"Wait… Was That Racist?" – A Dive into Indirect Racism

You ever been hit with racism so polite, it said "excuse me" on the way in? Yeah… that's indirect racism. It’s the kind of discrimination that doesn’t wear a hood or throw slurs—it wears a smile, works in HR, and calls you “articulate” like it’s a miracle you know big words. What Is Indirect Racism? Indirect racism isn’t loud. It doesn’t shout; it whispers. It's the system that claims to be “colorblind” while still asking, “But where are you really from?”It’s when someone locks their car doors as you walk by… but swears it’s “just a habit.”It’s when your résumé gets ghosted—until you change your name from “Adewale” to “Alex.” Subtle. Sneaky. Sometimes even accidental.But make no mistake—it’s still racism. How People Practice It Without Knowing Let’s not lie: Most people don’t wake up and choose racism with their morning coffee.But they do wake up with biases they've never questioned. Here’s how it happens: The Compliment That’s Not a Compliment“You’re so well-spoken!”Translation: I didn’t expect that from someone who looks like you.Next time just say, “You explained that really well.” No hidden shock needed. The “Joke” That Wasn’t FunnyYou know the ones.“I’m not racist, I have Black friends!”Cool, and I have houseplants—it doesn’t mean I understand photosynthesis.Diversity... as DecorationHiring one person of color, slapping their picture on your company brochure, and calling it a day?That’s not inclusion—that’s tokenism in HD. The Invisible RulesIndirect racism shows up in the stuff we don’t say, the spaces we don’t create, and the standards we don’t question.Like who gets to be angry without being called “aggressive.”Or who gets to be average and still be considered a “leader.” But Let’s Be Real… It Gets Awkward Ever tried calling someone out on it? Them: “Are you calling me racist??”You: “I’m calling you out… not calling you a racist.”Big difference. One is about who you are. The other is about what you did.It’s like stepping on someone’s foot. You might not have meant it, but you still apologize. You don’t say, “Well I didn’t intend to crush your toe, so you’re overreacting.” Final Thought Indirect racism isn’t about pointing fingers.It’s about pointing mirrors.Because it’s not always about bad people—it’s about bad habits and blind spots. So if you feel uncomfortable reading this, good. That’s not guilt. That’s growth tapping on your shoulder. And if someone tells you something you said or did was racially insensitive, don’t get defensive.Just pause… reflect… and maybe say: “Wow. I didn’t realize. Thank you for telling me. I’ll do better.” Easy. No pitchforks. No cancel culture. Just human decency.Let’s Unlearn Together.Because racism doesn’t always roar.Sometimes… it just whispers.And it’s on us to listen carefully—and shut it down with love, clarity, and a little bit of humor.

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