Was ist systemischer Rassismus?
Suchen Sie nach einer schnellen Orientierung zu systemischem Rassismus von einem Sozialethiker und einer bi-racial Bewohnerin der Schweiz? Dann lesen Sie weiter!
Demonstranten vor dem lokalen Polizeigebäude in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Ein Wochen nach dem Vorfall in Minneapolis gab es auch in Ypsilanti einen gewalttätigen Übergriff eines Polizisten auf eine Frau.
Im Moment sind Thomas und ich in den USA, in Ypsilanti, Michigan und unterstützen hier meine 80-jährige Mutter in dieser Covidzeit. Wir lesen also in erster Linie von dem, was in der Schweiz passiert, auch die Kommentare von Lesern und Leserinnen.
Als asiatisch-europäische Amerikanerin, die in der Schweiz lebt, finde ich es schade, jetzt nicht in der Schweiz zu sein, um in Basel, Bern, Zürich, Luzern oder all den Städten auf die Strasse zu gehen und mit meiner kleinen Präsenz zur grossen Botschaft beizutragen: "Rassismus existiert in der Schweiz".
Als ich gestern auf swissinfo.ch las, wurde mir schnell klar, dass viele Menschen nicht verstehen, was Rassismus ist, insbesondere systemische Diskriminierung. Systemischer Rassismus ist ein solches Beispiel. Die Analyse von systemischer Diskriminierung ist auch Teil der Arbeit von "ethik22 - Institut für Sozialethik". Sozialethik analysiert Systeme und Strukturen und gibt (Wert-) Orientierung.
Hier ist ein kurzes Video von Thomas Wallimann zu systemischer Diskriminierung. Nachfolgend finden Sie zwei Artikel auf Swissinfo.ch in englischer Sprache, die Kommentare von Leserinnen und Lesern und meine Antworten darauf.
Article: Is Racism a Problem in Switzerland?
Responses to Article: Is Racism a Problem in Switzerland?
KAREN KING June 11, 2020 - 22:13
This is just so crazy. Human beings are not perfect. The human mind tends to collect observations, stereotype and react accordingly. Humans also have an innate tendency to prefer those who are similar to themselves. What do any of these governments think they’re going to do? Employ mind and thought control? Life is unfair. Some people are born beautiful, some are born ugly, some are born gifted in music, some can’t hold a tune, some have IQ’s of 140 some have IQ’s of 70-its an immature utopian fantasy that human beings are all equal. Does anybody really believe that forcing people to like other people will possibly work???? When people don’t like other people and a government enacts rules to force them to act like they’ve changed their minds or worse-purports that the unliked group needs special help because they “can’t make it like others”, you only make everyone despise the special needs group more. Groups within a society who perform below that societies norms need to look at themselves and ask themselves what they need to do to improve their reputation. It’s their only hope.
MAX June 13, 2020 - 12:40
According to academic literature, it's not even a problem in the US. In particular, the argument of systemic racism in the police is not supported by any scientific study.The BLM movement just took a multifactorial problem, like higher level of police related deaths among black community, and attributed to racism. But not only racism explain such a problem. They are totally biased and incapable of rational thinking.
CHRISTINA June 14, 2020 - 05:13
So racism is not a problem in the US. Hmmm.... How would you feel, what would be lost *if* racism really was a problem? Your short comments show me a deep desire to ignore something that is uncomfortable for you. "it is not racism or systematic racism because there is no scientific study saying it is racism and just because more black people are killed by police officers than other racial groups does not have anything to do with their being black" These ideas ignore the fact that Racism and systemic racism *are* "multifactoral problems" and there are scientific studies that *do* show this. Often those who are privileged accuse Benachteiligte - those discriminated against because of race, gender, economic status, sexual orientation or any people who don't have the power to define the systems - of being "biased and incapable of rational thinking". This makes it easier to maintain inequality or systemic Benachteiligung. This is a classically scientifically studied phenomenon. And I know it isn't easy to do, but I ask you to consider the question... what would you lose if it *were* true?
HUGO June 5, 2020 - 11:08
Are you trying to get people worked up? The sad reality is that racism always has and always will exist. Minority populations are always scrutinized more closely by the majority. That is human nature. Convincing yourself and others that every negative experience is the result of systematic racism is detrimental and unproductive. This narrative perpetuates pre-existing tensions.
CHRISTINA June 14, 2020 - 15:45
It is so interesting what you say. *Racism is a part of normal albeit sad reality* (which I won't disagree with in this way, discrimination seems to be part of our Fehlerhaftigkeit - imperfection as human beings). And then you go on to say that "convincing oneself and others" meaning, persuading us that it exists as a normal part of reality is "detrimental and unproductive." Hmmm, ok we should not point out things that are part of normal reality. Why not, I ask? Oh I see you have so much privilege that you only experience positive things in life. Now I understand, you would rather ignore the pain and suffering of others so that you don't have to experience the pain and suffering of "pre-existing tensions". Well I find another strategy and logic is more helpful. Life always involves suffering, tensions, discrimination - it and we are imperfect. But, we have the unique capability to respond to it in different ways. You respond by ignoring it, which unfortunately leads to ignoring your fellow humanity. I would rather respond by accepting imperfection and working towards perfection by acknowledging and sharing my and others pain. Then by finding ways to change the individual and systematic ways this pain and suffering is perpetuated all the while knowing, things change, discrimination will show up again. This is called Love.
Responses to Article: ‘People Of Colour Always Have To Look Over Their Shoulder’
MOONCHILD June 7, 2020 - 13:48
Yes, the majority of US crime is committed by black males. Why? Is it because they are inherently evil? Or is it because they have limited means and opportunities? These statistics show that blacks are more likely to be *driven* to crime as their most promising option.
AND June 8, 2020 - 08:07
"Or is it because they have limited means and opportunities?" Because that follows your preferred narrative? What opportunities are they lacking in the US? Single parent households where the father is not present is the highest among black families and is one of the highest reasons. No systemic racism behind that. Another reason is because poverty is more present among black people. Is it systemic racism though? No.
CHRISTINA June 14, 2020 - 18:48
Sorry but do you have any idea of what *systemic* racism is? It is exactly the examples you are giving. Systems are processes, procedures, rules, guidelines that are the structures of society, organisations, institutions even households.
Examples: If we decide in the family to clean the floors 1 x per week this is a system. If laws are passed to exclude Asians from the right to own land this is a system. If doctors only have hours from 8 am to 5pm Mon - Fri this is a system made for the doctors not for the working adults and school children who are busy during those hours.
History clearly shows men suffer and cause suffering when they do not find a honorable role in society and family. For instance, men from these groups have either had their honorable role destroyed or their entire value rejected by societal structures: Native American men with colonization lost their cultural role and many are alcoholics, many white working class poor men who are at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder are perpetrators of domestic violence, African American men who experience a society that tells them (through profiling or when a fellow human avoids them on the street) they are inferior are often absent fathers. This is the "structural" or "systemic" part of systemic racism. Poverty as well as being rich are both part of the larger socio-economic *system* which can be biased based on gender, race, family of origin.
And you can see this as a "preferred narrative" but you also have a "preferred narrative". Does this mean we cannot learn from each other? My "preferred narrative" is based on a Menschenbild that says all human beings are created equal and all human beings are capable so invited to work towards building and maintaining that equality where possible. My Menschenbild says that we strive towards perfection while knowing that imperfection will always exist. FYI Here is a link to a social ethicist Thomas Wallimann, who explains what “systemic” discrimination means. https://youtu.be/KV-hiNqWqIA