Free Agent Racism?

I do use the word “ain’t”, in fact I like to use it often, but not if I’m in a serious discussion or writing a serious paper about a serious subject…unless, of course, I’m making references such as you pointed out. I also use the word theory in it’s common sense, but not when I’m referring to the Theory of Evolution or Theory of Gravity. Pointing out definitions in the dictionary doesn’t mean I can apply any definition in any context. Well.. I guess I can in the literal sense, but it’s going to make for some iffy word choices at best and inaccuracies at worst. I try to use the best word for the situation, context and/or environment, which is why I wouldn’t use racism when predjudice is a much better, more descriptive word choice for the scenario you laid out.

And if somebody doesn’t hire you because you’re black, it’s likely because they feel your are inherently inferior, which is a perfect example of racism in it’s primary definition. It also implies the use of such beliefs as institutional policy. In that scenario, I would definitely use the word racism over predjudice.
Word use is more art than science.

You’ve really distorted what I’ve said and I’m just really ready to move on now. You can use the common meaning of racism and use it as it best conveniences you. People do it all the time (like my example with the word theory), but it doesn’t make it the best usage of the word in any given circumstance. To say Hudson is “racist” for his comments is a misuse of the word (and like Hudson himself, trivializes the real problem of racism) and just because you can point to it in a dictionary and one of the definitions say, “predjudice” or whatever best suits you, it doesn’t mean it’s the best or even correct usage of the word in any and every given scenario.

I can probably find someone on the street who will say, “Evolution is just a theory” and similarly trivialize it’s meaning. They can then point to the definition that says: “idea formed by speculation.” It doesn’t make them right. It still makes them utterly 100% wrong — even though it’s in the dictionary and even if it’s been in there for years and years.

I could try to say to them, “but theory in this case means, ‘ a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment. Such fact-supported theories are not “guesses” but reliable accounts of the real world. The theory of biological evolution is more than “just a theory.” It is as factual an explanation of the universe as the atomic theory of matter or the germ theory of disease. Our understanding of gravity is still a work in progress. But the phenomenon of gravity, like evolution, is an accepted fact.’

But if they are bent on saying it’s just speculation, I’d just be wasting my time. They can just whip out their dictionary and say “but, hey look at this other definition, it’s just as good”. I’d probably laugh or just walk away if they told me that definition is as appropriate as the intended one. It simply wouldn’t be worth my time to try and convince them.

Similarly, there are more appropriate uses for the word racism than the Hudson example or other examples you have used, but I can’t stop you from using one that best suits your agenda, whatever that may be. What I can, and will do, is simply dismiss it, knowing that it isn’t the best use of the word for the example you originally set out to prove — that Hudson is “racist” based on his comments about MLB and Jermaine Dye. It just doesn’t fit the situation no matter how hard you try to force it.