Glasgow's Disrespect Analysis And Racism

Glasgow’s disrespect analysis is presented as a solution to the so-called location problem of racism. That is, the causal mechanism of racism is largely contested; thus, instead of arguing where it comes from, Glasgow offers a noncommittal definition that is inclusive for most ‘locations’. He therefore suggests the following proposition: J is racist if and only if J is disrespectful toward members of racialized group R as Rs (Glasgow 81). Like Grosfoguel, Glasgow uses the term ‘racialized’ to refer to “groups of people who have been identified and treated as if they were members of the same race” (81). Conversely, Glasgow uses this term because he argues that race is a socially constructed ideat, not to include other subdivisions of social

The word ‘disrespect’ can be expanded to include more than what should be included and can be manipulated to fit the interests of any group that chooses to use it. Therefore, a clearer understanding of the term is necessary for the disrespect analysis to be practical and applicable. Glasgow addresses this point in his writing and suggests that a “non-unified concept” such as disrespect can, and should, be employed in an analysis of racism to be understood as racial disrespect. This new idea that arises is itself a unified evaluation, according to Glasgow. Therefore, the disrespect must be racially motivated; that is, it must be imposed on an individual for their membership of a racialized group. Furthermore, he reminds his audience that while the term ‘disrespect’ is utilized in his explanation, he does not overlook instances of benevolent racism simply because these occurrences are not characterized by malice and disrespect. Nevertheless, these instances of racism exert the power dynamic between superior and inferior groups and clearly demarcate each individual as such. Glasgow controversially denies that power plays a significant role in racism and believes it is not necessary for racism to exist, despite acknowledging benevolent racism as a kind of racial disregard