Using your own, or someone else's race to intimidate others into letting someone get away with something inherently bad.
Some Dude: You know, I think those four black people who tortured that Trump supported should be on the death sent---
Some other guy: RACIST!!!!!
Some Dude: Alright man!! Just... calm the effing hell down!
The Inexplicable Third Person: Don't lower your defenses man. He's playin' a race card
Some other guy: RACIST!!!!!
Some Dude: Alright man!! Just... calm the effing hell down!
The Inexplicable Third Person: Don't lower your defenses man. He's playin' a race card
by Argeuahble January 18, 2017
Get the Race Cardmug. When a person that isn't white uses their ethnicity as an advantage in the workplace (i.e., getting hired or promotions)
The boss at MegaCorp hired LaTon instead of Mike. Mile had the better résumé, but he was white. LaTon used the "Race Card" during his interview as an unfair advantage.
by TheTwoCentHo December 22, 2009
Get the Race Cardmug. An instant win if your loosing a fight with a white guy, white people don't get the race card only get persecuted by it, its used to slingshot you form the back to the front weather the win is deserved or not(more often not)
by GW_Watchman October 31, 2009
Get the race cardmug. A reference to poker's "Ace Card" which is "up someone's sleeve". The race card refers to having an unbeatable card in a card game, which, when played, must be either accepted or trumped by an entire hand of cards (see Rodney King).
The reality of the implementation of this term is that a lot of people misuse it in order to gain an advantage that they would not otherwise have. It plays into the idea that there actually are races, and that our differences matter more than our similarities. There is a valid use for this, but it is far overused and this overuse does not actually promote equality, it destroys it. The term "race card" implies that the entire issue is a game of one-upsmanship and that it's just a matter of who gains the upperhand.
The "race card" is in play any time someone uses the issue of race to benefit their position or defend their actions, and is used in such a way to construe that someone is being racist.
The reality of the implementation of this term is that a lot of people misuse it in order to gain an advantage that they would not otherwise have. It plays into the idea that there actually are races, and that our differences matter more than our similarities. There is a valid use for this, but it is far overused and this overuse does not actually promote equality, it destroys it. The term "race card" implies that the entire issue is a game of one-upsmanship and that it's just a matter of who gains the upperhand.
The "race card" is in play any time someone uses the issue of race to benefit their position or defend their actions, and is used in such a way to construe that someone is being racist.
Misused by people of color: Juan's got one cracker of a boss, and is getting sick of the boss's crap. Juan's going to go in and demand a raise or quit. But Juan needs the job, so he's going to play the race card to squeeze the raise out of the boss, because Juan knows that they are a certified equal opportunity employer and the boss needs to keep his quota up.
Appropriate use by people of color: Suriah is being accused of stealing her employee keycard from work and is being terminated wrongfully because of it. However, she knows that lots of people who have accidentally taken these keys home, and being that the company is run by rich white people who probably don't really have a clue that they're being racist, and so she's going to take them to court and play the race card.
Inappropriate use by white people: Jim is just sure that his employee, Marcus, is stealing from him. However, Jim is worried that Marcus will play the race card if confronted, and so Jim is going to place hidden cameras in order to see if his suspicions are true... despite the ACLU's warning that it's an invasion of privacy.
Appropriate use by white people: George is prison inmate and believes that the other prisoners are going to give him a hard time (see rape) because he's a white guy that they're placing in a section filled with black racists (see Black Panthers). George is going to play the race card in order to get out of the situation and be placed in a section with other white people.
Final note: the application of humor to this topic is not in any way intended to diminish the serious nature of it. However, the truth of the matter is that far too many people play the race card who don't have to, and this weakens how effective it is in the long run. Keeping a sense of humor about things will help people to realize that we're all in the same boat, and genetics prove us to be human.
Appropriate use by people of color: Suriah is being accused of stealing her employee keycard from work and is being terminated wrongfully because of it. However, she knows that lots of people who have accidentally taken these keys home, and being that the company is run by rich white people who probably don't really have a clue that they're being racist, and so she's going to take them to court and play the race card.
Inappropriate use by white people: Jim is just sure that his employee, Marcus, is stealing from him. However, Jim is worried that Marcus will play the race card if confronted, and so Jim is going to place hidden cameras in order to see if his suspicions are true... despite the ACLU's warning that it's an invasion of privacy.
Appropriate use by white people: George is prison inmate and believes that the other prisoners are going to give him a hard time (see rape) because he's a white guy that they're placing in a section filled with black racists (see Black Panthers). George is going to play the race card in order to get out of the situation and be placed in a section with other white people.
Final note: the application of humor to this topic is not in any way intended to diminish the serious nature of it. However, the truth of the matter is that far too many people play the race card who don't have to, and this weakens how effective it is in the long run. Keeping a sense of humor about things will help people to realize that we're all in the same boat, and genetics prove us to be human.
by Ray Jenson April 25, 2006
Get the race cardmug. Used by minorities to get what they want even if they did something totally fucked up. However, since our president is now black, the race card is soon to be maxed out.
When Jason got the promotion over his black friend Tyrone because Tyrone would come into work drunk and never did anything, he pulled the race card and is now top-dog
by EmoJesusWins November 4, 2010
Get the Race Cardmug. It refers to someone exploiting prejudice against another race for political or some other advantage.
The use of the southern strategy by Republican political candidates is said by some to be a version of playing the race card, such as when former Senator Jesse Helms, during his 1990 North Carolina Senate campaign, ran an ad showing a black man taking a white man's job, intended as a criticism of the idea of racial quotas. The ad was interpreted by many people as trying to play to racist fears among white voters.
by morphious June 5, 2013
Get the Race Cardmug. The term "Race card" in its essence means that someone would call out racism in order to enhance their situation in a debate or in any situation.
But nowadays, it has become a term used (mostly by white people) to systematically dismiss claims of racism.
But nowadays, it has become a term used (mostly by white people) to systematically dismiss claims of racism.
Jonas: 2 Chainz claims that Fox news has been historically prejudice against black people.
Tom: Oh that can't be true, he's just playing the race card.
Tom: Oh that can't be true, he's just playing the race card.
by TheRealness April 22, 2016
Get the Race Cardmug.