Modern racism has been entirely defined by the artificial constructions of "black" and "white", which are American inventions.
Slavery encouraged "whites" to look at "blacks" as a separate species, because to view slaves as human beings would be massively problematic from a Christian perspective. This notion of biological division between "whites" and "blacks" remains a strong current in US racism, often backed by junk-science. I read a commentary 15 years ago that said there would never be another white heavyweight boxing champion because blacks were "naturally stronger", a bit like gorillas. But the heavyweight division is now dominated by Russians.
The claim that Africans are a separate "species" is very difficult to maintain outside the American bubble. In Europe, Africans and Europeans have lived in close proximity for millennia. Skin colour is closely (and correctly) associated with climate - pale Scandinavians, dark Italians, darker Africans. There is no evidence that the Roman Empire - which founded Europe's civilization - viewed black Africans as any more "barbaric" than blond Saxons. Both were enslaved, and both could become free Romans.
"Africanness" has little to do with racism outside the United States. In other parts of the world racism is most often directed at transnational or nomadic communities - Jews and gypsies - who are often accused of not playing by local rules of business or ethics. Watch Borat for a reminder.