I'm genuinely losing track of what you're getting at. Did my last comment not make sense?
Why is holding onto "personal racism" having the word "racism" in it so important to you? Why do you feel "prejudice" isn't sufficient?
It isn't. I don't. Call it prejudice if you want. Racism is prejudice. Not all prejudice is racism. Again, the only disagreement I would have is if the reason you're making this distinction is because you don't believe that racism on a personal level constitutes racism. That's important to me because I'm not interested in absolving racists of being racist by changing language. Again, that is not an uncommon idea and I'm not projecting it.
Okay, I'll lay it out for you. You're okay with "prejudice" meaning "personal racism" and "racism" meaning "institutional racism". We agree that people who say "racism = prejudice + power" are a little misled but you've agreed to and understand the semantics they're using when they say "prejudice isn't racism". So I'm asking why it bothers you?
You're okay with "prejudice" meaning "personal racism"
Yes, prejudice can refer to racism. It doesn't "mean" personal racism, but it certainly can be used to refer to it.
and "racism" meaning "institutional racism"
Racism can cover institutional racism, yes. I had imagined that went without saying. I'm not okay with racism only meaning institutional racism, and I haven't suggested that if you're somehow inferring it.
We agree that people who say "racism = prejudice + power" are a little misled but you've agreed to and understand the semantics they're using when they say prejudice isn't racism. So I'm asking why it bothers you?
I don't think we agree that they're "a little misled," and no, I haven't agreed to the semantics they're using when they say that "prejudice," when used to refer specifically to personal racism, isn't racism. I've actually said the opposite. I reject the premise.
As for why it bothers me, I had thought I just explained that:
Again, the only disagreement I would have is if the reason you're making this distinction is because you don't believe that racism on a personal level constitutes racism. That's important to me because I'm not interested in absolving racists of being racist by changing language.
2
u/theBesh Dec 12 '19
I'm genuinely losing track of what you're getting at. Did my last comment not make sense?
It isn't. I don't. Call it prejudice if you want. Racism is prejudice. Not all prejudice is racism. Again, the only disagreement I would have is if the reason you're making this distinction is because you don't believe that racism on a personal level constitutes racism. That's important to me because I'm not interested in absolving racists of being racist by changing language. Again, that is not an uncommon idea and I'm not projecting it.