I completely agree. However, when you look at the discussions being had now in the States, as you expressed, they are more so about racial separations than economic disparities. By rejecting this essentialist view of racism and the concept overall it would steer the discussion towards these economic disparities that are the overarching problem in western societies. While race still plays a role, it is increasingly to a lesser extent, and we would stand to gain from the elimination of the concept upon which it is based.

To the first paragraph, I showed the pragmatic reasons for the modern conception of race in the west being based on skin color because it explains why this perception emerged and undermines its significance in terms of adhering to some essence. Yes, slavery has been practiced for millennium, and not always solely justified by racial differentiation, but as I said "the more distance placed between one group and another makes easier the dehumanization and subsequent oppression, exploitation, and/or conquest of another group people." Racism, and the concept of race overall, is a tool to be used by a society, and by explaining how it was most recently used by the west and how the emerging perception came to be the dominant view in this region now, once again, undermines the validity of that view.

Secondly, this perception of race is not necessarily related to "white-supremacy." What I mean when I reference this view that emerged from Europe and later spread throughout other areas of the world as their influence grew is basing one's race on the color of one's skin. So, this racial outlook is not one held solely by white-supremacists, but anyone who bases their view of race on skin color, which tends to be most everyone within western society regardless of their own color. Applying this to your last paragraph, even the celebration of these races upholds their perceived essential qualities and continues this unfounded separation of peoples based on nothing more than an arbitrary imposition. It would be better instead to celebrate one's unique heritage and direct ancestry, such as a Filipino celebrating his/her Filipino ancestry, which would then lead to the fragmenting these racial groups and therefore undermine their importance in our society.

As for your second and third paragraphs, I find them agreeable. It is a shame that we find ourselves so focused on race that we miss the factors that now truly lead to our unfair separation such as the stagnation of local economies in under-privileged areas.

Let me know what you think!

P.S. Yes, yes, I know, racism can be solved by posting a black-screen on instagram. However, not all of us have it :cry: