rac·ism

n. 1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.

2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race.
racist adj. & n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2003. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

It seems that my post “Racism or ignorance?” is stirring up more in me.  I can’t leave well enough alone.  Then again I guess that’s why I started keeping this blog.

So I find myself reflecting on my own growth as a human, participating in American Society.  As a white (partly Jewish) woman I was raised in a primarily white/Latino Southern California community.  It was not until I was in college that I was exposed to a broader African American culture, Asian culture and even Jewish culture.

So I remained open and enjoyed exploring new boundaries, new cultures, and new colors.  At 18 I started traveling overseas and lived among foreign races and cultures for almost a decade.  I wonder if along the way that I said, or even thought ignorant things about people of other races. Does that make me a racist?  Now that I am married to a black man, does that make me a reformed racist?  A nice racist?  I don’t think so, but maybe you feel differently.

I do know however what it feels like to be on the receiving end of racist and ignorant comments.  It doesn’t feel good.  Is that the essence of racism? Is that what makes someone a racist?  When someone says or does something that acknowledges race, or a racial stereotype, and it’s result makes someone feel discriminated against? Is it valid to say that racism exists when the minority says so.  I think so.  Or even when just one person says so.  Because that’s what truth is all about. My version of reality is not always your version of reality.

Take the example in my post “Ignorance or Racism?”.  My husband didn’t perceive the man’s comment as racist until he came home and blew my top about it.  So now it’s racist, or it always was?

So when is someone who has made a racist comment not considered a racist? Is it possible for a racist person to loose their racist tendencies?  Does that make someone a reformed racist?  How and when do we know that a transformation has occured? Do we have a responsibility to say something when racist comments happen?  Do we have a responsibility to forgive racists or racist comments?  How will we know when things have changed?  Can a racist really change?