Racism and Prejudice Essay

Camara Harell’s excerpt, â€Å"The Meaning and Impact of Racism,† addresses the distinct difference between prejudice and racism. Many people have a misconception of what racism is, and repeatedly use the two words interchangeably. Harell has provided a framework that explains the true definitions, and also explains what it takes to be labeled, by definition, a â€Å"racist.† People generally confuse the meanings of prejudice and racism, and do not fully understand how to use each word in the proper manner. However, there is a huge difference in what each word means. Social psychologist, James Jones, describes prejudice as a â€Å"negative attitude toward a person or group based upon a social comparison process in which the individual’s own group is taken as the positive point of reference† (Jones, 1991). Prejudice is having preconceived judgment and an irrational hostility towards a group without having fair reasoning or adequate knowledge; it is a thought and opinion, and not necessarily an action upon that individual or group. Harell argues that it is â€Å"inappropriate to use the terms racism and prejudice synonymously† (1999). Racism is defined as using a force of power against an â€Å"inferior† racial group with the aid of an entire culture (Harell, 1999). It is neither an idea or notion, but rather the power and act up on suppressing a racial group. Harell and Jones provide informative, intellectual reasoning that differentiates prejudice and racism. The main difference being that prejudice is mostly a thought and opinion, while racism is a verb and is the act of subjugating a group. Works Cited Harell, Camara. (1999). The Meaning and Impact of Racism. Manichean Psychology: Racism and the Minds of African Descent, pages 1-14. Jones, James. (1991). Racism: A Cultural Analysis of the Problem. In Black Psychology, 3d ed., ed. R. Jones, 609-36. Berkeley: Cobb and Henry.