Is there really any person that is completely free from prejudice and racism towards people?

Question

Or are we all racist or prejudiced even if it's not a major nazi type racism

MLK had to be prejudice'd against white peope even if it was nominal

Answer 1

I believe we all have a tendency towards some level of prejudice, whether we yeild to that tendency or not.

I feel there are two reasons prejudice will always be with us in one form or another.

1. Shortcut
I takes a while to know who is honest & who isn't, who is a hard worker & who isn't, etc.
Prejudice allows people to think they can look at someone & have a short cut to knowing those important things.

2. Feeling superior.
This was said to me (by someone who never could hold down a job or make ends meet) when I asked if he could afford the rent where he was moving.
"What do you think? I'm not like those muchachos from the other side of the tracks who doesn't even TRY to pay their bills!"
translation; I may be a loser but I'm not as a big of a loser as THOSE people!

I suspect a lot of the prejudice blacks face today isn't racism in the strict sense. It's not prejudice against the race, as much as the culture. In other words, "it's OK to be black as long as you walk, talk & act white." It's still prejudice.

Example: A black with a strong black dilect will be treated very differently from one who talks "white."
(I'm not talking about bad grammer, just different phonetics.)

I think of Jeff Foxworthy's joke "People hear this accent & want to automatically deduct 20 IQ points." How many IQ points do you think get deducted from someone with a black dialect?

There are also many other ways to be prejudice. We are most familar with racial, ethnic or religious. Be there is also prejudice against the fat & the ugly. I was prejudice against "jocks" in high shool & college. I assumed they were all shallow & stupid.

Answer 2

We all have prejudices of some kind. It helps us categorize things in our minds. But...we also must learn to be willing to change our perceptions.

For example, prejudices may actually protect us...If I see a young man who's dressed a certain way, I might prejudge that he's not someone I'd want to walk by with my purse open. However, if I got a chance to speak to him, I would change my mind if he's not what I thought of him initially.

The prejudices that are harmful involve thoughts and actions that hurt others. If I saw that same person, I would not call him names or speak badly about him.

Answer 3

Many Buddhists work to be free of hate and prejudice. But, I'd bet that some bias still exists. It's human nature to prefer things that are familiar. A different ethnicity has a different facial structure, different skin tone, different hair type, different names, different foods, dress, habits, ways of speaking. Many people are peaceful and loving to others, but we will always prefer the familiar. That isn't' racism, it's just human social behavior.

Answer 4

Its human nature to judge because realistically its just necessary for survival, but as a responsible human being in a diverse society one should make it a point not to discriminate against others solely based on stereotypes when at all possible. Its hard to do DEFINITELY especially when faced with a split second decision (like whether or not to lock your car doors when a black man walks by your car in a parking lot) I even as a minority and a woman struggle with it myself despite my best efforts.

Answer 5

I think, there might be some people who arent racist, but to be free from prejudice.. i dont think so.
In high-class stores or restaurants, if you're wearing not-so-glamour clothes, they wont serve you well. they will think "this person dont have any money, wont buy anything" and ignore you. but when you're carrying, say.. Prada bag or wearing Armani suit, they will definitely smile broadly and serve ya like really well.
Try to walk into designer stores , you'll see.

Answer 6

Prejudice is simply a by-product of ignorance.
Nobody is born prejudiced; it is something that is learnt. The way we see others depends on what we hear and read about them, on what we hear them say, and the things we see them do.

Answer 7

My university professor said we all have prejudice but that we have to be aware of them and not to act upon to them
so basically - we have prejudice (all kinds, doesn't need to be racism, it can be sexism, ageism, etc.) so we should be conscious about them and try not to act upon them

Answer 8

gandhi
Martin Luter King

Answer 9

There are 6 billion people in the world,. im sure there are LOTS out there.

Answer 10

we all judge. it's in our nature...but it is someshing that we should try to get rid of...