Re:Silicon Valley Has a Caste Discrimination Problem
by kelnos on Wednesday August 05, 2020 @08:55PM
(#24067194)
I think it's good to be reminded that "POC" is a very coarsely-defined term that comprises a bunch of different groups, some of whom can be racist against other POC groups. Racism, even of the systematic kind, is not limited to white people oppressing non-white people.
It just goes to show you that people like having power over other people, and they'll find any excuse possible to turn some group into the "other" so they can feel justified in oppressing them. In the case of the Indian caste system, race isn't required for this. In Afghanistan, as you point out, it can have a big religious component (though race is part of it too).
It is interesting to note that systematic racism against white people doesn't seem that common, at least in places I've visited (mostly Asia), where white people are in the minority. Discrimination there seems to be more xenophobia-based than race-based.
It just goes to show you that people like having power over other people, and they'll find any excuse possible to turn some group into the "other" so they can feel justified in oppressing them. In the case of the Indian caste system, race isn't required for this. In Afghanistan, as you point out, it can have a big religious component (though race is part of it too).
It is interesting to note that systematic racism against white people doesn't seem that common, at least in places I've visited (mostly Asia), where white people are in the minority. Discrimination there seems to be more xenophobia-based than race-based.