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The definition of "racism" must not be formulated based on who the perpetrators are.
Richard Stallman
February 2022
On the definition of racism
-- Richard Stallman
The Anti-Defamation League has corrected a
race-biased definition of
"racism".
The former definition was itself racist, because it made the
identities of perpetrators and victims part of the definition. That
violated the super-principle that principles must apply to everyone
alike. In other words, a fundamental category of wrong cannot be
predicated on the identity of those that commit it, or the identity of
its victims.
If we want to argue that actions are wrong because they are racist, as
we should, the definition of racism must be formulated in terms of
what some people do to other people, not in terms of who does it or
to whom.
The ADL's new definition, when persons are﹃persecuted, demeaned or
discriminated against because of their identity,﹄is a good choice of
what to campaign against: it includes prejudice against any identity
group whatsoever. But I think it is mistaken to use the word "racism"
for that generality. For instance, what about sexism: do we want to
describe women (or men) collectively as a "race"? What about bigotry
against a religion: Buddhists, Catholics and Muslims are not "races".
(Those religions will accept anyone whatsoever as a convert.)
Instead of stretching "racism" to fit this definition, we should use
another term. It could be "group hatred", or "disprivileging".
Copyright (c) 2022 Richard Stallman
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