It was only when I attended college and later law school that I started to understand the nuanced difference between racism and white supremacy. While they are somewhat connected, they are separate concepts, and recognizing this distinction is crucial if we are to protect against what could potentially be the end of the United States as we know it.
Racism
Racism is prejudice, bigotry, and hatred based on skin color. As idiotic and pernicious as it is, it does more harm to the person harboring such groundless beliefs than the person or group to whom such hatred is directed.
I have never cared much whether a person chose to dislike me or even hate me. I have never cared whether I was invited to swim in someone’s private pool or join their private club.
In short, I have never been concerned about what you think about me unless and until it interferes with my pursuit of rights guaranteed by the flawed United States Constitution. To be sure, I will fight and die for these as so many of my ancestors have.
So don’t get it twisted. You can dislike me, even hate me, all you want. I don’t care. What you think of me does not define me. It is for this reason that I believe that the issue of racism is simply a centuries-long distraction that has kept us from focusing on the real enemy, which is not racism but White Supremacy.
White Supremacy
White supremacy, unlike racism, is a political, economic, social, cultural, and even religious ideology that has governed this nation virtually from day one. It is supported, buttressed, reinforced, and protected by an interlocking network of laws, ordinances, treaties, and customs, all European in origin and all intended to ensure control of the organs of power to white, wealthy male landowners.
Another fundamental difference between the two and a key to their longevity and effectiveness is that it is not necessary for one to be male, wealthy, or even white to support white supremacy.
Certainly, White supremacy operates to ensure that white folk, particularly wealthy white males, control the organs of power in perpetuity, but it can operate flawlessly by anyone as long as the rules it has set down are followed.
It should also be recognized that the aim of white supremacy is to perpetually maintain and control the power structures for the ruling oligarchs, as these will always be those who initially held power and their descendants, having established a governmental system that guarantees their continued dominance.
White supremacy can manifest in political and economic policies in several ways, often perpetuating systemic inequalities and maintaining the dominance of white individuals in society1. Here are a few examples: the myriad ways white supremacy may be seen are beyond the scope this article. Suffice it to say that it covers political, economic and religious policies among others bother historically and presently.
So Why Should We Be Afraid?
In his victory speech, Donald Trump has claimed an “unprecedented and powerful mandate” to govern. Whether he can accurately claim a ” powerful mandate is debatable, but other facts are not – therein lies the real danger.
- Trump has already stacked the United States Supreme Court with an ultra-conservative majority. Remember, the Supreme Court has the discretion to select the cases it will hear.
- The Supreme Court has held that the president is legally immune from prosecution for virtually all acts deemed official. Presumably, military orders, whether legal or not, would be covered.
- Trump has already appointed over 150 lower federal court judges at the district and court of appeals levels.
- There are 45 vacancies on the district court and court of appeals waiting to be filled.
- After Trump’s Project 2025 denials, he is tapping its authors and influencers for key roles in the new administration.
- Although all the votes are yet to be tallied, it appears that Trump has a majority in the Senate and will have a majority in the House of Representatives. A federal Trifecta for a president who has vowed retribution against his enemies, real or imagined.
- Trump has vowed to capture, arrest, and deport millions of undocumented migrants as soon as he takes office in January.
Finally, he will not legally be able to run for another term. What will prevent him from using the military to remain in office and declare himself President for Life? Be afraid – be very afraid!
