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Women Against Racism records, 1982-1984

""A Working Definition Of Racism"" Page 1

A WORKING DEFINITION OF RACISM
by Ricky Sherover-Marcuse

1. Human beings are all members of the same species. The term "racism" is useful as a shorthand way of categorizing the systematic mistreatment experienced by people of color and Third World people both in the United States and in many other parts of the world. But this term should not mislead us into supposing that human beings belong to biologically different species. In this sense we all belong to one race, the human race. 

2. The systematic nature of the mistreatment experienced by people of color is a result of institutionalized inequalities in the social structure. Racism is one consequence of a self-perpetuating imbalance in economic, political and social power. This imbalance consistently favors members of some ethnic and cultural groups at the expense of other groups. The consequences of this imbalance pervade all aspects of the social system and affect all facets of people's lives.

3. At its most extreme, systematic mistreatment takes the form of physical violence, but it occurs in many other forms as well. Pervasive invalidation, the denial or nonrecognition of the full humanity of persons of color, also constitutes the mistreatment categorized as racism. Putting the matter in these terms may clear up the confusion which is generated by thinking of racism as a matter of treating people of color "differently." If we examine the facts, we will see that what is often called "different treatment" is in reality "inhuman treatment," i.e., treatments which denies the humanity of the individual person.

4. The systemic mistreatment of any group of people generates misinformation about them which in turn becomes the "explanation" of or justification for continued mistreatment. Racism exists as a whole series of attitudes, assumptions, feeling and beliefs about people of color and their cultures, which are a mixture of misinformation and ignorance. Just as "the systemic mistreatment of people of color" means "inhuman treatment," so "misinformation about people of color" designates beliefs and assumptions that in any way imply that people of color are less than fully human. I will call these beliefs and attitudes "impacted misinformation" - by which I mean that these ideas are glued together with painful emotion and held in place by frozen memories of distressing experiences. 

5. Because misinformation about people of color functions as the justification for their continued mistreatment, it becomes socially empowered or sanctioned misinformation. It is recycled through the society as a form of conditioning that affects everyone. In this way misinformation about people of color becomes a part of everyone's "ordinary" assumptions.

6. For purposes of clarity, it is helpful to use the term "internalized racism" or "internalized oppression" to designate the misinformation that people of color may have about themselves and their cultures. The purpose of this term is to point out that this misinformation is a consequence of the mistreatment experienced by people of color. It is not an inherent feature or product of their culture.

7. The term "reverse racism" is often used to characterize either the negative attitudes or misinformation that people of color may have about individuals from white ethnic groups. This term is less than helpful because it tends to obscure the difference between socially empowered misinformation (see point 5) and other sorts of misinformation.

8. Racism operates as a strategy of divide and conquer. It helps to perpetuate a social system in which some people are consistently "haves" and others are consistently "have nots." While the "haves" receive certain material benefits from this situation, the long-range effects of racism short-change everyone. Racism sets groups of people against each other and makes it difficult for us to perceive our common interests as human beings. Racism makes us forget that we all need and are entitled to good health care, stimulating education, and challenging work. Racism limits our horizons to what presently exists; it makes us suppose that current injustices are "natural" or at best inevitable. "Someone has to be unemployed; someone has to go hungry." Most importantly, racism distorts our perceptions of the possibilities for change; it makes us abandon our visions of solidarity; it robs us of our dreams of community.

A PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS ELIMINATING RACISM
Twelve Working Assumptions

Racism is both institutional and attitudinal. Effective strategies against it must recognize this dual character. The undoing of institutionalized racism must be accompanied by the unlearning of racist attitudes and beliefs. The unlearning of racist patterns of thought and actions must guide the practice of political and social change.

The following assumptions offer a perspective for unlearning racism. I call them "working assumptions" for two reasons: 1) These are the assumptions I use in my own work with individuals and groups. 2) I have found these assumptions to be workable, i.e., effective in the practice of attitude change.

1. The systematic mistreatment of any group of people isolates and divides human beings from each other. This process is a hurt to all people. The division and isolation produced by racism is a hurt to people from all ethnic groups. The awareness that there is this division is itself a painful awareness.

