From what I understand the modern concept of race arose during the age of colonialism, but before that time, was there any documented accounts of racism against black people by white people?

  • overeee [none/use name]
    hexagon
    ·
    3 years ago

    I think looking at race as a purely colonial concept is racist in of itself, white people have always been racist, even in cultures that weren't truly white like the arabs or indians the lighter skinned people always ruled the darker skinned people. Why though?

    • Speaker [e/em/eir]
      ·
      3 years ago

      truly white

      This is not a thing. There is no "true white". White is just the line drawn between "people worthy of the barest esteem" and "subhumans".

    • MathVelazquez [he/him]
      ·
      3 years ago

      Right but they didn't all have a concept of race. For instance, Ancient Greeks and Romans though that Northern Africa were civilized, but too prone to tyranny. On the other hand Germans and other Europeans were barbarians who enjoyed too much freedom from civilization. There were prejudices, but skin color didn't explicitly tie into it as much as culture and religion.

      • ComradeBeefheart [none/use name]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Language is also very important here as well, but I suppose that could be considered cultural. If I recall correctly, the Greeks used the term "barbarian" to denote any non-Greek-speaking peoples.