play the race card

present singular third person plays the race card · participle present playing the race card · participle past played the race card · past played the race card

1. derogatoryidiomaticoftenTo assert that race or racism is involved in a situation, especially in order to exploit racist or antiracist attitudes.

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

   1997, Mark Fuhrman, Murder in Brentwood, page 153

   2 more examples

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

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

   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!

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