the case of the customer--maybe--because she has power over the cashiers who are working "for her"--but in reality, black people can't be racist--they don't have the same power structure that white people are so firmly settled into in the western world..

They can!: Racism-The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

I see nothing in there about power. Therefore, it is possible for a minority to be racist, but like the person who responded, what you said is just as valid, because they don't really have the same power structure as white people. And like the other person said, bigoted is such a great word, and it ugly :P

NO, they can't!: sorry, i dont live according to dictionary definitions--things are a little bit more nuanced in the "real" world--same reason why i don't live within academia or believe in "academic communities"--read "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" for a better explaination of what I brought up.

"I see nothing in there about power. Therefore, it is possible for a minority to be racist, but like the person who responded, what you said is just as valid, because they don't really have the same power structure as white people" This contradicts itself--so my statement was wrong, but just as right as blacks being racist? I don't follow, sorry.

Really, it's impossible!: wow i sound snarky, sorry. i just dont see why you copied in a dictionary definition and then told me that my point was wrong, but valid. i don't believe it is possible for a minority to be RACIST--perhaps according to a tight dictionary definition, but i look at racism, as well as many others--as a social structure--which goes beyond saying "nigger bad" or "kike cheap"--and therefore, this social structure cannot be perpetuated by minorities.

at the very least, majorities benefit from the racist status quo already in place which makes them nonintentionally racist.

it's a complex theory but it makes a lot of sense, read the book, im explaining this like shit and probably just sound stupid.

You are so full of crap!: wow, you must have so much power, seeing how you can argue your point without the boundaries of real words.

Oh Yeah!? I'm intelektual!: what are you talking about? without the boundaries of real words? without boundaries of academia maybe.

oh is academia made up to you?? stop trolling :)

Riiight!: Actually, many a debate has been won or lost due to a dictionary. It's fun and all to tote around your own definitions of words, but if you're going to have a resonable discussion I'm afraid that the definition in the dictionary wins and "sorry, i dont live according to dictionary definitions--things are a little bit more nuanced in the "real" world--" at that point only seems like saying: "I'm right because of my own special definition of this word."

But I'm all about the research!: yes but the dictionary does not contain a definition for racism as an institution--only racism as a verb/adjective/noun. i hardly think i'm saying "im right because of my own special definition of the word," i'm saying "i'm right because of countless academic research that has been made applicable to reality." racism as a part of the status quo, not OMIGOD BLACKS CAN BE RACIST WHEN THEY HATE WHITES.

Now look at these side by side:

i don't live within academia or believe in "academic communities"

i'm right because of countless academic research that has been made applicable to reality.

Automatic loss! Black people win the right to be racist! Thanks for playing, try harder next time, etc.