English

Verb

play the race card

1. (idiomatic, often pejorative) To assert that race or racism is involved in a situation, especially in order to exploit racist or antiracist attitudes.
   • 1997, Mark Fuhrman, Murder in Brentwood, page 153

     The defense played the race card, but Ito let them.

   • 2002, Donald A. Carson, Love in Hard Places, page 94

     Moreover, some leaders on both sides of any racial divide love to play the race card to keep themselves in power.

   • 2015 May 15, Tatsuya Ishida, “Black Lives 3”, in Sinfest:

     White man: White privilege? Now you're just playing the race card.
     Clio: No. I'm not "playing the race card". Because racism isn't a card game to me. It can get me killed or jailed... threaten my livelihood. I don't have the privilege to treat it like a game.
     White man: Oooo well played!

Coordinate terms

• play the gender card