Why do you think racist groups still exist?

Question

I understand how groups like the Nazis used racist propaganda to unite the Germans and brainwash the majority of the population, but that was when communication between peoples was restricted. Today the entire world is connected via the internet, television, ect. and a much more excepting place. In our modern society where diversity and tolerance is taught and expected why do inviduals still cling to racist lies?

Answer 1

Actually, they're fairly marginalized.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan

Here's the KKK's membership

year membership
1920 4,000,000
1930 30,000
1970 2,000
2000 3,000

So you see it's died down quite a bit. I'd say that like every other belief,... there's a spectrum of feelings towards it ie a level of dedication towards implementing. The KKK and skin heads are on a high-level of the spectrum. I'm sure there are individuals in between a more tolerant level and extreme level.

I happen to think that explaining it as ignorance or even lies is not quite an accurate display of what's occuring. I'm quite sure you can come-up with situations that barter a sort of guilt upon certain individuals...but it's the broad stroke of painting an entire race that begins to be illogical. It's not ignorant or a lie to assert that there are some scummy people within every race, but the extreme side of that view is, that all those people are scummy.

You must remember it was only a couple hundred years ago that we lived for centuries basically divided from anyone else but our 'own', so it will realistically take some time before everyone is more to the tolerant side of the spectrum. Personally I believe either extreme is a bit illogical...being tolerant of EVERYTHING is just as stupid as being tolerant to NOTHING,....JMO.

Answer 2

Fear. People fear what they don't know or understand. That's why education is one of the best weapons against racism.

I used to live in Romania where the majority of people are latin in descent and appearance. They don't have a lot of minorities (comparatively). Once I was walking down the street with a Romanian teenager friend. A black guy crossed the street in front of us. My friend freaked out. She had never seen a black person before.

When people become educated they learn that we as humans are so very similar to each other. It dispels the "us vs. them" complex that racists have. They believe "They" will take away "our" jobs or hurt "us". The fact is, there isn't a "them", only us. The same happens with us Americans and people of other nationalities. We don't want "our" jobs going to another country.

Answer 3

Racism still exists because adults allow their children to learn the short-sighted, ignorant perspective of a world long gone. I can't believe that people still have a problem with color, religion or sexual preference in this day and age. It has become a world of diversity in this country, for the sake of respecting all people in the culture, custom and lifestyle that they have chosen. It is not up to the closed minded, out of date racist to decide who is acceptable. We are all acceptable, it is their problem to learn to get over it faster and live within our diverse society.

Answer 4

people cling to racist "lies" and truths because there is absolutely nothing wrong in clinging to your kind. animals do it.internet,television, all forms of media may mean better connections but it also means more wide spread propaganda MIXED with some truths. If you are so accepting and TOLERANT why do you want these people to change? racists are of all forms of people and animals none all wrong or right they just are. true tolerance is accepting everything at face value.celebrating our differences does not mean assimilating people to one culture.

Answer 5

Ignorance

Answer 6

Narrow minded, ignorant and scared of the real truth! See my friend, that I don't even know, you have to understand that using your brain takes more action, so lazy shallow minded indiviuals rather consider using their brains the easy way! Lazy, ignorant Bums!

Answer 7

They still exist because people always want to blame their shortcomings and problems on others instead taking responsibilities themselves.

Answer 8

1) Resistance to change.

a) close-mindedness. Some folks are not open to change (even if it's the nth century).

b) ignorance

c) immaturity

2) Those who resist change pass it on to their kids/family/friends.

Answer 9

Because there is still hate in the world.

Answer 10

because fear, insecurities about themselves, and their refusal to see that what they fight against, is really what harbors within themselves.

until acceptance is taught to every child, everywhere, there will always be hatred, prejudices, and racists running ramped.