Things that shit me #10- Racism

There are many, many things that shit me about racism, but today I'll run through why it fails the basic logic test.

Racism is:

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.

- thefreedictionary.com

 

To believe that a particular trait or behaviour is present across a "race" of people assumes that you can

i) show that the person is a member of that group (A= the person is of (X) race)

ii) attribute presence of the trait (B= presence of trait (Y))

 

To apply this to an example would be: "All Asians (A(X)) are bad drivers (B(Y))".

Aside from the glaringly obvious to most- that it's not only highly biased and improbable, but for the arguement to be valid- you must also assume things like all Asians must drive. If you do not partake in an activity, you cannot be either good or bad at it.

 

When hearing this, the racist thinks- yes, I have seen many Asians driving, and indeed I have noticed bad Asian driving. Like the infamous pink elephant- it's all you can notice. Thus, a self-selection bias is introduced- the racist may see 200 bad drivers in a week, but the 3 of them who were Asian stick in their mind and are remembered.

 

Then they mistakenly invert the equation:  I saw a bad driver (B(Y)); that driver must be Asian (A(X)). Still, the racist finds this coherent with their belief system, it remains unchallenged by most and the reverse logic enforces itself.

 

Put this in another context- The sky (A) is blue (B). If A, then B. Reverse it- If blue (B) it is the sky (A). If B, then A. Ridiculous- obviously, as all blue cars, objects etc.. no more needs to be said.

 

Oh but you're oversimplifying it- of course the sky isn't always blue.

If the sky (A) is cloudy(Y), then it is grey (B). But what about sunset or night time?

What if you were born blind, and have no concept of what blue, grey, black or white are?

 

So how do you even prove A?

The person is, to use the same example- Asian.

Are you saying

- they were born in Asia: Perhaps their parents were British, temporarily working there, does that make them Asian?

- they were born to Asian parents: what if they were using donor gametes?

- the had at least one Asian parent/ grandparent/ descendant: what percentage/ proportion would you draw the line as constituting membership of the group you are trying to define?

 

The arguements, when challenged, do not add up.