Welcome to the #BlackBlogsMatter challenge! Throughout the 28 days of February, my posts will not (necessarily) be about HR, Leadership or Management topics.

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Racism is discrimination directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior. Systemic racism, also called institutional racism, is a form of racism expressed through behavioral norms expressed in social and political practices resulting in disparities in wealth, income, employment, criminal justice, housing, healthcare, political influence and power, and education.

There are some who argue the pro-Black messages pushed by #BlackLivesMatter and #BlackGirlMagic and now #BlackBoyJoy and even #BlackBlogsMatter are demonstrations of Reverse Racism. The idea that showing awareness and love for these initiatives is anti-White and promotes the Black race as superior to others.

The same thoughts have been shared about organizations like the NAACP and the Urban League and the Congressional Black Caucus and National Association of African-American HR Professionals and BET and TVOne and etc etc etc

These same people also push the idea that we have been and/or are and/or should be in a post-racial world where we are all as equal and worthy as we choose to be. Some argue that we never really were; that race has never been the hindrance that we have made it out to be.

Neither of those are true. Neither of those are real.

First of all, we are not in a post-racial world and we are not all as equal and worthy as we choose to be. Black people (and all minorities as well as women) are still very much impacted by racism and systemic racism. We are still paid less for equal work and face hardship that prevent us from building wealth. We are still fighting for equal opportunity to quality housing, healthcare and education. We are still lacking the political influence and power to make long-standing difference in these areas.

One Black President did not change any of this.

Second, in order for us to be in a POST-racial world there first had to be a RACIAL WORLD. So the idea that race has never been a hindrance can’t be true. We cannot be beyond something that never actually existed. Racism and systemic racism are real.

The reverse of this is not.

Prejudice is real. Black people can be prejudice against Whites and other minorities. It is sad but true.

 Black people and other minorities cannot be racist against and there is no system anywhere in the world that is successfully oppressing White people. None of the groups or movements are stating or proclaiming they are superior to anyone.

Greatness? Yes. Equality? Yes. Humanity? Yes. Superiority? Nope.

Until that happens, reverse racism will remain a myth. What’s worse is that the myth may evolve into a lie that people tell themselves to justify the crazy things they do to maintain the superiority of their race over others.

Arguably, it already has.

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Tune in tomorrow for Day 21 – The Power of Black Twitter