Exploring and Defining Racism

Exploring and Defining Racism

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To define racism it is important to firstly define race. Race is

defined as "a group characterized by closeness of common descent and

usually also by some shared physical distinctiveness, such as colour

of skin" (source: Modern Thought - Bullock and Stallybrass). Racism

can be defined as "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences

among the various human races determine cultural or individual

achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is

superior and has the right to rule others" In the name of protecting

their race from contamination, some racists justify the domination and

destruction of races they consider to be either superior or inferior.

The most obvious form of racism is colour prejudice, which is

prejudice against people who have a different colour skin from your

own; in Britain, the United States and South Africa this is usually

referred to as a "black / white" issue. In South Africa, differences

between people with black skin and white skin were institutionalised

in law by the white "apartheid" governments of 1948 and beyond. Racism

based on skin colour was also institutionalised in law in some of the

southern states of America, as "segregation", and highlighted by

leaders such as Martin Luther King.

However, racism covers a much wider subject than skin colour,

including religion, ethnicity and culture. In fact, almost any

difference between groups is used and often exaggerated by racists.

Religious differences often add to racism, for example, ...

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...d in God's image, are

equal in the eyes of God. Therefore Christians should denounce racism

wherever they see it. However, this can be very difficult, as was the

case in Nazi Germany and South Africa. In these countries the

governments could set laws and had control of the police and army to

enforce them. There were consequences for people who opposed the

government's views and therefore, although many Christians did speak

out, both they and their families suffered because of this and many

others stayed silent although this was against their beliefs.

Christians in this country today should follow the teachings in the

bible and therefore not participate in matters such as racist jokes

and other examples of racism that they come across on a day-to-day

basis. Instead, they should strive to prevent such events occurring.