Apparently there was trouble over here that I am blissfully unaware of. I'll be back later.

No trouble this is a legitimate exercise in open discussion/debate.

I very much agree with your definition of racism, Ron. Sorry, that's all I've got at this particular moment...I'll be back...

I think these guys would hate Powell whether black or white for backing Obama. They would have turned on him if it were Hillary too.
They're partisan to the end that's why I say f**k "non-partisan" politics. It does not exist. But, I do think in Dick and Pat's case it makes it easier. I would not put racism past those two as Cheney hated Powell from day one together and vice-versa. Powell at least has good reason.

Racism isn't just rich white, I know and see more poor white people that are ignorant that are racist in the south. They believe all the stereotypes and they are raised that way. The rich white men and women of power dislike everyone, even themselves truth be known. They are walking, talking proof that money doesn't buy happiness. Great topic. My closest friend in the whole world (other than my wife) is an African-American male and he and I have endless chats on the subject. So I'm a good person and qualified person to have in here. I have witnessed racism on him from the white perspective and actually gotten into tussles (way back in the day when we were stupid) over it.

It's not an easily solvable problem but some progress has been made in the 40+ years since Dr. King was murdered. Many miles to go before we sleep though.

Oh, and Rush. Sorry, left his fat bastard self out.

If Colin Powell is judged by the quality/character in or lack of quality/character in his detractors then he rises above the detractors without much effort. Really all he has to do is wake up in the morning.

My dissertation is based in part on the work of Chris Rock and like him I see racism everywhere. He has one joke that says it all. He goes before a mostly or all white crowd and says no white person would change races with him -- and he is rich. He also claims it is racist to refer to a black person as well-spoken and that anyone who knows to the digit how many black friends they have is racist. He makes a lot of sense.

There may be more writers here who are traditionally white than other races. However, I feel we get more disproportionately more attention than writers of other races. I sincerely doubt that is a conscious decision on my or anyone else's part when reading and commenting on others' blogs. It is just that staying within one's comfort zone can mean one stays within racial lines -- and that creates racism that is harder to fight than full on hatred and disregard.

Those comfort zones have been taught or learned throughout life. My daughter goes to a fully integrated daycare and children do not group themselves as black, white, and Hispanic. They have not learned to do that yet. Sadly they most likely will very soon.

I believe all people are biased on issues of race, among other things. It's seems downright silly to think otherwise. I hate that I have knee jerk reactions to racial issues on rare occasions. My job is to be aware of my own biases and quash any urges I have to act or speak consistent with those biases, to think things through rationally, and to better prepare myself for the next incident. This is not like pulling a single overgrown weed; it has a huge network of roots below the surface. I don't think it's possible to eliminate stereotyping and biases based strictly on one's will to do so. It is a constant struggle.

Leslie made an excellent point: We all have prejudices and biases. Fact is, there is nothing wrong with that…unless we allow our baser nature to overpower our intellect.

I’d like to extend the thought she raised.

Some of us fail to acknowledge that if things in our lives had been just a little bit different…things in our moral makeup might be considerably different.

There are people among us who grew up in an environment where racial or ethnic hatreds were very prominent, accepted, expected…and which were exhibited by many, probably most, mentors. A person, for instance, who grew up in rural Mississippi during the 1940’s and 1950’s…will have been influenced in ways that some of us who grew up in the suburbs of New York City and Philadelphia will never be able to appreciate.

This is not offered to excuse racial hatred in any way. Just trying to add texture to the discussion.

In the end, each of us has to grow up and become enlightened on our own.

Personally, while we have a very long way to go, I am immensely proud of the strides we have made in our country as regards the specific of racial prejudice.

I hope all of you are.

In its essence, racism is culturally sanctioned strategies that defend the advantages of power, privilege and prestige which white people have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities.

This deliberate political, economical, religious and sociocultural structuring of privilege, does not take place in some moral vacuum. It has behind it the moral force of an ideology of supremacy, an ill-will that claims racial superiority and pride of position. By ideology I mean a system of ideas and beliefs about the universe, to which a people adhere in order to justify their attitudes and actions. This ideology can have a religious or a scientific basis, depending on which one shapes our worldview. Nevertheless the outcome is the same, where one group benefits and the other does not.

What we have in American society is the problem of a homogeneous value system operating within a heterogeneous society.

