racial grievance industry

9.9

People who use racial issues to gain money, power or attention and increase social division

noun
/ˈreɪʃəl ˈɡriːvənss ˈɪndəstri/

Offensive

: industria de las quejas raciales

Some critics argue that the racial grievance industry stifles genuine discussion about important issues.

Examples

Critics argue that the racial grievance industry thrives on division.
He claimed that the racial grievance industry benefits from ongoing social tensions.
Debates about the role of the racial grievance industry are common in political commentary.
Many believe the racial grievance industry is harmful to society.
Many believe the racial grievance industry is harmful to society.
He claimed that the racial grievance industry benefits from ongoing social tensions.
Some critics argue that the racial grievance industry stifles genuine discussion about important issues.

Surface Forms

racial grievance industry singular

racial grievance industries plural

Morphology

racial + grievance + industry

The constituents 'racial' (about race), 'grievance' (complaint) and 'industry' (a sector/organized activity) allow a learner to infer a sector or group dealing with race-related complaints, so the broad idea is reconstructible from the parts. However, the use of 'industry' is metaphorical (suggesting organized, often profit-seeking or exploitative activity) and the negative/pejorative nuance may not be fully predictable without prior exposure.

Etymology

Racial grievance industry compares complaints about race to a business: grievance means 'complaint' and industry means 'business'. The image is of groups or people treating racial complaints like a product to sell, so the phrase is used to say they are 'making money' or getting attention from race issues.