Racism in LOTR?

[Lotessa]

I’ve thought about this and frankly, I don’t think Tolkien meant there to be any racism between Elves and Dwarves. Maybe some of jealously and rivalry, though, as Elves were the chosen races and Aule went and created powerful Dwarves, which became a strong race. The Elves felt threatened by their rivals and so have had an intense dislike for Dwarves.

Elves don't really "hate" humans and dwarves

No, I don’t think they did at all. Elves were quite proud, being the chosen race and all, and felt they were better than Men and envious of Dwarves.

LOTR actually calls the black people from Far Harad who fought against Gondor at the battle of the Pellanor Fields troll-men

As far as I know, the Haradrim were only compared to Trolls in strength and size, not meaning they were ‘trolls’.

…….and out of Far Harad black men like half-trolls with white eyes and red tongues

And Orcs, well, they were a foul black colour and pitch black would normally signify evil, which they were, so I wouldn’t call that racism.

Just an observation, the Istari were also named by colour e.g. Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown, Saruman the White.

And also, as others have said, Middle-earth was principally a Western setting, sporting more European kinds of races.

Being from South Africa, I’ve been exposed to a lot of racism and have seen the attitudes of other with people who are from the era when the white South African government was corrupted, against black people.

My conclusion, I don’t believe a respectable professor like Tolkien would be a racist at all, let alone publicize it in is books.

Thanks, and it’s been great voicing my opinions with you.

~Lotessa