Why don't people understand that racism and bigotry aren't always in the form of negativity??

Question

They think if it's not in the form of hate or anger,it's not discriminatory......!!What's up with that?

They think if they say"all blacks are lazy"they are racist,but if they say"all blacks know how to dance" they are not being racist!

Answer 1

Right. Racism is racism whether you're saying something bad or something good. I don't know why this point is missed on so many people.

Answer 2

Generalization about anyone or anything are usually wrong. People assume things. When they hate a quality they assume that anything related to it will have that same quality. However, if they truly admire a quality they will assume that anything related to it will again have that quality. There's a commercial on TV just now about Volkswagens where people assume things about the drivers because they're driving a Jetta. It's a funny commercial but the underlying theme isn't so funny. You're right in that discrimination is discrimination no matter what form it takes. I would caution you though that sometimes lack of knowledge comes into play. Meaning that a person can say or do something without intending it to be insulting or hurtful. Sometimes we need to be forgiving. It's a bit too easy for us to make something out of nothing and then we show our own discriminatory attitudes. For example, I was working in a mixed office, white, black, brown, with several different religions, all different ages. There was an ongoing conversation, that everybody was involved in, that wasn't business appropriate and I was a bit annoyed with it. So and I quote said, "Oh, you people are so silly..." Before I could complete my sentence a woman of color confronted me in a loud voice with, "You people! You people! What exactly do you mean by you people?" I had to explain myself like I was some redneck bigot. The funny part of all this is she picked the wrong person to be offended by. I have both friends and family who are of her race so it was foolish on her part and it showed she just wanted an argument. We have to be sure there's a real problem before we make an issue of it.

Answer 3

Racism is a term used to describe prejudice and discrimination and implies racial inferiority.
Saying white men can't jump, or black men can dance is just making a sweeping generalisations, which is not good either, but it's not generally classed as racism or prejudice as it is without the bigotry or superiority.

And may I add that bigotry can not be seen in a positive light at all. Being called a bigot is an insult not a compliment and I can't think of one instance when this would not be the case.

Answer 4

Actually the real problem is why is it only racist if whites say things about blacks but not if blacks say things about whites or other races. Racism is racism no matter who you are. What people don't understand is that being a certain race doesn't entitle you to say whatever you want.

Answer 5

Making relaxing of someones faith isn't racism, regardless of if that's bullying and smallminded. a lot of atheists that seem to have a subject with their vanity come right here in basic terms to insult people who have faith in a undeniable faith, that's bascially bullying. curiously, the two a lot of atheists have some very deep lack of self belief issues which finally leads to their might desire to bully, or they're in simple terms ignorant. i think its a surprisingly honest blend of the two. unusual however, the agnostics are not generally like that, in simple terms the rather rabid atheists. i assume rabid atheists are interior an identical classification as fundies, huh?

Answer 6

Seems like you are looking for a rational explanation to be a RACIST!!!!

Judgement of a person, or a community segment based on race, religion, national origin or any (other) visible characteristic is rascism, and fascism and is WRONG on a moral level and against the law of the USA (even though the government doesn't seem to enforce it all that well)

Answer 7

please provide an example. you have most of us confused....

do you mean when people say:

Don't take this as a racist comment, but why are you Mexicans so lazy? Do you drink Tequila for breakfast, lunch and dinner? Do you put it in your baby's bottle?

Stupid questions like that? because I HAVE had some looloos try and come across as "non-racist" but go on to ask pretty racist and small-minded questions....

Answer 8

racisim and bigotry has been around since man was put upon this earth..it will always be here forever and forever..assuming your black because of your profile ..and because you people are always bickering about how mistreated you are how can one even forget it exist..look at the news you cry look in the grocery stores you cry. we aint getting our due no matter how much we bend your always bickering..the n word will always be there no matter what forever.. ..people trying to eat out yackety yack loud like a bunch of crows we cant even enjoy our meal because you want us to know your there...actuly your so called white friends are lying to you...they really dont like you at all..its a fake believe you me

Answer 9

You may be referring to what is known as "the oppression of the benefactor." This is where the "benefactor" says to the downtrodden, "I will help you. Let me help you." Then, when the oppressed person is ready to get helped, the benefactor decides what the nature of your problem is, what kind of help you will get, and what hoops you have to jump through in order to receive that help. Never mind what you may actually think you need. "Benefactors" will actually get quite irate if you dare to suggest that you might know what's best for you better than they do.

Answer 10

Racism is as evil as homophobia and other forms of discrimination and both should be combated, no matter the forms they are take. End of story!!