“DISCOURSE
AND RACISM
Racism is a multifaceted social phenomenon, with different levels and overlapping forms. It involves attitudes,actions, processes and unequal power relations. It is based on the interpretation of the idea of “race”, hierarchicalsocial relations and the forms of discrimination that flow from this. (Garner, 2017, p. 22)

TOPICS

The discourse of racism features a limited array of topics about minorities or immigrants that follow
certain patterns. As Teun Van Dijk explains:

Whereas everyday conversations are often about other people, and anything may
come up in such talks, topics about minorities or immigrants are often limited to afew topic types, namely, the increasingly negative topic classes of difference,deviance and threat. (109)DISCLAIMERS
The following are Disclaimers, as noted by Van Dijk (2008) as part of racist discourses. They are ‘semantic
moves with a positive part about Us, and a negative part about Them’ (109).
1. Apparent denial: 'I have nothing against Arabs, but…’
2. Apparent concession:'Of course some Muslims are tolerant, but generally ...'

3. Apparent empathy:'Of course asylum seekers endure hardships, but ...'

4. Apparent ignorance:'Now, I don't know all the facts, but…’

5. Apparent excuse:'Sorry, but…’

6. Reversal (blaming the victim):
7. Transfer:‘Not they, but we, are the real victims’‘I don’t mind, but my clients…’

TYPES OF DENIAL (OF RACISM)
One way that racism is perpetuated and asymmetrical power-relations remain unchallenged is throughthe denial of unfairness or racism.
1. act-denial (‘I did not do/say that at all');
2. control-denial (‘I did not do/say that on purpose', 'It was an accident');
3. intention-denial (‘I did not mean that', 'You got me wrong');
4. goal-denial (`I did not do/say that, in order to .. .').

TASK
Look at the following quote:“They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some,I assume, are good people.”Who said this? What was the context? Do you believe this is a racist statement?
•Search for other examples of potentially racist discourse from the media, textbooks and othersources.

•Analyse and discuss in what ways these texts may be seen as racist.

MATCHING DISCLAIMERS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Apparent denial:
Apparent concession:
Apparent empathy:
Apparent ignorance:
Apparent excuse:Reversal (blaming the victim):Transfer:(a) ‘I don’t mind, but my clients…’(b) ‘Not they, but we, are the real victims’(c) 'I have nothing against Arabs, but…’(d) 'Now, I don't know all the facts, but…’(e) 'Of course asylum seekers endure hardships, but ...'(f) 'Of course some Muslims are tolerant, but generally ...'(g) 'Sorry, but…’

MATCHING DENIAL OF RACISM
1.
2.
3.
4.

act-denial
control-denialintention-denial
goal-denial(a) ‘I did not do/say that, in order to .. .'(b) ‘I did not do/say that at all’(c) ‘I did not do/say that on purpose', 'It was an accident'(d) ‘I did not mean that', 'You got me wrong'

INTERACTION AND RESEARCH TASKDo ONE of the following tasks. A or B. Either:A. Bibliography Research Task looking for well-known works dealing with race, language andidentity. (NB, you are welcome to watch a one-hour lecture by John McWhorter)
B. A Critical Discourse Analysis of a story applying van Dijk’s analysis of racist language. Select a
news story, film or book.

References and Further Sources

Garner, S. (2017). Racisms: an introduction: Sage.
Kubota, R., & Lin, A. (2006). Race and TESOL: Introduction to Concepts and Theories. TESOL quarterly,40(3), 471-493. doi:10.2307/40264540
Kubota, R., & Lin, A. (Eds.). (2009). Race, culture, and identities in second language education: Exploring
critically engaged practice. London: Routledge.
Liggett, T. (2009). Unpacking White Racial Identity in English Language Teacher Education. In R. Kubota &A. Lin (Eds.), Race, Culture, and Identities in Second Language Education: Exploring CriticallyEngaged Practice (pp. 27-43). London: Routledge.
McWhorter, J. (2004). Authentically black: Essays for the black silent majority. New York: Gotham Books.
McWhorter, J. (2017). Talking Back, Talking Black: Truths About America's Lingua Franca. New York:
Bellevue Literary Press.
Van Dijk, T. A. (2008). Discourse and power. Basingstoke, UK: Palgrave Macmillan.
Yamashiro, J. H. (2013). The Social Construction of Race and Minorities in Japan. Sociology Compass, 7(2),147-161. doi:10.1111/soc4.12013