What Is the Definition of Racism?

George writes: I think I take an issue with your definition of racism = hatred of some particular race or group of people.

Let’s see what Webster has to say about words in America

Full Definition of RACISM
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 : racial prejudice or discrimination

So I’m wondering if you and I are ‘racists’. However, we are so acculturated by the evil connotation of the word we will both try to wiggle out of it as you do above. If we believe let’s say that the Brits are a superior group to the African Pygmies or the Australian Aborigines then you are a racist. We might still be able to wiggle out on the ‘primary determinant’ clause by recognizing the importance of environment in individual differences.

So what do we do? I have heard the term ‘scientific racist’ as racists with no emotional dislike of any group. But that is also doomed to failure as an appropriate label for yourself in polite company because of the ‘R’ word. Can we popularize a new term without the ‘R’ word? Probably not; it will quickly get called the ‘R’-word by the dominant PC culture.

Do you understand how dictionaries work?

Definition 1 is ONE definition of racism.

Definition 2 is ANOTHER definition of racism.

Two different meanings of the word, and they need not both be correct. You could choose definition 1 as your meaning of racism, or definition 2, or both of them. But it makes no sense to say that definition 1 is part of the inherent definition of racism. Personally, I follow the definition 2 meaning of racism and I reject the definition 1 meaning. That is perfectly correct and logical.

Definition 1 makes no sense because it would then mean that the truth is racist. Certain races are obviously superior to other races at various different things. Some are the most superior race of all on certain metrics.