Reverse Racism Isn’t Real

It’s important to acknowledge it doesn’t exist

Petiri Ira
Momentum

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Photo: Natalie Magee/EyeEm/Getty Images

For some people, reverse racism is an unfeigned issue in society. They believe racism can be flipped around and made subject to the people who do not have to worry about their skin color making them susceptible to discrimination.

Essentially, they hold the belief that the roles can somehow be reversed and the oppressor can become the oppressed. It is important, however, to acknowledge that this isn’t true — racism doesn’t work like that.

Yes, racism does involve someone feeling superior to another race, but that is just the tip of the enormous iceberg that follows the complexity of racism.

It starts by recognizing the definition of racism from an institutional perspective: Racism is a historically rooted system of power hierarchies based on race — upheld by institutions, society, and culture — established to benefit White people and oppress BIPOC.

The effect of racism on marginalized groups includes police brutality, racial wealth gaps, redlining, microaggressions, slavery, and colonialism.

Have any of these examples of racial oppression affected the rights of White people? No. We must understand that Black prejudice does not affect the rights of White people.

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Petiri Ira
Momentum

Bylines in Screenshot Media, gal-dem, Malalafund, Momentum, ZORA. Contact: petiriira@gmail.com