Racetalk

Historical Background

Historical examinations of the slave trade, plantation life, and “expansion” into the West reveal that Whites had no qualms about their use of derogatory language and ethnic labels—Black Americans were property, not humans; American Indians were red-devils and so forth. Hence, there were no reasons for concern about their usage or effects. Opprobrious words such as the term “nigger” entered the U.S. lexicon in the late 1700s, only to be later joined by “wop,” “kike,” “chink,” and “spic.” Today their open use is seen as immoral.

The Civil Rights Movement marked a new era of racial discourse—one in which saying racist things or even hinting at racist talk is dimly viewed. Indeed, there has been a dramatic climate change since the Jim Crow era. Survey research during the past several decades indicates that White Americans may be becoming more liberal on their views on race—the rates of those who publicly profess adherence to the most denigrating racial stereotypes are on the decline. However, these survey data have been criticized for systematically underestimating prejudice among White Americans today. Given social pressures toward so-called political correctness, several authors argue that survey data reflect Whites' reluctance to openly express racist sentiment to researchers. More implicit psychological measures of racial attitudes do reveal that racial prejudice is alive and well among White Americans. Several scholars illustrate that the most offensive racetalk has moved [Page 1101]underground—into “backstage” areas to be shared only among family, friends, and others with similar racialized worldviews.

Racetalk as Private Discourse

The transformation of racetalk is characterized by what some scholars called modern racism—anti-Black attitudes disguised with an abating acceptance of negatively expressed attitudes. Egalitarian self-presentational styles or public “frontstage” appearances conceal more racist or stereotypical notions about racial relations or groups of color, which are expressed in private or “backstage” settings among White Americans, according to this view.

Studies that have gained access to Whites' everyday private settings demonstrate how racetalk operates today. Whites' casual discourse reveals that racist speech and sentiment—for many Whites—has moved out of sight. Although most Whites would never say racial epithets among strangers or people of color, among all-White circles of friends and family, they are more common. One study noted a college student who heard the term “nigger” twenty-seven times in one day among friends and family. These ethnographic and participant observation studies have shown that racial jokes, stereotypes, and disparaging beliefs are still common in Whites' everyday conversation. However, this racetalk is downplayed as harmless joking. Racetalk helps to maintain the racial hierarchy as groups of color continue to be targets of prejudice and discrimination through everyday speech.

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