What Does Racism Mean?

This is my response to a general inquiry made by someone on a social media platform, what does racism mean to you?:

I find myself being intentional not about racism, but anti-Black racism specifically. Racism in America begins with anti-Black racism yet somehow, I'm being facetious, discussion of the Black experience in terms of acts of racism has been swallowed up in use of terms such as racism in general, multiculturalism, POC, diversity and now certainly DEI. 

Use of these other terms allow that we conveniently avoid conversations about anti-Black racism specifically. It is my hope that use of the term anti-Black racism becomes as common as anti-semitism and practice of such becomes regarded in equal contempt.

When we hear anti-semitism, we know it is in specific reference to the treatment of people of Jewish faith. When we hear racism, we're not so clear on who we're talking about. I want us to be specific on who we were talking about. 

As a Black person, I want us to clearly name the experience and effect of racism on Black people. But for us, is this even a conversation? Call us by our name when the subject is us. Stop running from talk of America's sin, Anti-Black racism. Sit in it. Be uncomfortable in it. Be honest about what it is. Make people look at themselves and fully understand who and what is the target of their disdain, sometimes their hate...