I think of Colin Powell as a tragic figure, given that he was the first man of his "race" to reach so far and he was turned into a dish-rag for a bunch of con-men and cowboys. I thought Condi was just plain sad. From my perspective, it serves them right regardless of their color for falling victim to their own careerism. No offense. To me a black Republican is a contradiction in terms. Of course, in ten or twenty years, it will not matter--and the stamps printed in their honor with not fade when washed.

These are great comments, excellent points and ideas. Help keep the discussion going. After you read the post and/or write a comment, let your friends and favorites know what we're trying to do here. You are not limited to a single entry. Feel free to return and comment again or refine or reframe an earlier comment. Thanks for your participation and support.

Screw these right-wing Bozos...first, they hang Powell out to dry in front of the Congressional Committee prior to the Iraq invasion, (Geo. Tenet lied to Powell telling him that the aluminum cylinders Powell was about to decry to Congress were used for uranium enrichment, when in reality, the tubes were the fuselage for a short-range surface-to-surface rockets the Iraqis were building), then, after Powell does their dirty work, he gets busted by the media for lying, they then throw him to the wolves, literally forcing him to resign. These kinds of white, rich, smarmy fat-bastard, power-grubbing, bigoted microbes are a blight on us all. We may never totally get rid of these diseased human abberrations, but stomping out as many as possible is OK by me. Give 'em hell.

I still think Dick Cheney's face is, uh, I won't say! :)

I don't think this boils down to prejudice/race but the whole Republican - Democrat party, "You're either with us, or against us!" mentality that has torn this country apart for too many years.

I don't vote for the party. I'm registered as a democrat, but for the most part, when I can, I vote for the person not the party because truthfully, there's been some democrats I wouldn't have voted for dog catcher and the same with Republican.

I will also state, I like Colin Powell, I think he's still a Republican but Dick stating that he wasn't because he didn't endorse McCain is called, bad blood, and that's where the whole support to Limbaugh comes from.

Then again, I don't know my ass from a hole in the ground but then, I'm not running for public office!! :)

I don't think you have to have power to hate. Racism is basically disliking someone because of their race, or stereoyping someone on the basis of race. No race has a corner on it at the moment.
On "Celebrity Apprentice" which someone in my house watches, Joan Rivers called a white player "Poor white trash." This would never have been tolerated if aimed at another ethnic group.

Ron, thanks so much for opening up this discussion. I agree that racism is about power, even when racist views are expressed by people with relatively little power -- I think when all else fails, they cling to whatever power derives simply from race.

I plan to continue this dialogue on my blog. My hypothesis is lightly different, and fits with that of some of those who commented here, including Dorinda, Leslie, Apiso and Phaedo: Racism isn't just political -- It's personal.

I hope OSers will check out my blog to continue the open dialogue.

Faith has agreed to post Part II of our Open Dialogue On Race and continus the discussion on her blog. When she publishes her post the format and rules will remain the same. Only the hypothesis will change. We believe that our collaborative effort can produce some interesting results. As we progress please continue to post your comments on what ever post is relevant to your thoughts. Multiple comments are welcome at any time...

I find your definition too narrow. It is one form of racism, but only one. Seems important to me to recognize all "Statements expressing or actions based upon irrelevant and/or unjustifiable discrimination between races." Now racism may not be legally actionable unless effects can be demonstrated; but it's still racism, no?

this has nothing to do with race at all. powell's politics aren't the same as Cheney's. cheney only wants to deal with people who agree with what he's saying. truth is, from what iv'e read and seen on msnbc, many republicans don't feel that cheney speaks for them at all and wish he would shut the eff up because he's keeping the link between "enhanced interrogation"/torture and their party alive in the media. i don't see this as a racial issue at al. it's a political one. powell would never back cheney up on this crap/carp. are the mostly white male republicans racist? probably. but like many racists, they can respect and admire and work with someone of color when the politics are aligned. love love lvoe

There are many EXAMPLES of racism which ought not be substituted for the DEFINITION of racism. What I have placed here is somewhat of an over- simplification that appears to be too narrow as a consequence.

Once we can accept the possibility that racism is a manifestation of power. Then it is possible to understand that the POWER ELITE in this country have used race as a means to acquire, expand, and maintain their hold on power in all aspects of our society.

