Why are people so racist?

Question

Answering Summer's question, I posted it under Parenting cause usually parents know the answers

Answer 1

http://answers.yahoo.com/search/search_result;_ylt=AhuV8ROIj9V4IKZjCmYvmXkjzKIX?p=why%20are%20people%20racist&t=n-849661499_q-VfUCjoI9ho.JDqHeZ7LfFAABAA@@

And you think your the only one asking this question.....

Answer 2

As a black person, I've thought a lot about that issue. Some people are racist because they were taught by their families to be racist. Many are racist because of self esteem issues. For example, a very poor and uneducated white person may have nothing else going for him/herself except the notion they are not on the bottom of the heap because black people are there. Many people are racist and do not know it because they think they are in fact superior, more intelligent, etc and therefore their racial views are simply a reflection of fact. Finally, Many people do not know they are racist. Most White Americans (and, apparently, Frenchmen too) don't want to deal with issues of racism because that would require revisiting all the things done to blacks, Chinese, and other minorities throughout history. They would also have to honestly revisit events in which Whites deliberately burned successful black (and probably Chinese, too) businesses and homes because blacks weren't supposed to be successful.

The best thing each of us can do is to (1) conduct an ongoing re-examination of our own beliefs about other ethnic groups and (2) speak up when our friends and acquaintances make remarks that sterotype others.

Answer 3

People aren't racist, persons are. Every person has the potential to be racist, white, black, asian, middle eastern. It's probably because of the way they were raised or they have a general idea of how a certain race is and automatically think everyone from that race is like that. Ignorance does have a lot to do with it. People don't like what they don't know, fear probably has more to do with it than ignorance.

Answer 4

People are ignorant , and often afraid of what they do not understand. What saddens me the most is racism is a learned behavior. Hating anyone who is different is wrong on so many levels. I, for one, enjoy the friendship of many whose race, religion, and customs are different than mine. Haters will not ever fully know the enriching world of diversity. Peace

Answer 5

hatred pure and simple. everyone is a soul with an exterior. like a car everyone fuctions the same but others look better. some like trucks and some hate trucks ect. its just a mild form a prejudice everything revolves around it.

Answer 6

First of all, it's not just whites racist to blacks, it's also blacks racist to whites. Second, you can also be racist to Spanish people. Don't think it's just whites to blacks. It's because people blame different things on different people and think that they're the best.

Answer 7

There are several answers to this question - environment, upbringing, fear, ignorance, intolerance, or a need to be "top dog" just to name a few.

Answer 8

Because they are ignorant. They are always afraid of soemthing or someone they don't understand, so they are basically cowards too.

Answer 9

They usually pick it up from adults when they are kids. Sad isn't it.

Answer 10

There ignorant and don't want to open their minds to different things.

Answer 11

Most people aren't,not in their hearts, which you'll learn if you are open and as you get older.