White supremacy

Definition

White supremacy is a belief system that holds that white people are superior to those of other racial backgrounds and should therefore dominate society. This ideology often manifests through systemic racism, social practices, and institutional policies that prioritize the interests of white individuals over others, creating significant disparities in power and privilege.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. White supremacy has historical roots in colonialism and slavery, where systems were established to enforce racial hierarchies.
2. This ideology not only influences personal beliefs but also manifests through institutional practices that disadvantage non-white individuals across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and employment.
3. Many forms of white supremacy can be overt, such as hate groups, or covert, embedded within societal structures like law enforcement and education systems.
4. Postcolonial critiques challenge Western-centric narratives that often ignore how white supremacy shapes global power dynamics and affects marginalized communities worldwide.
5. Understanding white supremacy is essential for recognizing how it intersects with other forms of oppression, impacting marginalized groups within queer theory and other critical frameworks.

Review Questions

• How does white supremacy intersect with systemic racism in contemporary society?
  • White supremacy is deeply intertwined with systemic racism as it reinforces a hierarchy that privileges white individuals while marginalizing others. This relationship creates barriers to access for non-white communities in various areas such as education, employment, and healthcare. The effects are seen in policies that disproportionately impact people of color and uphold social norms that benefit white individuals.
• Discuss the role of intersectionality in understanding the implications of white supremacy for queer theory.
  • Intersectionality plays a crucial role in understanding how white supremacy intersects with other identities like race, gender, and sexuality within queer theory. It allows for a more nuanced analysis of how individuals experience oppression differently based on their multiple identities. By applying an intersectional lens, one can see how queer individuals of color navigate unique challenges that differ from those faced by white queer individuals, thereby exposing the limitations of a solely Western-centric queer framework.
• Evaluate the impact of colonialism on the development of white supremacy and its relevance to current discussions within queer theory.
  • Colonialism laid the groundwork for white supremacy by establishing racial hierarchies that positioned whiteness as superior. This historical context is vital for understanding ongoing power dynamics and disparities experienced by marginalized communities today. In discussions within queer theory, acknowledging the colonial origins of white supremacy is essential to critique Western-centric models that fail to account for the lived experiences of non-white queer individuals. It encourages a broader perspective that includes global voices and challenges the dominance of Eurocentric narratives.

Related terms

Systemic Racism: A form of racism that is embedded in the laws and regulations of a society, leading to discrimination and inequality in various institutions.

Intersectionality:

A framework for understanding how various forms of social stratification, such as race, class, gender, and sexuality, overlap and interact to create unique experiences of oppression or privilege.

Colonialism: The practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically, often rooted in notions of racial superiority.