Is this something people today believe?

[Slimshandy]

“Racism was not simple hatred or prejudice based on skin color. Racism occurred when power was added to prejudice — the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise.
Black or white, anyone can be prejudiced. I might not like you because of your skin color, and that makes me prejudiced. But it doesn’t automatically make me racist unless I also have the power to impact your life because of my prejudice. There are few, if any, areas of American life where Blacks hold such power. Thus, Sheryl Swoopes was correct. Blacks can’t be racist — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be prejudiced. “


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/opinion-sh ... 20546.html






Is it the belief, that Black people have no real ability to affect any part of someone else’s life because they are so politically, educationally, and physically powerless?

[Della]

“Racism was not simple hatred or prejudice based on skin color. Racism occurred when power was added to prejudice — the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise.
Black or white, anyone can be prejudiced. I might not like you because of your skin color, and that makes me prejudiced. But it doesn’t automatically make me racist unless I also have the power to impact your life because of my prejudice. There are few, if any, areas of American life where Blacks hold such power. Thus, Sheryl Swoopes was correct. Blacks can’t be racist — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be prejudiced. “


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/opinion-sh ... 20546.html






Is it the liberal belief that Black people have no real ability to affect any part of someone else’s life because they are so politically, educationally, and physically powerless?

I was a Republican most of my life (60 is coming up quick, lol). Up until my mid to late 20's I truly believed Americans were "equal" because that's what I was told, and in my world, it appeared that we are. I held many of the same beliefs I see you espouse now.

Then I dug deeper. How many Black people are in charge of federal, state and local governments? How many Black people make the rules?

[MonarchMom]

Why the need to divide people and add "liberals" to this question? The definition your are quoting came from a panel organized in the late 1960's to study the violent confrontations happening at that time between police and minority groups.

It may be useful to have a conversation about what changes have happened since the 1960's and how useful this definitions remains today. But I don't see the connection you are making to people identifying as "liberal."

[Slimshandy]

“Racism was not simple hatred or prejudice based on skin color. Racism occurred when power was added to prejudice — the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise.
Black or white, anyone can be prejudiced. I might not like you because of your skin color, and that makes me prejudiced. But it doesn’t automatically make me racist unless I also have the power to impact your life because of my prejudice. There are few, if any, areas of American life where Blacks hold such power. Thus, Sheryl Swoopes was correct. Blacks can’t be racist — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be prejudiced. “


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/opinion-sh ... 20546.html






Is it the liberal belief that Black people have no real ability to affect any part of someone else’s life because they are so politically, educationally, and physically powerless?

I was a Republican most of my life (60 is coming up quick, lol). Up until my mid to late 20's I truly believed Americans were "equal" because that's what I was told, and in my world, it appeared that we are. I held many of the same beliefs I see you espouse now.

Then I dug deeper. How many Black people are in charge of federal, state and local governments? How many Black people make the rules?

The last time I voted for president it was for a Black guy, our Vice President is Black and I’ve been voting for her every time she ran since I lived Los Angeles, in Fort Smith our mayor is Black…

[Slimshandy]

Why the need to divide people and add "liberals" to this question? The definition your are quoting came from a panel organized in the late 1960's to study the violent confrontations happening at that time between police and minority groups.

It may be useful to have a conversation about what changes have happened since the 1960's and how useful this definitions remains today. But I don't see the connection you are making to people identifying as "liberal."

Ok, that’s fair enough…

I’ll rephrase to “ Is this something people today believe”.

[Della]

“Racism was not simple hatred or prejudice based on skin color. Racism occurred when power was added to prejudice — the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise.
Black or white, anyone can be prejudiced. I might not like you because of your skin color, and that makes me prejudiced. But it doesn’t automatically make me racist unless I also have the power to impact your life because of my prejudice. There are few, if any, areas of American life where Blacks hold such power. Thus, Sheryl Swoopes was correct. Blacks can’t be racist — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be prejudiced. “


https://www.yahoo.com/sports/opinion-sh ... 20546.html






Is it the liberal belief that Black people have no real ability to affect any part of someone else’s life because they are so politically, educationally, and physically powerless?

