Race has undergone many definitions throughout history from skin colour to class and then again skin colour. Many early colonisers chiefly from Europe, Portugal, Britain, France and Spain raided sub-Saharan Africa stealing millions into slavery to their various colonies. The Belgium colonisers of the Congo used an unspecified number of slaves effectively enslaving the entire population. King Leopold ll between 1885 and 1908 used the Congo as his personal propertied land enslaving the entire population in effect within their own territory.
It was the German Third Reich, 19333-45, who resurrected the race based on appearances theory, Jewish people had, according to the Nazis, larger noses than non-Jews, black people were inherently inferior to Germans. Black Prisoners of War (POWs) during the Second World War suffered very badly at the hands of their inherently racist Nazi captors. These soldiers were from the French colonies and were used to fight for the very country which had colonised them, stealing lands and people alike. The subjects are far too long to cover here as one cannot be examined here with any clarity due to the sub sections involving all three closely related topics.
‘Reverse racism’ is something that can be looked at here as the concept is often used and invented by would be white supremacists to justify their hate filled spite. Early anthropologists wrongly concluded black people to be closely related to apes basing their erroneous findings on skull shape and the appearance of some developed apes, chimpanzees, gorillas, and baboons which do bear some resemblance to human beings, all human beings not just black people and those of colour. Humans, again all humans not just non-whites, share a very large percentage of genes with great apes with around 98 per cent of their DNA with Chimpanzees.
Of course this narrative does not suit the fascist/racist far-right agenda. They maintain or pretend to maintain that the similarities between apes and humans apply only to non-white peoples basing these false findings on such aspects as height, skin colour, hair, facial features etc. Many white people bear some similarities to apes as do some non-whites as we are genetically close. Yet racism is a predominantly white concept fuelled by far-right supposed politicians and some elements within the bourgeoisie to divide white workers from black employees thus preventing any solidarity within the working-class. Having whipped working-class people into a frenzy these street orators, like Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson (real name Stephen Christopher Yaxley Lennon) in Britian to the Justin Barrett types in Ireland are building support bases on these sick ideas. Barret would not deny being racist but others like Herman Kelly, a founder of the misleadingly titled Irish Freedom Party, would deny being racist. Kelly was once employed as a press officer for Nigel Farage, leader of the Reform UK party.
The concept of racism was once depicted, in the 19th century, by class. For example, the business classes perceived the working class as a different ‘race’ to themselves. Prior to 1832 the aristocracy in Britain saw themselves a superior ‘race’ to all others. This changed as the bourgeoisie began their rise through the Industrial Revolution to power, many receiving the vote in 1832. They too then saw themselves as a superior ‘race’ to those who grafted for long hours in their factories. The ideas of racialisation of black people are used by revisionist historians who revisit the days of colonialism proving those peoples of sub-Saharan Africa are an inferior ‘race’ to the whites. There is absolutely no evidence to support these erroneous claims. It is true that only black people were enslaved as chattel slaves while white people, many Irish, were indentured servants.
The concept of racism was once depicted, in the 19th century, by class. For example, the business classes perceived the working class as a different ‘race’ to themselves. Prior to 1832 the aristocracy in Britain saw themselves a superior ‘race’ to all others. This changed as the bourgeoisie began their rise through the Industrial Revolution to power, many receiving the vote in 1832. They too then saw themselves as a superior ‘race’ to those who grafted for long hours in their factories. The ideas of racialisation of black people are used by revisionist historians who revisit the days of colonialism proving those peoples of sub-Saharan Africa are an inferior ‘race’ to the whites. There is absolutely no evidence to support these erroneous claims. It is true that only black people were enslaved as chattel slaves while white people, many Irish, were indentured servants.
The existence of the indentured servant was little better than a slave but they did have certain minimal legal rights which slaves did not. White indentured servants could be flogged but not to death or even within an inch of their lives whereas black slaves suffered regular floggings often being flogged to death. There are recordings of indentured servants taking their master to court because he took the whip to them too severely and winning their case with minimum compensation. Slaves who were considered ‘savages’ and ‘belonging up trees’ were not given these very basic legal rights. Domestic pets such as dogs received better treatment than did some slaves by their masters. Indentured Servants were as such for a temporary limited period whereas slaves would die as slaves, a life sentence. White people could not be seen as slaves and the status of indentured servant could be challenged in the courts if the length of servitude was considered too long.
The indentured servant would not live a happy life but they were not slaves as some right-wing revisionists would have us believe. Such revised history is a part of the ‘reverse racism’ concept: the ‘we had it as bad and worse than black people’ myth! Such racist remarks as n------ and savages referring to black people is blatant racism denied by some on the far-right. If a black person makes negative remark about white people suggesting whites are not as good in athletics particularly track and field as black athletes it cannot be put in the same league as the racist remarks describing black people as ‘monkeys’ who belong ‘up tree’s’. No comparison in the two remarks and though the comparison in sport may be considered ‘ethnocentric’ it is not racist. Those races who suffered historically through having first their lands then their peoples stolen by the white colonisers are those suffering from racism today. The fascist/racist right try to compare such remarks made by blacks about whites as ‘black anti-white racism’ which it is not. They use such arguments to justify their vile racist arguments which, alas, are gaining traction in Britain and Ireland among ordinary people who would not consider themselves racist. They follow and vote for such reactionaries as one time ‘Official Sinn Fein’ activist now arch right-wing preacher, Malachy Steenson, who has jumped across from a left-wing position to one of racist. He would argue against this, claiming not to be ‘racist’.
