Is It Possible For Black People To Be Racist?

Yes. Yes it is. Now this is not a discussion of reverse racism, which on the other hand, is not a thing. However, in order to have what we as black Americans want today, and what Martin King wanted for us - true racial equality - we must hold ourselves accountable. Because it is possible for black people to be racist towards white people. Dictionary.com defines racism in the following terms:

1. A belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the others.
2. A policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. Hatred or intolerance of another race or other races. (1)

One of the premises of the Nation of Islam, a black Muslim movement founded by Elijah Muhammad, was not only black power, but the religious concept that black people were superior to white people and soon would gain their deserved dominance in the world. (2) This manifestation of the rare concept of black supremacy is undeniably racist, by the first definition listed. The second definition of racism is the only one that black people in America literally are not capable of; since the government and lawmakers of America are predominantly white, and historically have further the interests of white people over minorities. There is no black government to discriminate against anyone, much less white people. The final definition is also capable of being demonstrated by black people; hating or showing individual discrimination against other races, predominately white people, based on race. In summary, by definition, it is absolutely possible for black people to be racist, and it absolutely occurs in the U.S. Just like King and Gandhi argued that we cannot fight violence with violence in order to end violence, it is also true that we as black people cannot fight against racism while exhibiting racism ourselves, with the intention of ending racism. We must carefully tread the fine line between outspokenly showing our black pride and actively speaking out against the institutional racism that plagues our country and literally threatens the lives of our race, and committing hate speech and being racist towards the white people who are racist towards us.

However, most importantly: racism against white people is a much, much less severe offense than racism towards a minority. Why? Because of that - white people are not a minority. White Americans do not have to endure the systematic oppression of their entire race that has been a hallmark of society ever since they were brought here against their will as slaves. Lower percentages of white Americans experience police brutality. White people are not faced with socioeconomic inequality on a daily basis. White people are not targeted in mass incarceration. White people are not discriminated against as a race in American society. In simpler terms: the oppressor cannot be the oppressed. That is why it is not racist to say that racism towards white people is a much less severe offense. That is why it is racist to say that “All Lives Matter”. That is why it is not racist to say that “Black Lives Matter”. That is why reverse racism is not a thing. It is important that black Americans consider and remember that they should never be racist towards any other group, including white Americans. But they are not the ones who have been in a position of political, social, and economic power for the entirety of the world’s existence since the creation of civilization in Europe, and abused that power by inhumanely enslaving, segregating, incarcerating, and further discriminating against black people simply based on race.

1. "Racism." Dictionary.com. Accessed March 01, 2018. http://www.dictionary.com/browse/racism?s=t.
2. "Elijah Muhammad Biography." Encyclopedia of World Biography. Accessed March 01, 2018. http://www.notablebiographies.com/Mo-Ni/Muhammad-Elijah.html.