A fork of Rural Dictionary
Racial apathy is a form of emotional neglect toward Black, Indigenous, and people of color rooted in the biased belief that we do not feel pain. When people are viewed as "less human", it becomes easier to neglect their pain. Source: Racial Wellness, by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
The way the media view wars, disasters, and viruses in predominantly white areas as more worthy of media coverage than those affecting areas where communities of color reside is a clear sign of racial apathy.
Racial inequity speaks to the unfair distribution of resources and opportunities between white people and Black, Indigenous, and people of color. It is caused by racist structures, policies, and practices that ensure that BIPOC experience disadvantages when it comes to education, employment, healthcare, housing, and more. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
Banks perpetuate the racial inequity we see in society when they injustly deny Black people from getting mortgages and ultimately build generational wealth.
Racial triangulation as a divide-and-conquer tactic often involves blaming one community of color for another’s problems, bribing one with resources in exchange for their participation in oppressing another, and creating narratives that cultivate mistrust between them. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
An example of Racial Triangulation is when legislators created the narrative that Affirmative Action is harmful towards the Asian community in order to justify divesting it, when in reality, it actually helps all communities of color.
Racial microaggressions are derogatory messages that Black, Indigenous, and people of color continuously receive about our racial identities. They can manifest as verbal and nonverbal abuse, and they come in the form of insults, criticism, eye-rolling, ignoring, and other forms of hostility. They reflect all the ways in which people have been conditioned to negatively view Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
When she told me "you're so pretty for a Black girl" I knew I had just experienced a racial microaggression.
Racial gaslighting is when Black, Indigenous, and people of color confront the ways they have experienced racism, and an individual, group, or institution (such as the media, legal system, or government) tries to make them doubt their experience, often to maintain control, avoid taking accountability, or conduct normalized racial abuse. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
Ella realized that when Bryan tried to deny her lived experiences with racism, he was subjecting her to racial gaslighting.
Racial othering is when white people are treated as the norm, while Black, Indigenous, and people of color are treated as “different.”It stems from a phenomenon called the white default, which defines white people as the standard for behavior, appearance, and culture. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
It bothers me when people ask me "Where are you REALLY from?" It's a form of racial othering.
Racial fear is the irrational fear that Black, Indigenous, and people of color are dangerous. It often shows up as unpredictable and harmful reactions directed at communities of color. Racial fear actually endangers Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Source: Racial Wellness, a book by Jacquelyn Ogorchukwu Iyamah
When the white woman on the sidewalk clutched her purse as I walked passed, I knew she was exhibiting racial fear.