The Definitions of Racism

CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

A. The Definitions of Racism

Before discussing about racial practices it is better to know what racism really is. For that study this chapter will describe the definition of racism, racism in Mississippi, and reflection theory of racism point by point. This division used to make comprehensive understanding about the Mississippi Burning movie discussed in the next chapter. For every section the writer will give general explanation about the point below with no detail. In general, racism has many definitions. The most common view of racism widely accepted as the belief that humans are divided into more than one race, with members of some races being intrinsically superior or inferior to members of other races. The term of racism it self has much definition. In so far there is no definitely term of racism. It is due to many people with variety and different background who see racism as something bias to concept about. There is no one single term for this racism. For the most common view explain that racism always refers to race-based prejudice, discrimination, violence, or oppression. Racialism is a related term intended to avoid these negative meanings. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, 5 racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another race or races. The Merriam-Websters Websters Dictionary 6 defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief. The Macquarie Dictionary 7 defines racism thus: the belief that human races have distinctive characteristics which determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that ones own race is superior and has the right to rule or dominate others. Racism not only local problem but also has rooted for long time ago as old as human history. That is why racism considered as one of the most important issues in twentieth century. In 1966 United Nations held world conventions discussed about racism. As the result, this forum makes good comprehension about the term of racism as follow. “The term racial discrimination shall mean any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, color, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural or any other field of public life. 8 5 Oxford English Dictionary. 6 The Merriam-Websters Websters Dictionary. 7 Macquarie Dictionary. 8 See. UN International Convention on the Elimination of All of Racial Discrimination, New York 7 March 1966. This legal definition does not make any difference between prosecutions based on ethnicity and race, in part because the distinction between the ethnicity and race remains debatable among anthropologists. According to British law, racial group means any group of people who are defined by reference to their race, color, nationality including citizenship or ethnic or national origin. 9 Racism as practices happened in society also become interest of social scientist or sociologist. Some sociologists have defined racism as a system of group privilege. According to David Wellman, American sociology, in his book Portraits of White Racism has defined racism as culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities. 10 Sociologist and former American Sociological Association president Joe Feagin argues that the United States can be characterized as a total racist society because racism is used to organize every social institution. 11 More recently, Feagin has articulated a comprehensive theory of racial oppression in the U.S. in his book Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression . Feagin examines how major institutions have been built upon racial oppression which was not an accident of history, but was 9 http:www.cps.gov.ukpublicationsprosecutionrrpbcrbook.html accessed on December 20, 2008. 10 David T. Wellman, Portraits of White Racism New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993, p. x. 11 Joe R. Feagin, Racist America: Roots, Current Realities, and Future Reparations New York: Routledge, 2000. created intentionally by white Americans. 12 This example can be traced in court practice as the black people prohibited become jury or witness. In Feagins view, white Americans labored hard to create a system of racial oppression in the 17th century and have worked diligently to maintain the system ever since. While Feagin acknowledges that changes have occurred in this racist system over the centuries, he contends that key and fundamental elements have been reproduced over nearly four centuries, and that U.S. institutions today reflect the racialized hierarchy created in the 17 th century. Today, as in the past, racial oppression is not just a surface-level feature of this society, but rather pervades, permeates, and interconnects all major social groups, networks, and institutions across the society. Feagins definition stands in sharp contrast to psychological definitions that assume racism is an attitude or an irrational form of bigotry that exists apart from the organization of social structure. From many explanation about racism viewed by many scholar give us rich understanding that racism consist of belief, organized system of race-based group privilege that at every level of society and is held together by a sophisticated ideology of color race supremacy. According to Cazenave and Maddern, American sociologist, 12 Joe R. Feagin, Systemic Racism: A Theory of Oppression New York” Routledge, 2006. those racist systems include, but cannot be reduced to, racial bigotry. 13 And we know better at glance that slavery as the rooted of racism existed in the United States.

B. Racism in Mississippi 1. Historical Racism of Mississippi