While people of color have been victims OF racial prejudice and bigotry, white people have been victimized BY the use of racism as a distraction and deterrent. The Republican party has been using racial prejudices and fears for decades as a means of getting white people to go to the poles and conning them into voting against their own economic and social interests.

The Election of Barack Obama has signalled the end of the Republicans' abilty to separate otherwise good and well intentioned whites folk from their votes with frightening scenarios of black folk run amuk.

The loss of the election and the economic crisis have begun to expose the Republican Party for what it is and has been for quite some time. White people seem to be "getting it". As a result, the Republicans realize that the old style divide, exploit, and conquer tactics of the past didn't work this time around and may not ever work again.

So they are circling the wagons around the group that they feel really belongs "under their tent" and they don't care about about how it looks to "outsiders". In effect they are hollering: "THERE'S A BLACK MAN IN THE WHITE HOUSE, RUN FOR YOUR LIVES."

Hence the clarion call with code words, symbols, stereotypes and myths, (We'll explore what some of these are in a later post.) by people like Cheney, Buchanan, Rove, Limbaugh, and others. Republicans are still attempting to exploit the fears of whites by constantly and repeatedly suggesting that Obama isn't up to being President becasuse of the color of his skin. That's why, at the end of the day, they really have no use for Colin Powell.

For them, it has never been about qualifications and competence regardless of skin color. For them, it has been about who should have and hold power in America, and the belief that, no matter what, power in America would always have a white face.

"Hence the clarion call with code words, symbols, stereotypes and myths, (We'll explore what some of these are in a later post.)"

Code words, symbols and stereotypes have often been used by both parties to manipulate the prejudices we hold deep inside. In the last campaign, it was clear to me that the Republican party and other conservative voices exploited such tools to inspire fear, inflame crowds at rallies and motivate votes. Those deeply-held prejudices are still out there, and people like Rush Limbaugh will continue to exploit them.

This is another reason why this discussion is so important.

To the end of Republican rule I say "Free at last, free at last! Great God Almighty, we're free at last!"
Amen, people have been voting against their own economic interests for a long time.
I am so happy that Obama was elected that at first, I found it hard to even believe.
He is compassionate, smart, innovative, charismatic--a once in two generations political leader. He has become one of the very greatest American presidents.

Because of the obvious economic disaster somebody smart, and who actually cares about the average person was able to sneak in when no one was looking.

love

Forgive me; I haven't read every single comment, and someone may have said these things before.

I suppose that racism can be about power, but I don't think that's always the case. Sure, it can be derived down to the essence, but I think that essence is fear of the unknown, the strange and different.

I saw it so much when I lived on the reserve. People came to the powwows because they love the spectacle of it all (and I have to admit, it is beautiful to watch the dancers), but they don't truly get what it's about, and if invited to someone's house later that night, or to the 49, they are almost afraid, as if they truly feel that something might happen to them when surrounded by "others."

Very thought-provoking post. Thank you.

Hey Ron, I hadn’t seen this clip – very interesting seeing the republican party fighting within itself – I actually learned quite a bit and respect Powell immensely. I usually tend to listen to everyone, even if I do not agree, but I cannot listen to Limbaugh without getting angry. For instance, when he accused Powell for voting for Obama for the sole reason that both men are black! I was astounded. To belittle a person’s intellect to the point of pure racial impulse is the most prejudiced thing I have ever heard Limbaugh claim.

This brings me to my next point. I didn’t read the word “prejudice” anywhere in your definition. As a certified social studies teacher, we are careful to use the words prejudice, racism, and discrimination carefully. “PREJUDICE” simply means a prejudging of some sort, usually negatively, not always. The problem arises when one is prejudiced along with having the power to “DISCRIMINATE.” Discrimination is an actual practice which involves unfair treatment toward someone(s). But anyone can be racist. "RACIST" simply means than one believes one’s race to be superior to another.

I think the point that you are seeking to make here, and a legitimate one in my view, is that the Republican Party has historically been associated with having the power (discrimination) to use their prejudicial views. Some of those prejudices appear to be racial. I believe some of their prejudicial views are also based on gender, sexual orientation, country of origin, class, etc…

It is also interesting that the republican party accuses the dems of having POSITIVE prejudicial views. Some of these include the assertion that some voted for Obama simply b/c he is black, that he is a “savior” type, that Native Americans are “mystical,” etc…

Interesting conversation, sorry if I went on to long – but it is so intriguing – thanks!

