Reversed Racism

Reversed racism is a controversial contention in which members of a dominant racial group allege racism and discrimination targeted toward them by, or on behalf of, a subordinate or minority racial group. That is, members of a dominant racial group contend that they are being victimized on the basis of their race. Reversed racism can be considered to be a subclass of reversed discrimination, in which members of any majority group feel discriminated against by a minority group, as in, for example, reversed sexism or reversed ageism. As with other forms of reversed discrimination, individuals, groups, or governments can practice reversed racism. In the history of the United States the dominant racial group has been White people. The concept of reversed racism entails White people alleging that they are discriminated against by virtue of being White. For example, a White individual may feel that African Americans are given preferential treatment in hiring or admission criteria and thus allege that those preferences constitute reversed racism.

The concept of reversed racism has been highly controversial, with some scholars debating the validity of the construct. For some, a key component of the definition of racism entails the recognition of the socioeconomic power to put racist beliefs into action in a systemic way. This definition of racism explicitly focuses on the power differential between Whites and racial minorities. Although persons of color may hold prejudices, they lack political, economic, and societal power, and consequently, according to this definition racial minorities, on the whole, lack the power to be racist. Further undermining the concept of reversed racism is the fact that many question the construct of race itself. For example, some scholars contend that race is a social construction that lacks a scientific basis and exists primarily to preserve power and privilege. Therefore, if racism is a social construction, then under a social constructionist definition, reversed racism is also a social construction that ultimately serves to protect and preserve the power of the dominant racial group. Often underlying the issue of race in the United States is the concept of racial salience—the belief that race is an essential part of identity of racial minorities and a nonessential, optional, and unspoken part of the identity of Whites. As a result, when racial minorities seek to overtly address the issue of racism, they are often labeled racist or as practicing reversed racism or labeled as “race baiters.”

While some may question the legitimacy and basis of reversed racism, the term seems to have prominently entered the public discourse in many arenas. For example, to address past racial discrimination and current systemic inequities in health, education, and employment, there may be a need to provide access to health care, jobs, and education previously denied to racial minorities. Such attempts to “level the playing field” mitigate the inherent advantages and privileges of White people. Systemic attempts to provide access and opportunity to racial minorities are often targeted on a systemic level yet may be perceived on an individual level by an individual White person who feels he or she personally has been denied a position or opportunity given to racial minority. Consequently, the individual may present a challenge based on the allegation of reversed racism, frequently seeking a legal remedy. An issue that is often overlooked is that the allegation of reversed racism may emanate from racist beliefs. That is, some White individuals may (consciously or not) endorse racist beliefs in the inherent superiority of Whites and resulting inferiority of other racial groups and therefore may interpret the success of racial minorities as possible only through means of reverse racism. This type of circular reasoning is self-reinforcing.

...