race card
Bigotry deflection tactic
The race card is an accusation of racism, framed as a strategic move rather than a legitimate grievance.
To play the race card is to invoke race to gain advantage in an argument or deflect criticism.
The phrase is almost always used dismissively, implying the accusation is cynical or unwarranted: He lost the debate so he played the race card.
Critics note the term itself can be used to dismiss valid concerns about racism.
Invoking racism strategically
- victimhoodState of being wronged
- discrimination claimFormal accusation of prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
- unfairnessUnjust or biased treatment
grievance · injustice · scapegoating · deflection · stereotype · bigotry · civil rights · inequality
Opposition between parties
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- divisionSplitting into parts
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
animosity · distrust · discord · resentment · strife · sensitivity · discomfort · alienation
playing the race card
Invoking racism strategically
- victimhoodState of being wronged
- discrimination claimFormal accusation of prejudice
- prejudicePreformed unfavorable opinion
unfairness · grievance · injustice · scapegoating · deflection · stereotype · bigotry · civil rights · inequality · exclusion
conflict
Opposition between parties
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- divisionSplitting into parts
- polarizationSeparation into opposing extremes
friction · animosity · distrust · discord · resentment · strife · sensitivity · discomfort · alienation · antagonism
- identity cardsgender card
- horse racingthoroughbred, racehorse, flat race, horses, jockey
- racingrace, race track, racetrack, lap, accelerate
- racing termsbackstretch, checkered flag, daily double, dead heat, exacta
- greyhound racinggreyhound, greyhounds, dog track, trap, muzzle
- sports documentsrule book, playbook, scorecard, scorebook, record book
race cardsystemic racism
Discrimination embedded in institutions
racial justice · structural inequality · lived experience · antiracism · truth-telling
racism, racing, races, racist, racer, racial, racers, wild card, racially