Hate-crimes as racial violence: a critique of the exceptional. (16th November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tyner, James A.
• Is Part Of: Social & cultural geography. Volume 17:Number 8(2016)
• Page Start: 1060
• Page End: 1078
• Publication Date: 2016-11-16
• Subjects: Racial violence -- hate-crimes -- post-racial -- structural violence; violence raciale -- crimes motivés par la haine -- post-racial -- violence structurelle; violencia racial -- crímenes de odio -- post-racial -- violencia structural; Human geography -- Periodicals; 304.205
• DOI: 10.1080/14649365.2016.1152392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1464-9365

Abstract

Abstract: Violence on the one hand is taken as something natural and normal. On the other hand, certain violent actions, such as hate-crimes, are portrayed as forms of exceptional violence, while systemic inequalities are rendered ordinary. In this paper, I de-naturalize the concept of violence through a critical evaluation of hate-crimes. I argue that the concept of hate-crimes has been, or is at risk, of being co-opted by a more sustained effort to ignore and downplay racial inequalities in society. Drawing on the philosophical distinction between 'killing' and 'letting die', I contend that an exclusive focus on individual-based hate-crimes deflects attention from the systemic, structural inequalities of society; and that a narrow conceptualization of violence (as direct, intentional action) conforms to a more expansive neoliberal promotion of a 'race-blind' or 'colour-blind' criminal justice system.