What is 'racism'?

So I wanted to write a blog about racism, but I immediately ran into a problem: I could not find a simple working definition for the topic. dictionary.reference.com defines racism as "a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races  determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others." the next two definitions mention "discrimination," "hatred" and "intolerance." This definition is important, but it is rather extreme and is not necessarily what I want to talk about in my blog.

Merriam-webster.com defines racism as "a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race." The next definition mentions "prejudice" and "discrimination." This is somewhat similar to the previous definition, but it's still not what I'm looking for. These two definitions talk about thinking ones race is superior to others, but it doesn't necessarily include the kinds of racial stereotypes that people might have about Asians being superior at math or being obedient students, or African Americans being superior at dancing or at sports. These types of stereotypes don't appear to consider the stereotyped race as "inferior," but I would argue that they are indeed racist (or perhaps some other term that I am not aware of).

There is also a definition for racism that I was recently introduced to in a Asian American studies class lecture which is that racism is equal to prejudice plus power. In other words, you can't be racist if you don't have both prejudicial thoughts and institutional power. So in the US, any persons of color can't be racist by this definition (if you agree that whites have the institutional power in this country).


Prejudice + Power = Racism. It's simple and it seems to make sense, but I still feel like it's a lacking definition if it's not going to allow me as a person of color or any other persons of color to be considered racist.


Then I ran into the term racialism. This term was completely unheard of to me before I started researching. merriam-webster.com defined it as "a theory that race determines human traits and capacities." This definition is along the lines of what I feel I want this blog to be about, but I would also like to include one little addition. So that it would be "a theory that race influences or determines human traits and capacities." This is simply because not everyone feels that race determines traits, but I'm willing to bet that there are many who sometimes (consciously or unconsciously) think that race might influence one's behavior or ability.


Perhaps the term I am looking for is 'racial prejudice.' Prejudice being defined in the second definition by dictionary.reference.com as "any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable." This might match what I am hoping to talk about in my blog and would indeed include both positive and negative stereotypes.


If you have any information that you could share--maybe on more commonly accepted definitions of racism or racialism--or maybe you know the term that I might be looking for please feel free to respond below and educate me.