So the recent discussion in the Random News Article Thread, as well as one of my favorite comedy bits ever, prompted me into making this thread in the hopes of some good, mature discussion. I know, silly hope on the internet, but I have faith.
What I want to do here i define what makes something racist. Does simply displaying an image associated with racism make you racist? Does saying a derogatory word make you racist? Is the intent what really matters? Or is it something else entirely?"
For those who don't know, the recent discussion in the Random News Thread has been about some kids who showed up to their school's "white-out" for a hockey in KKK hoods. Go read the discussion if you haven't: http://apforums.net/showthread.php?t=9390&page=388&p=2822799&viewfull=1#post2822799
The comedy bit I was referring to earlier is this:
Here we have Louis C.K. discussing "The N-Word." No, not "Nigger." "The N-Word."
How is saying "the n-word" any different than flat out saying Nigger? Everyone knows what you mean by it. Everyone's thinking the word you won't say. If I were to angrily call a black man "n-word" would he be any less angry?
The biggest question here is, were those dumbass kids racist just for wearing the outfit? Does a substitution for a derogatory word make it better? Should I be offended when a friend tells me the stupid "Dego wop wop wop wop" Italian tire joke even though I know it's all in good fun? If not, should I be offended when someone I know hates Italians tells me the same joke?
There are numerous examples that I'm sure each of you can think of more.
Once again, what I want to know is what you think defines racism.
For me, racism truly and completely lies in the intent. I think that angrily calling a black man "n-word" is just as bad as calling him a nigger. I don't think that putting on a KKK outfit makes you racist. I think burning a cross in a black man's yard while wearing it does.
A word is just a word. Clothing is just clothing. That's all it can ever be. We are the ones who make them more than that, and it's when that intent is loaded on that a these plain old things become racist. Yes there is undeniable history behind these things that give them a racist connotation, and that is hard to get past. But one has to wonder when we're another 100-200 years removed from this, will those same connotations still be as strong, if they're there at all?
Disclaimer: I'm not saying that just because there's no ill intent behind these images or words that it makes it okay to say them. I'm certainly not going to walk around saying nigger or wearing a KKK hood.
So, what are everyone else's thoughts on the matter. What makes something racist?