When a group of people or even individuals become ‘racialised’ because historically they had little or no power it is seen by some whites to be the case today explaining why white people are superior which is nonsense. Unfortunately more and more otherwise decent people are subscribing to such reactionary views. Such ideas have always been present but only among a tiny minority. In Dail Eireann, 1943, fine Gael TD Oliver J. Flanagan made his antisemitic speech about ‘Bees and Honey’ and ‘Jews and Money’ but very few paid him any attention. Twenty-five years later in the British Parliament Conservative right-wing MP, Enoch Powel, in 1968, made his famous racist ‘Rivers of Blood’ oration which, for a short time, did gather support as fascist groups like the National Front (NF) resurfaced. Anti-fascist groups during the seventies kicked them off the streets. Unfortunately, certainly in Ireland, such opposition does not appear to be present. Very concerning indeed!
Between the 1500s and early 1800s around 12 million slaves were stolen from sub-Saharan Africa into slavery by the Europeans. Portugal led the charge with 5.7 million to their colonies chiefly Brazil. Britain followed with 3.2 million to their colonies in the West Indies and North America. France then rowed in at 1.5 million with Spain not to be left out stealing around 1 million souls for slave labour. It is these colonising days which are the roots of racism against people of colour as their white colonisers, despite poorer health and fitness, were considered superior to these enslaved natives. In reality it was gun powder and fire arms which gave the colonisers the advantage and nothing to do with racial superiority. There is only one race on earth and that is the human race within which there are many ethnicities and cultures.
The far-right and fascist right use the non-existent ‘reverse racism’ argument to explain and justify their own remarks about race. This concept argues black people are as bad to white people and therefore it is perfectly alright to call the blacks ‘savages’. Of course this is certainly not the case and any remarks coming from non-whites about whites tends to be a reaction to the racism suffered by these people. ‘Reverse Racism’ is a myth pedalled by the fascists/racists, that is those intelligent enough to pronounce it, and only a myth. Like most myths it is easy to destroy using basic history let alone academic achievements made by non-white people. The unfortunate aspect about this myth is it is easy to orate and people alas do listen and believe simply because the arguments are simple!
The indentured servant would not live a happy life but they were not slaves as some right-wing revisionists would have us believe. Such revised history is a part of the ‘reverse racism’ concept: the ‘we had it as bad and worse than black people’ myth! Such racist remarks as n------ and savages referring to black people is blatant racism denied by some on the far-right. If a black person makes negative remark about white people suggesting whites are not as good in athletics particularly track and field as black athletes it cannot be put in the same league as the racist remarks describing black people as ‘monkeys’ who belong ‘up tree’s’. No comparison in the two remarks and though the comparison in sport may be considered ‘ethnocentric’ it is not racist. Those races who suffered historically through having first their lands then their peoples stolen by the white colonisers are those suffering from racism today. The fascist/racist right try to compare such remarks made by blacks about whites as ‘black anti-white racism’ which it is not. They use such arguments to justify their vile racist arguments which, alas, are gaining traction in Britain and Ireland among ordinary people who would not consider themselves racist. They follow and vote for such reactionaries as one time ‘Official Sinn Fein’ activist now arch right-wing preacher, Malachy Steenson, who has jumped across from a left-wing position to one of racist. He would argue against this, claiming not to be ‘racist’.
When a group of people or even individuals become ‘racialised’ because historically they had little or no power it is seen by some whites to be the case today explaining why white people are superior which is nonsense. Unfortunately more and more otherwise decent people are subscribing to such reactionary views. Such ideas have always been present but only among a tiny minority. In Dail Eireann, 1943, fine Gael TD Oliver J. Flanagan made his antisemitic speech about ‘Bees and Honey’ and ‘Jews and Money’ but very few paid him any attention. Twenty-five years later in the British Parliament Conservative right-wing MP, Enoch Powel, in 1968, made his famous racist ‘Rivers of Blood’ oration which, for a short time, did gather support as fascist groups like the National Front (NF) resurfaced. Anti-fascist groups during the seventies kicked them off the streets. Unfortunately, certainly in Ireland, such opposition does not appear to be present. Very concerning indeed!
Between the 1500s and early 1800s around 12 million slaves were stolen from sub-Saharan Africa into slavery by the Europeans. Portugal led the charge with 5.7 million to their colonies chiefly Brazil. Britain followed with 3.2 million to their colonies in the West Indies and North America. France then rowed in at 1.5 million with Spain not to be left out stealing around 1 million souls for slave labour. It is these colonising days which are the roots of racism against people of colour as their white colonisers, despite poorer health and fitness, were considered superior to these enslaved natives. In reality it was gun powder and fire arms which gave the colonisers the advantage and nothing to do with racial superiority. There is only one race on earth and that is the human race within which there are many ethnicities and cultures.
The far-right and fascist right use the non-existent ‘reverse racism’ argument to explain and justify their own remarks about race. This concept argues black people are as bad to white people and therefore it is perfectly alright to call the blacks ‘savages’. Of course this is certainly not the case and any remarks coming from non-whites about whites tends to be a reaction to the racism suffered by these people. ‘Reverse Racism’ is a myth pedalled by the fascists/racists, that is those intelligent enough to pronounce it, and only a myth. Like most myths it is easy to destroy using basic history let alone academic achievements made by non-white people. The unfortunate aspect about this myth is it is easy to orate and people alas do listen and believe simply because the arguments are simple!
Racism exists in society as an accepted though nauseous concept. Reverse Racism is a figment of the imagination in the minds of some far-right activists and is not a recognised analytical concept and is not accepted as a formal sociological or political term in academic fields. A myth is what it is and a myth is what it will remain existing only in the minds of the committed racists!
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| Caoimhin O’Muraile is Independent Socialist Republican and Marxist. |
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