dehistoricising racism

[Mathew Forstater]

I agree completely that we cannot conflate racism with other forms of
group antipathy or conflict and believe I gave some of the same
reasons earlier.

But on the following point:

On Fri, 29 May 1998, Jim heartfield wrote:


> target of racism are missing the point. Today blacks are the principle
> targt of racism, but in the past Jews, Italians, East Europeans and
> Irish were also targeted. A change has taken place.

Racism against these european groups--when it was racism and not ethnic or
religious prejudice--was always in reference to Africans.  Which side of
the arbitrary, shifting line they fell on at a particular time under
particular social circumstances.  But the line was between "black" and
"white" and African peoples were the referent at the far end.  

Mat