So, one of my stories has a lot of plots, and the first one is basically, three countries are in a war. Here's the thing. One of the countries is extremely racist, and is trying to get another country to agree with them. Some parts of the other country agree with the racist country, but other parts don't. Another country is keeping the races that the racist country is against safe, but the racist country is capturing the races and murdering them in secret. The thing is, one of the two races can transform into ferocious dragons (Said race is called Manaketes, and yes, this is a Fire Emblem fanfiction) and the others had the powers of ancient demons and are called Spirit Oracles due to being able to communicate with spirits. How could I make this work out well in my story?
The thing about racism is that it has to be embedded in every part of your society. It can't just be throwing racist insults at the oppressed race, it needs to be shown in every facet like government, employment, homing, etc. It's also important to note that there are different levels of racism, and that not every person will be the most extreme example. If a character is subconsciously racist, it'll show through things called microaggressions. Microaggressions are the everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership. If your intention to create a racist society, it's important to include these microaggressions because it will make it seem a lot more real. If you need help figuring out what kind of microaggressions to write, Google is a great resource.
I'm also trying to incorporate a somewhat racist society in my own story, so I've got a lot of notes on the subject. I hope this helps!
(just adding my two cents here)
One way that racism goes to extremes is when something bad happens and the minority groups are blamed for it (turning them into "scapegoats"). So for example, after Germany lost World War I and was forced to accept the incredibly harsh terms of the Treaty of Versailles, people turned to the minority that was already generally disliked (the Jews) and blamed them for the outcome. Scholars say that this is when Adolf Hitler became extremely antisemitic - after WWI, he also blamed the Jews for the German's loss and humiliation. He said himself that that was what "opened his eyes to their dangers" or whatever. So I guess there's a point in extremist individuals where their racist ideas cease to be subconscious, and that needs to be triggered by something.
So basically if your really racist country is going to the extreme of murdering the minority groups in secret, it may be an option that they're being "scapegoated", and that's what's fueling extremism in the people doing the killing (is it leaders or just random zealous citizens?).
I guess a more contemporary example would be the racism directed at refugees - they're being blamed for things that the vast majority of them have nothing to do with, but the idea that it's "their fault that [insert country here] is going to pieces" fuels extreme anti-refugee actions like burning down refugee homes or attacking them (verbally or even physically). There was an existing stigma against refugees/strangers anyway, but scapegoating them and blaming every bad thing that they have nothing to do with on them causes people to lash out against them and have the deluded "justification" that they're just "responding to a threat".
I guess that basically, racism is quiet and hidden (and visible in stuff like @mysterioustrumpet was talking about) until people get the idea that they're under threat, and then they blow up and take their racist ideas to extremes.
(I'm not a sociologist or anything, but I have studied several racist societies in history)
Remember, one of the races has the power of demons.
Maybe something like in The Incredibles happened? I don't know what to do ahhhhhhhhhhh
I'm reading these responses and wondering if people only read the questions on question pages.
If you want a good example of a truly racist society, look at pre-civil rights America. It depended by region, but housing, medical supplies, schooling, the ability to climb the social ladder, all of these were diverted away from people of color. It was really embedded in the culture at the time. other parts depended on the region. Down south, there was a lot more racism than the north, white people in general really hated their colored neighbors to a degree I did not know was possible before I found out. (if anyone disagrees, just read Let Justice Roll Down). In other parts it was more subtle, white people just assumed that since they were happy with the system, black people were too. To try and answer your magic powers thing, who is using the magic? is it the racist race as dragons, or the racists contacting spirits?. If the racist people are in contact with the spirits and whatnot, then maybe they're being egged on, further pushed into increasingly bigoted actions. On the flip side if the oppressed people are in contact with evil spirits, then they could be leading a call to violent revolution or something similar. could help drive the plot in your story.
What does "egged on" mean?
What do you mean, magic powers? Both use magic powers, technically.
And the oppressed people are in contact with mostly nice spirits.
egged on means provoked into further acts of violence, basically making them fight more. by magic powers I meant who could do what kind of magic, and i just naturally assumed that demons are evil, my bad.
Not all demons are evil.
That in itself would be racist if demons existed.
fair point. Its just that it's literally their job in most mythology to be evil, so sorry about any misinterpretation there.
I think it's interesting that I'm painting humans as more evil than demons.
that sounds interesting to me as well.
Look throughout history for examples, and you'll find one common feature: people are scared of/don't like things they don't understand. Read up on the Holocaust and/or the civil rights movement for some sobering examples.
