Racism Definition: What Racism and Racist Mean

Racism definition and racism meaning in English

Most definitions of racism include one or more of these parts:

1. A belief. The idea that people can be ranked by race, with some races naturally superior in ability, intelligence or worth.
2. An attitude. Dislike, fear or low expectations toward people because of their race, which is a form of prejudice.
3. An action. Treating someone unfairly because of race, such as refusing a job, a flat or service. This is racial discrimination.
4. A system. Laws, institutions or long-standing patterns that produce unequal results for racial groups, whether or not individuals intend it.

So when you define racism, the core idea is that race, rather than the person, decides how someone is judged or treated.

What does racist mean?

Learners often wonder what is the definition of racist, since the racist meaning depends on whether it is an adjective or a noun.

• Adjective: showing or based on racism. A racist joke, a racist law, racist abuse.
• Noun: a person who believes some races are superior or who treats people unfairly because of race. He was called a racist after the comments.

Because calling a person "a racist" is a serious accusation, many writers prefer to describe the act ("that remark was racist") rather than label the whole person. Both uses are correct English.

Forms of racism people describe

Related ideas such as bias, privilege and ethnicity tend to appear alongside it in debates.

Why people disagree about the definition

Ask a room of people what is the definition of racism and you will hear a shared core but different edges.

• Intent versus effect. Some say racism requires a prejudiced belief or intent. Others say a rule or system can be racist if it produces unfair racial outcomes, even without anyone meaning harm.
• Individual versus systemic. Some scholars define racism as prejudice combined with social power, which centers systems. Others argue this definition is too narrow, because any person of any group can hold and act on racial prejudice.
• How broadly to use the word. Some worry the label is applied too quickly and loses force; others worry it is avoided when it fits.

These debates affect schools, workplaces and law. Knowing which definition a speaker is using helps you follow the argument, whatever view you take.

A short history of the word and the idea

Racial prejudice is very old, but the word racism is fairly new. It is formed from race plus -ism, with an earlier form racialism from the late nineteenth century. Racism shows up in English print during the first decades of the twentieth century, growing common by the 1930s, first used of race theories in Europe and soon of American social systems. Key historical moments shaped how people use it: slavery was abolished in the United States in 1865, Germany passed sweeping racial laws in 1935, South Africa's system of apartheid ran from 1948 to the early 1990s, and in 1965 the United Nations adopted a convention against all forms of racial discrimination.

Examples in sentences

• The school added a lesson on how to respond to racism in the playground.
• Fans reported racist chanting to the stadium staff.
• The report found signs of racism in how loans were approved across neighborhoods.
• She wrote an essay on whether the old housing rules were racist in effect or in intent.

Racism and the law

Many countries outlaw racial discrimination in jobs, housing, education and public services. In the United States, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 bars job discrimination on the basis of race and color. In India, Article 15 of the Constitution prohibits the state from discriminating on grounds that include race. International law includes the UN convention noted above. Hate speech rules differ widely between countries. Similar civic vocabulary is listed under law, politics and society.