1: : a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.
2. : a doctrine or political program based on the assumption of racism and designed to execute its principles.
: a political or social system founded on racism
3. : racial prejudice or discrimination
So today here's my issue. Last week Megyn Kelly, (she's some TV news personality, I didn't know who she was until this week). Made some comments about Halloween costumes and black or white face paint. She said nothing about demeaning races, nothing at all which coincides with the above definitions. Simply about costumes, and what actually constitutes racism. Now that would really be an excellent discussion. What exactly constitutes racism? Since this episode there have been comparisons to another TV personality, someone named Luann who dressed as Diana Ross. I didn't see what she did as Diana, from what I understand there was nothing disrespectful about it. It was some costume, perhaps she really admires Diana and wanted to look like her. But that has been called racist. I did some searching and couldn't find any comments by Diana Ross, was she even offended? We're getting too sensitive to what really isn't a problem and making a real problem much worse. Is there racism? Certainly but not as much and not in all of the places we're lead to believe.
About 30 years ago there was a black pop star who had this signature thing about wearing a sequined glove. That year I saw a lot of kids, of pretty much every race wearing a glove on Halloween and no-one screamed racism. For at least the past 30 years, costumes have featured president's faces. If someone wears an Obama face is that person a racist? Nixon, and Reagan are OK but Obama isn't? Let's get a grip here. I also expect to see a fair number of hockey masks, are we demeaning all hockey players?
It's not always about what someone does but why they do it. Disney has been accused of racism because in cartoons they use black musicians and copy their mannerisms. I'd call that complimentary. If I make a cartoon and include Chuck Berry as a character, at some point he's going to play guitar and skip across the stage, just as any cartoon of Michael Jackson will moon walk. It's only racism if the intent falls in line with the above definition.
I'm sure Ms Kelly will come out all right, my understanding is that she was making 28 million a year. Most of us working class might make 2 million in a lifetime. But that's not the problem. The problem is we have the speech and thought police everywhere. The most heinous crimes today are offending someone. And the fear that someone might offend someone is beginning to dictate policies in our society and workplaces. Pretty soon simply breathing in the same room with someone will be an offense and subject to discipline.
