play the race card

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play the race card (third-person singular simple present plays the race card, present participle playing the race card, simple past and past participle played the race card)

1. (idiomatic, often derogatory) 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!

• play the gender card