Thanks for your anecdote about Ann; that was great. this is a great discussion, will return after work.

Y Heron,

The following is the opening paragraph of this post:

"Racial prejudice by itself does not constitute racism, however. Neither does power by itself. But when people use their position of power, be it political or institutional, to reinforce their prejudices and to enforce them so that as a result of their racial prejudices the life chances, rights and opportunities of others are limited, the result is racism. Thus, the simplest definition of racism then is: Racism is prejudice plus power."

In recent history, the majority of white people in America have voted for Republican candidates in the belief that the economically, politically and socially conservative republicans would see to it that black progress would not encroach upon white lives, white livelihoods, and white life styles.

Since the advent of the Civil Rights Movement, more than forty years ago, the expectation was that the Republicans would keep black people at bay economically, politically, and socially, to ensure that blacks would not take away all to which whites felt entitled, or all for which whites felt that they had worked and thus earned.

Now, the country has turned to a black man, Barack Obama, in the hope that he will do, for them, precisely what many whites had repeatedly voted for, and elected, Republicans to not do for black people. Apparently, the Republicans can't handle that.

For additional commentary on this subject, be sure to visit Faith Paulsen's blog and look at her post: "Open Dialogue On Race II"

“Thus, the simplest definition of racism then is: Racism is prejudice plus power."

I see my mistake Ron, you did mention the word “prejudice.” I think we agree on the points you are trying to make, just not on the definitions.

I believe that you have the order incorrect. Racism is not prejudice plus power. Racism is simply viewing one race as superior to another. ANYONE can be racist. The homeless woman in my town can be a racist, but no one fears her b/c she doesn’t have the power to discriminate.

Discrimination is when one uses action to further prejudicial views, not the other way around. I fear that you may alienate folks if you imply that ONLY those in power can be racist, when in fact, only those in power can discriminate based upon their racist views.

I still think you rock!

I agree with your premise that racism is prejudice with power, in all its subtle forms. The more subtle, the more insidious.

I've enjoyed the insigtful comments so far. I agree that racism is prejudice + power, although not exclusively.

As far as the Republicans and Colin Powell are concerned, I think that half of the story can be explained in terms of the current purge in the GOP. The extreme conservatives simply do not want moderate voices in the party. Now here is my perception of the racial angle in this story: as others have mentioned, the GOP have relied on racial division (the Southern Strategy) to win elections. In that regard, Lee Atwater is their patron saint. Aside from a tax-cut fetish (upward redistribution of wealth) and culture warfare (anti-gay marriage and abortion), they have staked their future on playing to the racial fears of a particular demographic of White Americans. That won them elections for quite some time, even though their oligarchical policies never benefitted their voters, but now their base is shrinking, and essentially concentrated in one region of the country.

Despite their racist appeals, the Republicans allowed a few token people of color through the back door, honorary members if you will. They knew the ground rules and were loyal, even willing to take one for the team if need be. Condi Rice, Clarence Thomas and Colin Powell come to mind. Powell was loyal to the party, and even shamelessly sold the Iraq War. In the end, though, he had a conscience, and realized he could not tolerate his party, particualrly on social and racial issues. When he supported Obama, I think there was a sense of betrayal on the part of the GOP. He was ungrateful, the argument goes, particularly after all that they did for him and his career. For Limbaugh and others to conclude that Powell endorsed Obama merely because of race is to dismiss Powell and strip him of his honorary memebrship status. In other words, they concluded that Powell really wasn't one of "them" after all.

I have to disagree that racism is about power. If so then all those poor white trash who fill the ranks of the modern KKK, Skinhead, militia and other fringe movements are by definition not racist. I posit that racism is about privilege (or assumed privilege). In America, if you have white skin, by tradition, you are blessed with the color of privilege, regardless of your actual circumstances. So much of the racial miasma in the US is centered on the 'loss of privilege' that whites (especialy the lower classes) have experienced since the 1960's.

For those who seem to need for me to do this:

Ever since the European restructuring of the world from the 16th century on, racism has been affirmative action for whites. It is both an attitude and an act of structural superiority, which justifies its very existence by giving biological differences, such as skin color, texture of the hair, physical features; or cultural differences such as language, religion, ethnicity, or accent, a negative value and meaning.

