So I was having a chat with my friend the other day (a "millennial") and somehow we got on the topic of racism. He explained to me the difference between racism and stereotype, so I figured I'd share that with you here.
Declan: You clearly don't know the meaning of racist! Also, 99.9% of the population doesn't know the difference between racist and stereotype
Me: 99.9% of stereotypes are racist. Also, they just arrested a 14 year old girl for racism in the UK. Seriously. {2 links}
Declan: There's a clear difference
Me: Explain it to me
Declan: Stereotypes aren't necessarily racist. It's just something you might expect from a group of people. Asking if a Jew owns a deli isn't racist, just a stereotype. Stereotypes aren't necessarily about that group being inferior to yours, but about them being a certain way
Me: Asking if a Jew owns a deli is racist.
Declan: No. It's a stereotype. Asking if he owns a deli doesn't imply that you think they're inferior
Me: So like if I asked your [Irish] mom if she's an alcoholic, that's not racist.
Declan: No. Maybe you're concerned and want to help. It would be racist if you said, "Ugh. All those dumb alcoholic crackers. "
Me: I see. So if you asked a Jewish doctor if he owned a deli, that's not racist.
Declan: Not necessarily. Sometimes it just depends on how you say it
Me: I see. You think the Jewish doctor might find it racist?
Declan: If he doesn't understand the difference, sure
Me: I see. So if you asked a black guy if he owned a deli, that's neither racist nor stereotype?
Declan: No. Because there's no stereotype about black people owning delis and the question doesn't imply racism
Me: I see. So the Jewish deli thing isn't racist, it's just an assumption made about somebody because of their race.
Declan: Yes.
Me: I see. It's sorta like Affirmative Action isn't racist, it just assumes black people aren't smart enough to get into college on their own.
Me: (Because I've heard some people in the news claiming it's racist. Mostly on MSNBC though.)
Declan: It's an important difference
Me: I see. These black people don't realize that Affirmative Action isn't racist because it gives them an advantage, based on the assumption their race needs help getting into college.
Me: It's beneficial, not racist.
Declan: Indeed.
Me: Of course, it seems based on a stereotype that blacks can't get into college without help. But that's stereotype, not racism.
Declan: Yes! Finally someone who gets it!!!
Me: Yep! I think too many people get pissed at stuff they find racist when it's actually just stereotype.
Declan: Exactly. EXACTLY
Me: I imagine there was some of that baseless pissed off-ness in your [predominantly African-American] high school.
Declan: Absolutely
Me: I figured. There were a lot of blacks in your school and they're overly sensitive of race stuff.
