This is a serious question. Why are people racist?

Question

It doesn't makw any sense to hate someone just because of thier skin color. I just don't get it!

It doesn't make any sense to hate someone just because of thier skin color. I just don't get it!

Answer 1

It isn't because of the skin color directly. People are grouped by skin color and stereotyped by the majority. So say you don't like the fact that a couple black kids in your neighborhood act like the thuggs they see on TV so you assume that every black person is like that. It's the stereotyping that does it. People fear what they don't understand and that also plays a part. That is why people get nervous on an airplane when a man with a turban gets on... they don't know much about the religion or culture so they figure that all of them are the same. That man could have been a christian, but still people get nervous. And fianlly, the way they are raised. If you are raised in a Chrisitan home and never really step outside of the church you will always believe in God becuase there is no reason not to. Same thing here, you were always told "white is right and everything else is worthless" so why should you think differently... you won't until you step outside of the influence. So your answer ignorance. Ignorantly stereotyping, ignorantly raised, or ignorant towards culture. I don't agree with it in any way but that is why.

Answer 2

What a lot of people don't want to admit is that racism is a natural thing that everyone has a little bit. It's not a good thing, and it would be nice if we could find ways to help people think differently but it's instinct.

When you see a lot of people who act a certain way a lot, and they all look about the same, the tendency is to just think that all people who look like that are that way.

I live in an area where there aren't a lot of black people, so around here are prejudice about young white men with baggy pants. The reason is because around here there are a lot of college students are who are drinking, partying til all hours of the night, driving to fast, or driving drunk.....

So people are always trying to get local laws passed to stop this, and police are always on the look out whenever they see a pack of college students walking together. Unfortunately of the few black people that do live in this town, there is kind of a high percentage of them that sell crack and commit other crimes. So unfortunately it's easy to see a black guy walking down the street dressed in baggy clothes, a lot of expensive jewelry and say to yourself "probably a crack dealer."

Obviously the majority of black people our perfectly good people, but there are still enough of them that aren't. So until you start meeting and seeing more minorities that are good honest people, the tendency for a lot of people is going to be, walks like duck, talks like a duck, looks like a duck, must be a duck.

Answer 3

Im not an expert on this subject,but i do have a few ideas why? Because at one point in my life i was a racist. Ignorance is a good start.Also the way i was raised and my older family members also contributed to my stupidity. But i also was on the otherside to i was a fat kid and an italian in a small country town. I was picked on treated like crap and left out of every event. It is not the same as racism but i could relate to a certain degree.

Answer 4

In general, people are more comfortable with people who are similar to them and less comfortable with people who are different. This is natural to an extent, but when politics and class differences come into play, fear and distrust of those that are different can become racism, bigotry, and xenophobia.

One of the main means by which people are able to rationalize racism is overgeneralization. Basically, this occurs when people generalize the faults of one or two people to their entire race. Naturally, nobody ever does this to their own race. If you're white, you don't generally generalize the crimes and faults of white guys to the whole race and conclude that all white people are criminals. Naturally, since you yourself are white and you don't feel that you're a criminal, you don't make this mistake. But you do judge other races like that, which results in racism.

In other words, it's a result of fear, ignorance, and irrational overgeneralization.

Answer 5

I'm not going to PC you with some Liberal malarky. I prefer things straight with no chaser... People fear what they don't understand. Consequently, fear breeds hatred. It's a natural human feeling to gravitate towards the familiar whether it be economically, racially, culturally, etc. As an African-American I am more comfortable with --for lack of a better term--rednecks that urban African-American because that's who I grew up with. I'm more comfortable with upper class Americans than I am with poorer ones. In Spain, I was more comfortable with Americans than I was with my Spanish friends. Hey, but if you're exposed to different types of people your circle expands and the less uncomforable you feel. I'm hoping that with time mine gets much wider. So if you run across someone who says, "I really hate ...[insert group here]" just realize that their circle is infinitely smaller than yours is... then walk away.

Answer 6

Some people just hate others. There are racist who hate people of their own color. Look at the Balkans-they are all white and hate each other. In Africa there are about 5 subgroups, all black and they all hate each other. The problem is just hate, not necessarily color.

Answer 7

As a black woman, I've often pondered that question myself. To me, people who are racists are pretty much brainwashed by what their families tell them primarily. Folks aren't born racist, they're MADE that way. All people got to do is take the time to get to know each other.

Answer 8

racism is ignorance and/or jealousy and/or fear. we fear what we don't know. we hate those who appear better then us. we are ignorant of people and their races/values/upbringing because for one we don't ask, second we don't want to really know the answer and third if we don't like ourselves then we find we don't like others. racism in any form is wrong. you can dislike someone for something they have done but to dislike someone because of their color is ignorance of the worse form. would you want to raise your children to hate a race just because of their color? think about it. everyone is different and that's what makes this world of ours unique

Answer 9

Well most people are only secure with their own color because that person looks like them.

Answer 10

i have no idea because it's not like we choose which race we want to be born in.our skin colour is something that we have no control over so why are people looked down upon solely because of the colour of their skin.