Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
César R. Bazo
Professor Dr. Jamie Harrison
CTES 7470
06 June 2015
because it can generate heated disagreements amongst people from different walks of
define the term racism, which in itself is a complex term to expound. Hoyt (2012)
laypeople about whether the original definition of racism, the belief in the
perpetuate the advantages of the dominant social identity group –that is,
In my opinion, the first definition is tacitly embedded within the second one since
admitting the existence of a dominant social identity group implies the presence of
second definition, it can be inferred from it that it takes for granted that racism springs
racism, which will then help me to clarify my standpoint regarding the disputable
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statement “Only white people can be racist.” I would define racism as a system of
constraints, who have a disproportionate share of power in today’s society and that use
This personal conception of the term racism leads me to blatantly disagree with
the contention “Only white people can be racist.” I truly believe that anyone can show
racist attitudes or behaviors towards others provided s/he displays power of some kind
monopoly on prejudice and discrimination; they happen in all directions, and even
within groups” (p. 184). Nieto goes on to say that the consequences of prejudice and
discrimination do not occur only in one direction, for instance, from Whites toward
Blacks. From these thoughts, it can be deduced that Blacks can also be racist against
Whites. In fact, Hoyt (2012) illustrates an incident of black racism toward whites when
narrating a personal experience that occurred during his teenage years in which he was
riding a bus with other black youngsters and they “… chose to take over the back of a
public transportation bus and became openly hostile and threatening toward white
riders –often to the point that they felt so unsafe that they disembarked before their
desired destination had been reached, …” (p. 233). This is a genuinely appalling example
The varying acceptations of the word power constitute another reason for my
dissent from the affirmation that “Only white people can be racist.” I do agree with the
fact that for a person to qualify as a racist, s/he must be in a position of power. I also
concur with the idea that Blacks most often lack political, social, and economic power,
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which is usually held by the Whites. However, there are a few instances in which Blacks
can hold power over Whites. Blum (2002) aptly mentions that “In the United States
blacks or other people of color hold power over other ethno racial groups in some
municipalities and in institutions such as schools and hospitals. They can therefore
exclude other racial groups on the basis of race”(p.37). Hence, it can be concluded that
Blacks can be racist against those not in power whether they are Whites or others. By
the same token, when people think of the word power, within the context of racism,
they usually think of White oppression. However, there is also power in intolerance.
And Blacks have the power to be intolerant and to hate as demonstrated by the
Last but not least, I would like to conclude my reading response by adding a
personal reflection on the issue from my stance as an ESL teacher. As an ESL teacher, I
feel blessed for being able to interact with students from different cultures around the
world and teach them English. There is so much I learn from them day every day. They
truly enrich my life and have made me “…move beyond tolerance…”(p. 257) employing
References
Blum, L. (2002). “I’m not a racist, but …” The moral quandary of race. Ithaca, NY: Cornell
University Press.
Nieto, S. (2010). Language, Culture, and Teaching: Critical Perspectives (2nded.). New
York: Routledge.