Racism Everywhere Syndrome (RES) is an informal term used to describe a phenomenon in which an individual interprets neutral or innocent subjects as racist due to their own subconscious associations. Instead of recognizing the thought as originating from themselves, the person externalizes it and labels the subject as racist.
Definition
RES has been described as a type of cognitive projection, where one’s own implicit associations are attributed to an outside object, character, or symbol. Proponents of the term argue that a truly non-racist individual would not make such associations in the first place.
Characteristics
Typical features of RES include:
Overinterpretation: assigning racist intent to symbols, colors, or characters with no evidence of such intent.
Projection: transferring one’s own subconscious thought onto an external subject.
Moral signaling: publicly accusing neutral subjects of racism as a way of demonstrating personal anti-racist values.
Examples
Interpreting a fictional character’s dark fur, clothing, or traits as racist stereotypes, despite no evidence of authorial intent.
Viewing ordinary colors, shapes, or symbols as inherently racist.
Definition
RES has been described as a type of cognitive projection, where one’s own implicit associations are attributed to an outside object, character, or symbol. Proponents of the term argue that a truly non-racist individual would not make such associations in the first place.
Characteristics
Typical features of RES include:
Overinterpretation: assigning racist intent to symbols, colors, or characters with no evidence of such intent.
Projection: transferring one’s own subconscious thought onto an external subject.
Moral signaling: publicly accusing neutral subjects of racism as a way of demonstrating personal anti-racist values.
Examples
Interpreting a fictional character’s dark fur, clothing, or traits as racist stereotypes, despite no evidence of authorial intent.
Viewing ordinary colors, shapes, or symbols as inherently racist.
“Claiming that chess is racist because the white pieces move first is just another case of RES.”
“She said that a coffee shop menu was racist because it uses the term ‘black coffee.’ She definitely suffers from Racism Everywhere Syndrome (RES).”
“She said that a coffee shop menu was racist because it uses the term ‘black coffee.’ She definitely suffers from Racism Everywhere Syndrome (RES).”
by PhraseSmith August 16, 2025
Get the Racism Everywhere Syndrome (RES) mug.When a person's skin colour or ethnic background determines or negatively affects how you treat or interact with someone or a group of people. Generally if it isn't negative it isn't racist. It's also over used to describe when something doesn't go the way a black person wants or thinks it should.
by Galawh September 29, 2022
Get the Racism mug.The type of racist beliefs held by someone or a group of people when exposed to some kind of moral panic or shock events that otherwise isn't displayed. Usually it is internal racism from people with plenty of diversity in their life, within their friend group or living in diverse society/neighbourhoods. They are usually online and rarely spoken.
Especially evident during wars, after terror attacks, riots, etc etc.
Closely related to concept of speaking the truth only when drunk / revealing one's face when high.
Also very often held by ethnic minorities against other ethnic minorities in the country.
Especially evident during wars, after terror attacks, riots, etc etc.
Closely related to concept of speaking the truth only when drunk / revealing one's face when high.
Also very often held by ethnic minorities against other ethnic minorities in the country.
"Wow, there's really protests to support Hamas in London.. why are they even here? Why don't we kick Arabs out?" - random black caribbean marketing manager to his chinese work friend
'That's a bit of latent racism...'
"You know that guy Raheem from Law class? I was bored browsing his profile on tiktok, he's been liking videos showing attacks against kids in Gaza and commenting death to Jews and stuff" - person A
"No way, in class he said he supports peace and he went to a charity event to raise money to raise awareness for Palestine and help kids ... I knew he's a latent racist" - person B
"I think the cop killers are guilty because I'm a Democrat but look at the George Floyd shit, just or unjust aside he was just a black lowlife with a long criminal past, stop protecting criminals" - Luis Hernandez, Dallas
"Bro, your latent racism is showing" - Oliver not-Hernandez, Denver
"Man I studied the shit out of the entry exams for grammar school when I was younger but I didn't get in yet they have random ass bengali kids there for charity" - Callum Li
"yeah man I feel u, last week I applied for an internship at an investment bank in London and there's only one position showing but black people have some empowerment internship shit and there's some Women in Banking insight bullshit. They have all this crap because they're too dumb to get in otherwise" - Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz
"guys, that's just latent racism" - overprivileged native white boy
'That's a bit of latent racism...'
"You know that guy Raheem from Law class? I was bored browsing his profile on tiktok, he's been liking videos showing attacks against kids in Gaza and commenting death to Jews and stuff" - person A
"No way, in class he said he supports peace and he went to a charity event to raise money to raise awareness for Palestine and help kids ... I knew he's a latent racist" - person B
"I think the cop killers are guilty because I'm a Democrat but look at the George Floyd shit, just or unjust aside he was just a black lowlife with a long criminal past, stop protecting criminals" - Luis Hernandez, Dallas
"Bro, your latent racism is showing" - Oliver not-Hernandez, Denver
"Man I studied the shit out of the entry exams for grammar school when I was younger but I didn't get in yet they have random ass bengali kids there for charity" - Callum Li
"yeah man I feel u, last week I applied for an internship at an investment bank in London and there's only one position showing but black people have some empowerment internship shit and there's some Women in Banking insight bullshit. They have all this crap because they're too dumb to get in otherwise" - Grzegorz Brzęczyszczykiewicz
"guys, that's just latent racism" - overprivileged native white boy
by hampshireboi October 13, 2023
Get the latent racism mug.by Spacialpilon July 6, 2021
Get the Defeat racism mug.Often referred to as 'Triple R', this is a feedback loop where people — intentionally or not — repeat and strengthen racist or stereotypical behavior and beliefs. Think of it like racism on autopilot: it keeps recycling through media, culture, schools, and families, getting stronger each time it's unchecked.
It shows up a lot in younger generations (thanks, internet), but older folks aren’t off the hook — especially those who grew up recursively reinforced racism or contributed to it. Either way, it’s a negative loop that feeds itself like a bad algorithm trained on garbage data
It shows up a lot in younger generations (thanks, internet), but older folks aren’t off the hook — especially those who grew up recursively reinforced racism or contributed to it. Either way, it’s a negative loop that feeds itself like a bad algorithm trained on garbage data
Being Black in an all-white high school, I dealt with my fair share of racism. Looking back, I realize a lot of those kids were surrounded by recursively reinforced racism — mostly passed down from their parents.
by TheRealSnippy April 6, 2025
Get the Recursively Reinforced Racism mug.by J-miles November 24, 2023
Get the car racism mug.by despicablegoober December 10, 2023
Get the racism mug.