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A WORKING DEFINITION OF RACISM by Ricky Sherover-Marcuse 1. Human beings are all members of the same species. The term "racism" is useful as a shorthand way of categorizing the systematic mistreatment experienced by people of color and Third World people both in the United States and in many other parts of the world. But this term should not mislead us into supposing that human beings belong to biologically different species. In this sense we all belong to one race, the human race. 2. The systematic nature of the mistreatment experienced by people of color is a result of institutionalized inequalities in the social structure. Racism is one consequence of a self-perpetuating imbalance in economic, political and social power. This imbalance consistently favors members of some ethnic and cultural groups at the expense of other groups. The consequences of this imbalance pervade all aspects of the social system and affect all facets of people's lives. 3. At its most extreme, systematic mistreatment takes the form of physical violence, but it occurs in many other forms as well. Pervasive invalidation, the denial or nonrecognition of the full humanity of persons of color, also constitutes the mistreatment categorized as racism. Putting the matter in these terms may clear up the confusion which is generated by thinking of racism as a matter of treating people of color "differently." If we examine the facts, we will see that what is often called "different treatment" is in reality "inhuman treatment," i.e., treatments which denies the humanity of the individual person. 4. The systemic mistreatment of any group of people generates misinformation about them which in turn becomes the "explanation" of or justification for continued mistreatment. Racism exists as a whole series of attitudes, assumptions, feeling and beliefs about people of color and their cultures, which are a mixture of misinformation and ignorance. Just as "the systemic mistreatment of people of color" means "inhuman treatment," so "misinformation about people of color" designates beliefs and assumptions that in any way imply that people of color are less than fully human. I will call these beliefs and attitudes "impacted misinformation" - by which I mean that these ideas are glued together with painful emotion and held in place by frozen memories of distressing experiences. 5. Because misinformation about people of color functions as the justification for their continued mistreatment, it becomes socially empowered or sanctioned misinformation. It is recycled through the society as a form of conditioning that affects everyone. In this way misinformation about people of color becomes a part of everyone's "ordinary" assumptions. 6. For purposes of clarity, it is helpful to use the term "internalized racism" or "internalized oppression" to designate the misinformation that people of color may have about themselves and their cultures. The purpose of this term is to point out that this misinformation is a consequence of the mistreatment experienced by people of color. It is not an inherent feature or product of their culture. 7. The term "reverse racism" is often used to characterize either the negative attitudes or misinformation that people of color may have about individuals from white ethnic groups. This term is less than helpful because it tends to obscure the difference between socially empowered misinformation (see point 5) and other sorts of misinformation. 8. Racism operates as a strategy of divide and conquer. It helps to perpetuate a social system in which some people are consistently "haves" and others are consistently "have nots." While the "haves" receive certain material benefits from this situation, the long-range effects of racism short-change everyone. Racism sets groups of people against each other and makes it difficult for us to perceive our common interests as human beings. Racism makes us forget that we all need and are entitled to good health care, stimulating education, and challenging work. Racism limits our horizons to what presently exists; it makes us suppose that current injustices are "natural" or at best inevitable. "Someone has to be unemployed; someone has to go hungry." Most importantly, racism distorts our perceptions of the possibilities for change; it makes us abandon our visions of solidarity; it robs us of our dreams of community. A PERSPECTIVE TOWARDS ELIMINATING RACISM Twelve Working Assumptions Racism is both institutional and attitudinal. Effective strategies against it must recognize this dual character. The undoing of institutionalized racism must be accompanied by the unlearning of racist attitudes and beliefs. The unlearning of racist patterns of thought and actions must guide the practice of political and social change. The following assumptions offer a perspective for unlearning racism. I call them "working assumptions" for two reasons: 1) These are the assumptions I use in my own work with individuals and groups. 2) I have found these assumptions to be workable, i.e., effective in the practice of attitude change. 1. The systematic mistreatment of any group of people isolates and divides human beings from each other. This process is a hurt to all people. The division and isolation produced by racism is a hurt to people from all ethnic groups. The awareness that there is this division is itself a painful awareness. continued...