Why are people racist even towards people who aren't?

Question

I'm Caucasian and I live in the deep South. I'm not at all racist, but I've often noticed that when I'm nice to African American people, it seems like they think I'm being condescending or something. Somtimes I even get the evil eye just for looking at someone. I've also noticed that A/A's seem to stick together and not mingle much - I'd love to have diverse friends, but it seems hard when they're just as racist as they claim white people are...

I have no problem with ANY races or nationalities, but I do feel that sometimes people are being prejudiced towards ME because I'm white. Sometimes I think that people feel that there are these great cultural differences even within the US, and a lot of people I come across just don't seem to want to venture outside their comfort zones...

Answer 1

don't take it personal but yes,for the most part blacks where I'm from stick together. not b/c we hate whites or anyone else. we mingle,but within our circle. some blacks believe that the only way for the race to continue and thrive is for us to exclude all others from our social group. that's just the way it is. ever heard of the black power movement? it's being revived. that may be the reason why these blacks that you speak of act that way.

Answer 2

"they" , " nice to African Americans", A/A's? your talking about people, not aliens or some type of wild animal. I have a diverse group of friends, international as well as American. What Ive noticed is that my group of friends are comfortable when we are all together. But its hard for the "minority" to feel comfortable in areas or groups that lack diversity (for any race). Also in situations where one is percieved to be less than or lower because they look different, which is how what your saying is coming off to me just in the way you phrase yhour statement. You sound alot like its "us" vs "them" when, if I understand what your saying you should try to think of the world more as "we."

Answer 3

I'm gonna catch hell for this posting because I'm inter rested in race relations Ive been call a racist with every posting much like you probably will be......but here's my thought if you paid any attention to Katrina you can see that alot of blacks especially southern blacks still live in conditions not that far removed from slavery not just economically but also mentally... i was born in VA raised in the Bronx new york its more integrated here if you had the Klan terrorizing you for years you would develop a sense of fear and you probably would pass that on in your teachings to your children i suggest if you trully want to understand type willie lynch or wyllie lynch in you wikipedia and look for the willie lynch letters read em then youll understand a little better

Answer 4

Racism is a learnt behavior. Set a few toddlers of any and or all races, they will not distinguish between the color or beauty or any other criteria and will play based on the nature of the child. Unfortunately we forget this innocence on which ever side as we grow up. Thus when Jesus says be like Children, he is not meaning for us to become naive and gullible or ignorant, but to not look at things that do not matter.

If you are loving and kind to people, in due time people learn to rise above their "prejudices". Sometimes people stick together out of insecurity. Once the reasons for that insecurity are removed, then the need to stick together may go away. All of this takes time.

In my personal feeling and deep within my soul I see each and every person as the ARTWORK OF MY LORD, the ARTIST who created an enormous variety in everything. Everything is a display of an opportunity that exists in the realm of creation.

Thus I do not see the color of the skin as a means to look down or up, but to marvel at the variety the Lord has created. People who are short or tall, round or muscular. Everything, even the animals, the plants, the trees and the planets are marvellous displays of MY LORD ALMIGHTY!!

Once you have the LORD embedded deep within, then and then alone one can rise above all prejudice, and look with love even those who have prejudice in their hearts. Prejudice is a clear sign of insecurity and lack of understanding. Ignorance is given to us all, we all have to overcome and turn it into a clear innocence that looks at everything from the perspective of the CREATOR, and we can pray to HIIM to give us that abilty to see through issues. We need to always remember, that the eyes are given by HIM, so they are HIS, the MIND is given by him so it is HIS... he has given us a little bit of free will, which is also HIS GIFT TO US...... when we lose ourselves in HIM, then we could perhaps become HIS PERFECT TOOL?

THEN how can we be prejudiced based on any factor, color, race, national origin, religion, state of being ........ EVERYTHING is made by the CREATOR, and the CREATOR is MY LOVE!! So, everything is valued, everything loved for it is made by MY CREATOR MY LOVE!!

Answer 5

Maybe they still resent what our ancestors did to them and try to punish us for it. I also live in the south , and most of my friends are african american .I hate it when other caucasians are racist .they give southerners a bad reputation.

Answer 6

Everyone is a racist. You think African -americans are darker than Mexicans. You are racist because you prefer African-Americans over Mexicans when it comes to who is darker.

Answer 7

it may have something to do with their upbringing (parenting)

Answer 8

that is pride and prejudice