Just A Little Lesson On Racism

rac ism–noun

1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule 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.
Origin: 1865–70; (Dictionary.com UnabridgedBased on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009)


1. The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
2. Discrimination or prejudice based on race. (The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth EditionCopyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company)

The belief that some races are inherently superior (physically, intellectually, or culturally) to others and therefore have a right to dominate them. In the United States, racism, particularly by whites against blacks, has created profound racial tension and conflict in virtually all aspects of American society. Until the breakthroughs achieved by the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, white domination over blacks was institutionalized and supported in all branches and levels of government, by denying blacks their civil rights and opportunities to participate in political, economic, and social communities. (The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third EditionCopyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company)

[emphasis added]

Trent Lott = racist. Trent Lott comment over which he was forced to resign (by the Bush Administration, I might add): "I want to say this about my state: when Strom Thurmond ran for President, we voted for him. We're proud of it. And if the rest of the country had followed our lead, we wouldn't have had all these problems over all these years, either."

Strom Thurmond was a staunch segregationist, something he never tried to hide. His beliefs clearly encompassed the definitions of racist and racism listed above.

Harry Reid? His comment that has the righties' panties all in a bunch? Racist? Don't make me laugh.

I find it funny that lately people just throw around the word "racist" or "racism" when they actually have no idea what the words really mean, or the fact that it doesn't always relate to the African-American population.