This negative meaning then legitimizes treating the Other as inferior to oneself or ones group. The result is an objective (visible, measurable, tangible), differential (there is an obvious difference between groups), and unequal treatment (the difference in treatment is not the same), where one groups gets consistently short-changed.

The working definition for both racism and sexism is the same. Both refer to evil perpetrated against others. The only difference is that in racism, color is the rationale, excuse, or justification for oppression, while in sexism it is gender.

I can argue that racism has less to do with color than with power, and that sexism has more to do with power than sex or gender. In such a construct, biological differences are not the problem; they are merely the rationale, excuse, or justification for oppression.

To illustrate.:

IF I were to say that no person of color has ever suffered discrimination because of the color of their skin. I could conclude that if color were the problem then the solution would be to change skin color, an action which persons of color throughout history have often attempted, because of the wrong assumption that the problem was the color of their skin.

Yet, the problem is not skin color, but systems that perpetrate evil against others and then justify that evil by blaming the victims.

There is nothing wrong with the color black, brown or yellow.
Because prejudice and discrimination occur on three levels, cognitive, emotional and behavioral, we know that it is not skin color per se that forms the basis for discrimination, but the negative or positive meaning given to the color of one's skin.
Skin color ,then, can be seen as neutral; it is the mind, what we think and feel, that gives it meaning.

In this construct, women are not discriminated against because of their gender. If gender were the problem then the solution would also be to have a sex-change operation. But the problem is not gender but systems which benefit men at the expense of women and then justify the evil perpetrated by putting the blame on gender. Women are discriminated against because of the negative meaning given to their gender.

This whole process is called "blaming the victim." It is an ideological process that justifies inequality by finding defects in the victims of inequality AND having the power to make it stick.
The logical outcome of analyzing social problems in terms of the deficiencies of the victim is a simple formula for action: Change the victim!

I am mindful of the ABSURDITY of the construct in which that conclusion can be reached. We know that it is not gender or skin color that we have to change, but systems of oppression that benefit some groups at the expense of others.

What is being attempted here is the setting up of distinctions and dichotomies to accommdate and facilitate discussion and exchanges.

Racism for puposes of this discussion is the systemic, institutional, or cultural expression or manifestation of power, held by one group at the expense, and to the detriment, of another. That is the essence of Part I of our discourse. Part II of our presentation is more at prejudice and/or discrimination at the personal or indiviual level.

Discrimination and prejudice, for the purposes of this discussion occur within the context of racism and for our purposes, racism occurs as an expression or manifestation of the execise of power.

Therefor we are more concerned with the generation of discussion, discourse, and exchange than we might be with the models, constructs, or paradigms, that might be put to use. It's not about the POLEMICS OR SEMANTICS, it's about the people who need to be able to talk openly on an extremely difficult topic.

Thanks for your interest and participation.

For additional commentary on this subject, be sure to visit Faith Paulsen's blog and look at her post: "Open Dialogue On Race II"

To begin with, Colin Powell heads a wing of the splintered GOP, and it isn't Cheney's wing, not surprisingly. Race is not the primary actuator, here; the men are political rivals. Why you think this video has a thing to do with racism, really, is beyond me.

David Edgar, Thanks for taking the time to read and comment....

David A. Love in his post on Alabama Senator Sessions answers your question...He writes:
"In recent years, the Republican Party has been reduced to a regional extremist party - all-White, Christian fundamentalist, uneducated and racist."

With the recent statements of Buchanan, Cheney, and Limbaugh regarding Colin Powell, the phenomenon he cites is becoming acutely apparent. In his post he asks "...What is going on here?"
It seems to be an ideological purge of some kind. The extremists are hijacking the political apparatus of the Republican Party.

What should be cause for concern is not that it's happening, but that they don't seem to care whether they can win elections in this way. Moderate Republicans are , in effect, being told to go form another party. We may well be seeing the genesis of the formation of a third party. If this happens, with average voters being split on a roughly 50/50 basis, a third more extreme right- wing conservative party could, in years to come, hold the balance of electoral power even though they will represent a relatively small minority....

Our "Open Dialogue On Race" is designed to get OS bloggers to share their views on matters of this nature. Part III will be posted shortly and we are looking forward to Davd A. Love's contribution in Part IV.