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 Racismmug. When an individual undermines the validity/significance behind a person or group's efforts with the intent of categorizing them by their race.
"Hey you see that guy, he's so talented at his sport"
"Not really, he's just black, that's what they're good at."
"Hey man that's fractal racism"
"Not really, he's just black, that's what they're good at."
"Hey man that's fractal racism"
by Diego brazilla November 13, 2022
Get the fractal racismmug. 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. by ValIsDesperate October 26, 2019
Get the Racismmug. When a man from the Balkans goes full racism mode on a person of colour for a reason that can vary from mild argument to losing a match in Roblox football. What usually proceeds is the man experiencing the syndrome called Lithuanian Ball Cancer, which usually cause the man to die within 72 hours
Youseff: Damn bro, Jeremiah went full Balkan racism mode!
Jeremiah: (Racist with Lithuanian ball cancer symptoms)
Jeremiah: (Racist with Lithuanian ball cancer symptoms)
by weednosethereindeer January 15, 2022
Get the Balkan racism modemug. 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. by weewooweewooweewooweewoo May 8, 2022
Get the textbook racismmug.