why is a person a racist? are they born that way? or is it taught or learned?

Answer 1

Hatred breeds hatred.....it makes me sick....there is such beauty in all walks of life all colors......I think people hate what they dont understand....so thats why "Im a lover....not a fighter..."

Answer 2

A learned behavior is reinforced by a persons surroundings=to the amount of time over the days/months/years this behavior is reinforced. Now here is a question to your question. Can a learned behavior willfully be undone over time? In my humble opinion the answer is yes. Use me for example, I was raised by a father that is a bigot but my mother hated racism. By the way they were divorced and I understood. Anyway I was exposed to my dads silly, stupid, moronic racist remarks all the time and I never turned into that. I made a choice to not be like that, not someone else trying to change me. So yes people can change and stop seeing color as a factor and see only what the person really is in their heart. To this day I find myself saying this all the time when I get around a group that wants to make fun, being a racist makes us white people look stupid, because it is stupid and low class social behavior.

Answer 3

Actually I think it's a little of both. Everyone's a little frightened of new or different places, people, things. You don't think native americans were freaked when they saw these bigass ships and the first spaniard or englishman? Most intelligent people get over the shock of new things to their enviroment and move on which is where the learned part comes in. Some people never get over the differences and it's all they can see. They can't see the good the difference brings only the fear and the bad they imagine it will bring. So they will fight the difference, reason does not apply nor is it listened to becasuse most fears have no real reasoning.

Answer 4

It is taught and it is ignorance.
Some of the early answers by the gamers around here demonstrate the fact that manners are not taught to everyone.

When I think about the blatant racists I have known I think it is
people who feel inadequate themselves and feel the need to put people down to bring them down to their level. Ergo : they do it because they think the person they taunt is better than they are but they can't face that so they bully instead.
All the racists I have met were underachievers and nasty to be around for other reasons.
Racists are like bullies. and bully behavior it taught by people letting the persons get away with it

Answer 5

Sometimes, I think people are just born that way. But I also know it is a learned state. Kids pick it up, unfortunately from their parents. My dad was/is and my ex-husband is but I'm teaching my kids NOT to be. Skin color doesn't mean a thing, it's what a person is like on the inside that counts, we all bleed the same, we all hurt the same.

Answer 6

Racism is learned, but discrimination is inherent. We are constantly being bombarded by so many signs and signals that our brains must devise categories in order to understand it all. We usually devise categories based on how these things or people are different -- by what makes them stand out. This neutral discrimination can lead to racism if a person consciously decides that these differeneces and categories have a value attributed to them, that one thing is better than (or worse than) another. These types of attitudes are usually learned, whether it be from family, peers, the media, books, etc.

Answer 7

Racism is a learned behavior. Unfortunately, racists breed and make more little racists. Children learn from their environment. If they hear their father or mother say a racial slur, they pick it up.

A psychology study concluded that racists are actually very insecure people who look for someone they deem "weaker" to pick on and make themselves feel better. Just like the man who is insecure and deems women "weaker" and treats them like dirt.

So, look at these people as insecure people who are not happy with themselves looking for a scape goat. Basically, losers.

Answer 8

I teach 2nd grade (and have taught 4, 5, and 6 th grade as well in my career) and watching children--I really think it is learned. I am white, but teach in a predominately Hispanic neighborhood. The children in my classes (especially 2nd - 5th) are blissfully unaware that I am any different than them. The see me as a mother figure. I feel genuine love and admiration from them. I have taught 6th grade as well. By 6th grade I can feel murmurings of me being a white teacher etc. every once in a while. It has really made me think of what me do and say to our children and how it affects them. That Biblical verse about "you need to become as a child" We can learn so much from children. They don't have those prejudices and I regret that they eventually learn them from us.

Answer 9

Of course, it's learned. But sometimes, some sicko teaches his/her kid to be a racist. I don't believe anybody is EVER born with racism. It's just isn't possible. For example, if your whole family is racist, that doesn't mean you are, too!

Answer 10

They are not born that way. As with any behavior it is taught or learned.

Answer 11

It is a learned behaviour that can be taught to the person by many factors including their parents, and their environment.