Ep 46: The Real Definition of Racism (And Why Most People Still Get It Wrong)

Listen to this episode from Interrupting Everything on Spotify. In the final part of this foundational 2-part series, Nikki Blak dismantles the confusion surrounding what racism actually is and replaces it with a definition that’s clear, powerful, and impossible to ignore. Missed Part 1? Go listen to Episode 45: "How Racism Created Race." It lays the historical foundation for this conversation. Nikki explains why racism is not about intentions, slurs, or "being nice." Unless we're naming what it actually is, we're wasting everyone's time. In this episode, Nikki breaks down: Why state-sanctioned and extra-legal violence are both central to how racism works The myth of “reverse racism” and why impact—not feelings—matters How “racializing projects” operate (i.e., the ways that institutions and policies assign meaning to race) Real-world examples of structural racism messing with every sector (housing, law enforcement, healthcare) Why intent is a distraction, and what real intervention must look like How liberation work changes when we act from structural definitions rather than surface ones A 5-question “Is this racist?” checklist that dismantles confusion in real time This is not the “Racism 101” you're used to. This is a structural breakdown for people ready to confront how white dominance shapes policy, language, and the way we live — or die. Subscribe, share, and come back for what’s next. This two-part series is the foundation of Nikki’s anti-oppression work — and a resource you’ll come back to again and again. Special thanks to Def Sound for providing the theme for Interrupting Everything.⁣⁣⁣⁣