by Shirl Whitfield

Created on: June 26, 2010   Last Updated: July 25, 2010

The language of racism exists in every day conversation because of our refusal to move from our self-imposed racial separatism. Generally speaking, in this era of “post racism” we still remain steadfast in our refusal to step beyond racial boundaries and actually talk to and understand each other.  

Racism loosely defined is the act of hating or feeling superior over another race because of differences.  That said, how does racism acquire its own language if we have in fact bridged the gap in communication and acceptance of each other? 

There are statements that when uttered convey hate in the form of a threat or claim of racial superiority.  Never should statements of this nature be accepted, tolerated or given a platform to.  Then there are the other statements, phrases, words and even customs that don't threaten but do taunt, tease and tempt a reaction from other races.  These too have been coined the language of racism.  These are the statements we have spawned and incorporated into the vocabulary of our respective races selfishly protecting as our own. 

As different races we choose to remain separate by claiming phrases that we deem only appropriate for our specific race to speak.  We define our territories by living only amongst our own race.  Sometimes, we stubbornly refuse to speak anything other than our native language, even when choosing a new country to live in.  Often, we steadfastly dress only in clothing specific to our race and eat food that is prevalent to our race.

While we draw our defiant, territorial lines in the proverbial sand, we are stating this is who we are and you aren't allowed to enter into our world.  You can't enter to live, play, visit and sometimes even work.  You aren't allowed to appreciate our differences and celebrate or embrace our uniqueness. 

We seem perfectly content living this way, each race selfishly guarding our language and keeping our traditions separate in our private environments.  Now comes that moment when our races must mingle, for example reluctantly in the workplace and one race makes a racially specifically comment and NOW there is a problem. 

Rather than engage in dialogue, we self righteously climb our comfortable little soap box and cry foul in our most indignant voice and claim insensitivity to our racial boundaries.  Our social feathers are ruffled so we defiantly point our finger, self-righteously casting blame to the other side.  The “other side” is resolutely defiant because the perceived offense is owned by their own and therefore acceptable to speak and will remain acceptable as long as it is safely guarded and uttered in the confines of the race that gave birth to it.  

And so our racial boundaries remain just that, lines drawn claiming ownership to words, phrases and customs.  These lines create a separatism that while comforting to us, is at the same time weaving the language of racism deep into our social fabric and preventing true diversity. Until we take steps to talk to and understand each other, it will continue to provoke us, keep us at odds with one another and fodders an excuse to remain separate from each one another.  

Learn more about this author, Shirl Whitfield.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.