Usage notes

* Different people define race” differently, so, naturally, different people define ”racism differently.
* Racism is generally accepted as wrong in English-speaking societies, and the word racism carries strong negative connotations. Therefore, those opposing a certain practice might characterize it as “racist” in order to try to take advantage of those connotations, and conversely, those defending a certain practice might try to mitigate it by claiming that it is not racist.
* While racism” is, per se, usually tied to ”race , some speakers will (controversially) use the term in other cases as well:
** 2002, Tom Carter-Smith, Sex – an Apology for Love , NORDISC Music & Text, ISBN 87-88619-09-5, page 99,
**: The reason for this was the general prejudice (read: racism ) against gays among “straight” people; the government simply didn’t want the public to be appalled by posters and TV adds with “queers”.
* The term reverse racism” has been used to describe racism (in one sense or another) by a group that has traditionally been oppressed, against a traditionally more-empowered group. However, some argue that this distinction does not need to be made, and advocate using simply the term ”racism”; others have argued conversely that the term ”racism should not be used at all in such cases.
* For many speakers, the term racism implies conscious belief or behavior, but this distinction is not universally held.