Reverse racism? Sideways racism? No, it’s just racism

Prejudice directed against ethnic minorities by individuals of the majority indigenous (and typically white in a western context) race is the commonly accepted notion of racism. Although when this notion takes a different format such as a role reversal or the prejudice of one ethnic minority group directed against another, this often evokes a different reaction. Indeed, in such instances, often the label of racism isn’t used with the same acerbity that would otherwise be expected. In fact, sometimes the label of racism isn’t used at all. Yet surely all racism is fundamentally the same, even if by another name or no name at all? Moreover, why is racism from those within minority groups not met as it would be in the more familiar context of such prejudice?

In the communities of some ethnic minorities, undertones of racism appear to be inherent and consequently accepted. This is even apparent in some communities where in theory, multiculturalism should successfully challenge such views.

Race relations in western society have generally improved. Racism is generally challenged and largely considered unethical behaviour. However, largely due to political correctness, it has also become somewhat taboo to candidly discuss.

Arguably, this taboo is what hinders any effective challenge to such attitudes existing within some communities. To suggest that an ethnic minority might be racist is less likely to be received with the same abhorrence as suggesting a white person might be racist. A white person making this suggestion could even be accused by others (including other white people) that in saying so they aren’t culturally or racially sensitive.

The difficulty in challenging these attitudes is also compounded by the insularity of such communities. This further limits the scope for such views to be challenged by experience and wider interaction. Even where second and third generations of ethnic minority groups acknowledge these attitudes to be wrong (often by virtue of their increased interaction within a multicultural society), they nonetheless tacitly accept them, rarely deciding to instead become outspoken of what they know is unethical behaviour.

Some might counter that the reason for insularity within some communities is due to the prejudice they may have experienced. This is particularly in instances where immigration has been met with racism and a frosty reception by governments and the wider public. No minority group can be blamed for such a knee-jerk reaction and a disinclination to integrate within a wider society that once appeared so hostile. Nonetheless, this approach has meant any existing prejudices within such communities remain unchecked as individuals are not subject to positive experiences that would otherwise refute these attitudes. Unwittingly, it also supports wider racist views.

Take the sentiments of the BNP. While being interviewed on the BBC’s Newsnight, Nick Griffin, leader of the BNP, was questioned on his view of “mixing races” and if he opposed this. Rather than attempt to gloss over or deny this, he candidly admitted that this was his opinion (and presumably that of his party) but added that this was a view shared by other ethnic minority groups.

Unfortunately, while in a minority, there are sections of some minority groups that would share these views. In doing so, this gives credence to an ideal of a far-right party that doesn’t even support their presence in Britain. It also illustrates the inconsistency of how racism is perceived based on who it comes from.

In his Bigger and Blacker show, Chris Rock examines modern day racism – Black people yelling "racism!" White people yelling "reverse racism!" Chinese people yelling "sideways racism!" Like much of Chris Rock’s material, a lot of truth is astutely said in jest. And while not the central theme of his sketch on race, the notion of varying labels to describe racism is certainly accurate. The idea of reverse racism is often perceived as a form of positive discrimination or positive action but has also been used more simplistically to refer to racism that doesn’t conform to the more familiar notion.

Racism by another name doesn’t change the fact that someone is racist. Yet giving it a different label makes the flawed suggestion of there being some nuance that supports just that. It also perpetuates an irrational and inexcusable rationale that essentially encourages such attitudes.

It’s fair to say that a degree of prejudice exists within everyone and therefore within every racial group. Yet when it remains unchecked, it leads to attitudes that are simply unethical and should not be tolerated by those that choose to accept and ignore them.

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