White Supremacy

Definition

White supremacy is a belief system that promotes the idea that white people are superior to those of other racial backgrounds and should therefore dominate society. This ideology underpins systemic racism and influences social, political, and economic structures, creating inequalities that intersect with other forms of discrimination such as sexism and classism.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. White supremacy is often manifested through hate groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, which promote violence and discrimination against non-white individuals.
2. The ideology has historical roots in colonialism and slavery, where white people claimed superiority over indigenous peoples and enslaved Africans.
3. White supremacy is not only an individual belief but also a structural issue, influencing laws, policies, and practices that disproportionately harm marginalized groups.
4. This belief system can be reinforced through cultural narratives in media, education, and politics that center white experiences while marginalizing others.
5. Contemporary discussions about white supremacy often include its intersection with nationalism, as many who hold these beliefs advocate for exclusive national identities based on race.

Review Questions

• How does white supremacy intersect with systemic racism to affect various communities?
  • White supremacy feeds into systemic racism by creating structures that privilege white individuals over others in various areas such as education, employment, and law enforcement. This intersection means that communities of color face barriers not only from individual acts of discrimination but also from policies that uphold these inequities. For instance, minority groups may experience higher rates of poverty due to discriminatory hiring practices, which are a direct result of the systemic frameworks established by white supremacist ideologies.
• Discuss the impact of intersectionality on the experiences of individuals affected by white supremacy.
  • Intersectionality plays a crucial role in understanding how individuals experience oppression under white supremacy. For example, a Black woman may face unique challenges that stem from both her race and gender, leading to compounded discrimination in various aspects of life. This means that while all marginalized groups suffer under white supremacy, the specific ways in which they are affected can vary significantly based on their intersecting identities such as race, gender, class, and sexual orientation.
• Evaluate the role of contemporary social movements in combating white supremacy and its manifestations in society.
  • Contemporary social movements like Black Lives Matter actively challenge white supremacy by addressing systemic inequalities and advocating for racial justice. These movements utilize both grassroots activism and digital platforms to raise awareness about police brutality, economic disparity, and the need for comprehensive policy reforms. By highlighting the interconnectedness of various forms of discrimination through an intersectional lens, these movements aim to dismantle not just individual acts of racism but the entire system that supports white supremacist ideologies.

Related terms

Systemic Racism: A form of racism embedded in the policies and practices of societal institutions that perpetuate racial inequality and disadvantage non-white populations.

Intersectionality:

A framework for understanding how various forms of discrimination, such as race, gender, and class, overlap and interact to create unique experiences of oppression for individuals.

Alt-Right: A loosely connected far-right movement known for promoting white supremacist ideologies, often using social media to spread their messages and recruit new members.