[tmp538394722]

If I understand the point you’re trying to make - I appreciate it, but I wonder if you might be talking past each other.

Just to be clear, consensus is intentionally very different from a simple majority system - the way that most of the historical racist systems have perpetuated.

It’s certainly not impossible for these things to exist in a consensus based environment, but it’s a different beast.

[stale2002]

> Just to be clear, consensus is intentionally very different from a simple majority system

Ok call it a consensus then. We as a society, want to make laws, that prevent certain communities from enacting a "consensus" to kick out certain races from where they live.

[southerntofu]

> We as a society, want to make laws

I'm definitely not convinced that laws can protect people from injustice. Rules can if they're consented by everyone (while laws are imposed by a minority of self-serving politicians).

In some communes i know, an overtly racist person would not dare to join because there's already established people of color in the community and a strong commitment to various forms of decolonization. In others, they may slip in, but will get very rough feedback if they're open about it. Of course racism can be more low-key and normalized and i've seen my share of that, but that's definitely not welcomed either in most communities. I'm not saying racist communities (racism being part of their identity) don't exist, but i've never seen any one and i'm personally not interested to see one... (though to be fair i'd much rather have them live their dream white patriarchal life in a corner rather than try to impose it on everyone else)

It's definitely valid for a commune to recognize as a goal to fight against racism. It can take many forms, but just like any fundamental principle it must be decided early on and approved by consensus in order to become part of the commune's essence if you will. Of course, if you build a so-called apolitical community (such as a property-based housing coop) and don't take a stand, then you're doomed to repeat the same schemes and mistakes we witness everyday around us in society. Of course political communes make mistakes too, but there's always times and venues to address the issues and learn from the mistakes.

PS: A consensus is not a majority. One dissenting person can break a consensus, while 45% can fail to break a majority.