Does the term “racist” actually depend on your skin color?

Filed under Political Correctness

We just finished Black History Month (February).  Now, I see this story in the Chicago Tribune:

Maggie Anderson drives 14 miles to buy groceries, which might seem curious given that she lives in bustling Oak Park. She and her husband, John, patronize gas stations in Rockford and Phoenix, Ill. They travel 18 miles to a health food store in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood for vitamins, supplements and personal care products.

The reason? They want to solve what they call "the crisis in the black community." They want to, as they say, "buy black."

The Andersons, African-Americans who rose from humble means, are attempting to spend their money for one year exclusively with black-owned businesses and are encouraging other African-Americans to do the same. It is part experiment, part social activism campaign.

They call it the "Ebony Experiment."

So, in the spirit (like many before me), let me ask the Very Politically Incorrect questions: does being a racist depend only on your skin color?  If I said the same thing, except with a change in skin color, would I be classified as a racist? 

I make the observation only that until we all truly become color-blind, this will continue to happen over and over again.  I agree, helping out certain businesses can be a good thing – of COURSE I patronize certain establishments over others due to costs, quality, and the relationship that I may have with the owners or the staff.

But does color play a role in my choice?  No.

‘Cause if I did, some people would be using a specific term thrown in my general direction.  And they would be right.