Karen is a derogatory term used to describe an arrogant, entitled and often racist middle-aged white woman who uses her power to achieve personal success or police other people’s behaviors.
Karen has become a popular internet meme due to the numerous viral moments where rude white women are captured on video calling the police about Black people in public parks and coffee shops.
What is a Karen?
Karens are individuals who act self-entitled, expect certain privileges or special treatment, become easily angered, and tend to be overly dramatic. While this term has been applied to a range of people, it most commonly describes women.
Karens are often seen as emblems of white privilege; affluent white women who act entitled and obnoxious. They’re typically rude towards younger people or anyone who doesn’t share their viewpoint.
It’s a common occurrence to see “Karen” harass employees or use her white privilege, threatening police for any perceived slight that doesn’t go her way. She may exaggerate an issue such as blocking someone’s car or telling them they’ll run her over in a crash into something much bigger.
The term was originally a Danish form of Katherine, meaning “pure”, but has gained popularity in America, according to Know Your Meme. It has also been referenced as a joke in Goodfellas and Mean Girls as well as in a trailer for an upcoming film starring Taryn Manning from Orange Is the New Black.
Karen has since become an insulting term for those who refuse to abide by health regulations or who oppose science. It gained notoriety following the Covid pandemic, when many refused to wear masks while required by law to do so.
Some of these actions can have a devastating effect on others, such as when Karen demanded money back from Burger King staff while the restaurant was on fire. It serves to demonstrate how those without privilege can use it to their advantage while those who do possess privilege may experience discrimination and injustice.
Karens can be highly destructive, leading to violence. To ensure everyone’s safety, policies should be put in place that shield people from such acts of harm.
What is a Racist Person?
A racist is someone who actively and deliberately discriminates against others based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age group culture or class. This could include using terms like “n-word” or making jokes about a certain ethnic group.
Racists may act without even realizing it, or have subconscious racial bias and believe things about certain groups that are simply not true.
Three concepts are fundamental to comprehending racism: history, institutions and power. These frameworks help us determine why some actions may be racist while others aren’t.
Racism has long been an oppression system against people of colour around the world, particularly Black people and Native Americans in America. Unfortunately, racism still prevails today in many parts of the world.
Racism is an aspect of discrimination that permeates our daily lives, social systems and cultural patterns. Though it may not be obvious, racism plays a significant role in many things that cause difficulty for some people – including school bullying.
Institutions and power are the forces that bind groups of people together, provide them with control over resources, and enable them to exploit other groups for their own gain. This can manifest in everyday activities like jobs or housing or more serious incidents like police brutality.
Members of that group often suffer the consequences, with reduced opportunities for study, work and socializing as well as potential health repercussions. It can have an adverse effect on those affected by it and reduce their quality of life significantly. Feeling unwelcomed or isolated can have a major negative effect on individuals within that group; thus reducing opportunities for improvement in these areas such as mental health.
Mental health problems like depression or anxiety may arise as a result of racism. If you’re feeling worried or concerned about your mental wellbeing, seek professional help from someone who understands racism and offers understanding. Therapists are an ideal starting point; they might suggest self-care tools like mindfulness or meditation as ways to cope with racism more effectively.
What is a White Person?
A white person is a member of the white race, consisting of people with light skin tone. This term is most often applied to those of European descent but may also refer to other races with lighter complexions.
Historically, the term “white” was a way of distinguishing Europeans from non-Europeans; it continues to be used in some countries today. However, its meaning has been expanded to encompass people from Africa, South Asia, and the Middle East as well.
The term “white” was first coined in the 17th century and has become commonly associated with people of European ancestry. However, its definition has since been expanded to encompass people from North Africa and South Asia as well.
Another definition of the term is “a member of a conservative or counterrevolutionary faction.” It’s also often used to describe voting patterns within the white population.
It is essential to remember that people of all colors are considered human beings due to their shared ancestry and bearing God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). Therefore, it is crucial for individuals not to discriminate against any group based on skin color or nationality.
White people can be peaceful and kind to others, especially in the workplace. This trait makes them ideal for promotion or advancement within an organization.
They may show great patience and remain calm, but when they become overextended or have had enough, they could become aggressive or rude. This behavior should never be encouraged by anyone as it could lead to violence and other negative outcomes.
The Bible seldom mentions a person’s skin color, but it does mention Esau whose father was white. He was given the name Esau due to his red skin (Genesis 25:25).
White people are a socially constructed group, which means they often receive different treatment than other groups of individuals. Furthermore, as an oppressed and discriminated against population, it is essential for people to be aware of this reality.
What is a Black Person?
Prior to 1860, Black people were commonly known as African Americans or negroes – an African term meaning “black.”
Discrimination against black people began long before 1860 when white people arrived in America through the European slave trade. They planted cotton, tobacco and rice plantations throughout the South.
Today, race remains an important issue and Black people are often the victims of violence and discrimination. This has created a greater awareness about racism’s negative effects in America, as well as an uptick in conversation surrounding this subject.
This has sparked the “Karen” meme, a longstanding meme that has gained notoriety over the last few months due to white women’s racist actions. This movement has been around for years but gained new visibility recently.
Since the start of Black Lives Matter protests, the Karen meme has been used as a way to label anyone engaging in racial discrimination. This includes white people defacing Black Lives Matter street symbols in California or pulling guns on Black people in Michigan and St. Louis; even white people calling 911 on peacefully launching boats at their marina.
These cases demonstrate how the Karen phenomenon has transformed from a harmless and sometimes humorous caricature of entitled white women into an increasingly sexist, racist and anti-woman slur. This shift is especially troubling since it gives more subtly racist white women the impression they are not guilty of racism.
One recent example of this can be seen in a video uploaded to TikTok by Bradley, wherein he confronts an individual for trying to take down a Biden campaign sign.
This video has become a trending sensation on Twitter, with people sharing it with their friends as a reminder that we still have a long way to go before society fully accepts and celebrates racial diversity in our society.
