reverse racism

American  

[ri-vurs rey-siz-uhm] / rɪˈvɜrs ˈreɪ sɪz əm /

noun

1. intolerance or prejudice directed at members of historically dominant racial groups.

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Usage

What is reverse racism? Reverse racism is the discrimination or prejudice against a racial or ethnic majority, especially as perceived as occurring by white people.

Etymology

Origin of reverse racism

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

In response, Lamola said: "We reiterate that broad-based black economic empowerment is not reverse racism as regrettably insinuated by the ambassador."

From Barron's • Mar. 11, 2026

That's one of the things that I thought was so interesting in the book, when you talk about these ideas of "reverse racism" and "reverse sexism."

From Salon • Jul. 30, 2023

We hear it when a member of Meredith’s book club frets about reverse racism if she uses a particular word when discussing Toni Morrison’s “Beloved.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 20, 2023

Carmichael, a founder of Alabama's all-Negro "Black Panther" Party, rejects the charge�raised by one of the Rev. Martin Luther King's top aides�that an all-Negro party is a kind of "reverse racism."

From Time Magazine Archive