Does Racism Against Whites Exist?
The Ongoing Debate About the True Definition of Racism
Unless and until the meaning of racism and related terms is clarified, Americans will continue to argue about whether or not racism against whites truly exists.
Although the debate about whether or not racism against whites occurs rages on, it seems the first question we need to answer is which of the many descriptions of the word do we agree constitutes the true definition of racism?
What is the Definition of Racism?
A broad definition of racism implies that any group can demonstrate racism against another; a second, narrower definition places the term within the context of history—pointing the finger at groups that have historically demonstrated beliefs in racial superiority (e.g. whites, certain Asian groups—e.g. Japanese); and still a third, limits the ownership of the term to whites, indicating that while whites can be "racist," other groups are "incapable of racism due to power difference."
Unless and until the debate about these terms is at last laid to rest, Americans will continue to engage in circular discussions on the issue.
In the meantime, however, one thing is certain: whites can and do encounter prejudice and bias, and in certain contexts, racial discrimination and xenophobia as well.
Since prejudice and bias refer to prejudgment and bias—discriminatory actions based on that prejudgment—it is clear that in any context, including here in the United States, whites can and do experience these.
Xenophobia—which is rejection experienced because your race or culture is considered an unwanted part of that society—and racial discrimination—bias and discrimination that denies one’s human rights—may more likely be experienced by whites outside of the United States. A perfect example might be the white westerner’s experience in Japan.
The White Westerner Experiences Discrimination Abroad
Popular Japanese variety shows have launched an online debate about whether or not certain performances constitute racism against whites. In the show Karakuriterebi, two characters donned fake “gaijin” noses and wigs to perform comedy. Speaking loudly in broken English, the goal was to make the audience laugh at the awkward westerners. In another show, Haneru no Tobira, Japanese comedians dressed up like foreigners (again donning big fake rubber noses) and competed against one another in their dramatic and clumsy attempts to use chopsticks to pick up food.
One commentator who witnessed such performances wrote on Japanprobe.com, “It was an amazing combination of: racist imagery (foreigners have big noses, so lets put on big rubber noses); stereotypes about foreigners (foreigners can’t use chopsticks, so let’s make a game about it.)”
Others said, ““For the first time in recent memory, I was actually offended watching what is usually one of my favorite television shows.” And “I wonder how the Japanese would feel if an American put in fake buck teeth, wore glasses, squinted, and spoke in crappy Japanese.”
While some commentators didn’t feel these images were “racist,” another pointed out the importance of context: “I’m willing to bet that most [commentators] who said that this kind of thing is harmless don’t actually live or work in Japan. I don’t go looking for racism or prejudice hiding under every rock but I’ve encountered plenty of it…[such as] coworkers excluding foreigners from social gatherings…This sounds pretty minor unless you understand that going out to eat with one’s coworkers is a pretty important social ritual in a Japanese company in terms of getting current information and trust building…[or] a highly qualified foreign worker who can speak, read and write Japanese at an adult level is given nothing but “busy work,” again because it’s just assumed or at times openly stated that foreigners either can’t understand what’s going on around them or are just incompetent by nature…[these shows] certainly re-enforce existing ideas and prejudices.”
Clarifying Racism Terms Can Help Resolve the Debate
These comments point out the nature of xenophobia and racial discrimination in their effect on the white person’s status and opportunities to thrive in a culture that may reject and/or discount their abilities. Perhaps if we paused long enough in our discussions on racism—setting out to avoid the inevitable result of finger-pointing and assigning blame—and focused on clarifying the various terms used to describe racism, prejudice, bias, xenophobia, and discrimination, we might find that we can actually agree as a society about the experiences of whites both here and abroad.
