Racism is ugly. It divides people into "us" and "them", based on where we come from or the color of our skin. Use of the term has become so popular that it’s spun off related terms such as reverse racism, horizontal racism, and internalized racism. But could it be this highly charged word that is effective at inciting emotions is largely undefined in our public discourse? Racism is a word that lies dormant until pricked by some event, leading to severe overuse without the burden of providing a clear definition.This week Azza Manukova and a panel of experts will discuss and debate this emotionally loaded topic.
According to the American Heritage College Dictionary, racism has two meanings. This resource first defines racism as, “The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others” and secondly as, “Discrimination or prejudice based on race.”
During the Philadelphia Convention, it was agreed that slaves were to be considered only three-fifths of a person for purposes of taxation and representation. In 1994, a book called The Bell Curve posited that genetics were to blame for African Americans' traditionally lower scoring than whites on intelligence tests. The book was attacked by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert, who argued that social factors were responsible for the differential.
In the modern world we must question our preconceptions: What is internalized racism? Can minorities be racist? What is horizontal racism? Does reverse racism such as anti-white discrimination exist? How does racism effect our soul? What does hate have to teach us? Periodic discussions about race continue to be the country’s preferred modus operandi; it’s emotional, caustic, it can be newsworthy. Let’s delve deeper in an open forum discussion with noted therapist Azzah Manukova and her panel of experts!