I was a Republican most of my life (60 is coming up quick, lol). Up until my mid to late 20's I truly believed Americans were "equal" because that's what I was told, and in my world, it appeared that we are. I held many of the same beliefs I see you espouse now.

Then I dug deeper. How many Black people are in charge of federal, state and local governments? How many Black people make the rules?

The last time I voted for president it was for a Black guy, our Vice President is Black and I’ve been voting for her every time she ran since I lived Los Angeles, in Fort Smith our mayor is Black…

Those few control all three and the good ole boy network?

[Slimshandy]

I was a Republican most of my life (60 is coming up quick, lol). Up until my mid to late 20's I truly believed Americans were "equal" because that's what I was told, and in my world, it appeared that we are. I held many of the same beliefs I see you espouse now.

Then I dug deeper. How many Black people are in charge of federal, state and local governments? How many Black people make the rules?

The last time I voted for president it was for a Black guy, our Vice President is Black and I’ve been voting for her every time she ran since I lived Los Angeles, in Fort Smith our mayor is Black…

Those few control all three and the good ole boy network?

I wouldn’t say that any one person or group controls everything in the government, it’s all dependent on how the people vote.

[WellPreserved]

Racism is a belief that establishes a hierarchy of races and ethnicities and leads to discrimination of minority groups. US was discovered, colonized, expanded, established, and governed by these beliefs for almost 500 years and those beliefs are imbedded in many of our systems. Systemic and institutional racism didn't just end in 1965 but we have made strides and hopefully will continue to do so. Unfortunately, challenges to the hierarchy will always be seen by those who are at the "top" as threatening.

One just need look at inequities that currently exist. Either one believes these inequities are the result of systemic racism past or present, or one believes they are the result of inherent differences between races and ethnicities which enable some to succeed and others to not (racism). The election of the first Black president while pivotal, did not end systemic racism or end the immense disparity that has been the obvious result of it.

I dropped my train of thought days ago!

In the US, we have never had a power structure that gives power to minority groups. Even our vote gives power to the majority. Yes, racism requires "the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise." Using that definition, minority groups are not and cannot be racist but individuals in these groups can certainly be prejudiced. I think we've watered down the term prejudice and overused the term racist so that they seem interchangeable, but they're not.

[Slimshandy]

Racism is a belief that establishes a hierarchy of races and ethnicities and leads to discrimination of minority groups. US was discovered, colonized, expanded, established, and governed by these beliefs for almost 500 years and those beliefs are imbedded in many of our systems. Systemic and institutional racism didn't just end in 1965 but we have made strides and hopefully will continue to do so. Unfortunately, challenges to the hierarchy will always be seen by those who are at the "top" as threatening.

One just need look at inequities that currently exist. Either one believes these inequities are the result of systemic racism past or present, or one believes they are the result of inherent differences between races and ethnicities which enable some to succeed and others to not (racism). The election of the first Black president while pivotal, did not end systemic racism or end the immense disparity that has been the obvious result of it.

But do you believe that Black people today are powerless when it comes to “the power to affect someone’s life physically, economically, educationally, politically or otherwise.”


I’m a little taken aback by the writer, who is a Black Medical Doctor and College professor thinking Black people can’t influence education… definitely questioning the “physically powerless” to affect someone’s life suggestion. Not understanding how someone could hold that opinion…

[Della]

The last time I voted for president it was for a Black guy, our Vice President is Black and I’ve been voting for her every time she ran since I lived Los Angeles, in Fort Smith our mayor is Black…

Those few control all three and the good ole boy network?

I wouldn’t say that any one person or group controls everything in the government, it’s all dependent on how the people vote.

Like voting for a Republican governor and legislature? Those who would restructure education about Black history.