Second Life is being used as a forum to discuss the problems of racialism in the real world.

The Study of Racialism (TSOR) is a SL group dedicated to discussing the topic of Racialism in the concepts of genetics, and the history during the antebellum era, Jim Crow era, and modern day history.

Racialism is the idea that ethnicity is genetically predetermined, and is a broader, more general concept than racism.  At the same time, racialism is also applied when discussing affirmative action and civil rights laws.

The group, headed by Raymond Frog meets twice on Wednesdays to discuss several different topics related to the issue.  The meetings occur at 2pm and 7pm SLT.

The first half of each meeting is a lecture led by Frog, and the second half is used as a discussion related to the topic.

The topics for next week are: The One-Drop rule in the Post-bellum Lower South (2pm) and Melungeons, Redbones, and Other U.S. Maroons (7pm).

The One-Drop Rule refers to a law passed by several southern states in the early 1900s stating if a person had one drop of African blood in their body, the person was black.  The concept was mainly used for political gain during the Jim Crow era, but was deemed illegal in 1967.

Though the group mainly talks about the racialism in the United States, the topic often is discussed about European nations as well.

Each meeting takes place in the TSOR Conference Center.  The building is filled with several books written by Frog which one can buy for 95 Linden or view for free on the website he provides.  The publishing company is called Backintyme Publishing.