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.
DefinitionRES 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).”