Spoiler alert, they don't actually exist! Yep, you heard it here folks! All of them aren't real! Right Kanye?
Now, most of you probably know who Santa is and who is elves are, but not everyone is familiar with the whole reverse racism thing. Well, reverse racism is described as the act of racism against a majority or a dominant race, typically used in context of white people. Obviously the entire concept of reverse racism is completely flawed, but not everyone understands that. This is due to the fact that, like I mentioned earlier, not everyone is familiar with the concept. But, have no fear, the woke girl is here! And I come bearing gifts of knowledge, particularly 3 reasons why reverse racism doesn't exist! So without further ado, here are 3 reasons why, like Santa and his little elves, reverse racism doesn't exist!
1. Racism needs privilege!
Its kinda hard to be a racist without privilege. Without an institutional, structural and social advantage, it's a bit hard to be a racist. But what exactly is this "privilege" I speak of? Well if Tom, who is a white male, is caught with weed, he's less likely to be sent to jail. But, if Kevin, who is a black male, is caught with weed, he's more likely to go to jail for it. This is because of the societal advantage that Tom has because of his white privilege, of which Kevin doesn't have. So if Kevin's family and friends speak out on the blatant unfair treatment he receives, it is not reverse racism, they are simply addressing Tom's privilege. So, since racism needs privilege and power, of which white people possess (and people of color don't), reverse racism is but a myth.
2. Society attempting to correct systematic injustices doesn't count as reverse racism!
I've seen many people try to use the Employment Equity Act as an example of reverse racism because it "doesn't give a fair chance to equally qualified white people to compete for various jobs and positions" (I put that in quotations because someone had the audacity to say this to my mom, smh).But, guess what hunty? The only reason this act exists is because of generations of systematic injustice that have made it much harder for people of color to be included certain areas of work. The Employment Equity Act was created to prevent racial bias when it comes to the hiring decisions of employers. So, no, this Act isn't to exclude you from access to these jobs. Its to make sure that people of color are equally considered for these positions that you can get with ease because of your privilege. And, once again, this proves that reverse racism does not exist. :)
3. Prejudice ≠ Racism!
Just like any other race, there are assumptions and stereotypes about white people. Some notable ones are that white men can’t dance. This is what we call a racial prejudice, not racism. This is because these sorts of statements don’t have the power or authority to change how the society will think of white people or take away the privileges they possess. So, even though this might offend the white person you are saying it to, it isn’t going to change their amount of societal advantages. (Disclaimer: I do not condone such statements!)
I recently found out that the director of one of my favourite movies, Dear White People, Justin Simien commented on this common misconception. He said: “Prejudice and racism are different. A joke about white people dancing has no impact on the lives of average white people, whereas jokes about black people and reinforcing stereotypes about black people do have an impact on the lives of everyday black people.”
I recently found out that the director of one of my favourite movies, Dear White People, Justin Simien commented on this common misconception. He said: “Prejudice and racism are different. A joke about white people dancing has no impact on the lives of average white people, whereas jokes about black people and reinforcing stereotypes about black people do have an impact on the lives of everyday black people.”
As you guys can see, Santa, his petite pointy-eared friends, and reverse racism are all mythically. They are fictional. But unlike them, reverse racism is often mistaken for prejudice. Racism and prejudice are two different things and being aware of this is a must for our racially charged society.