what is racism and what causes it?

Answer 1

Irrational Fear.

Answer 2

Daniel E had it right although it is copied from Wikipedia. The important thing to me is that racism implies the act of doing something based on a personal belief that people are inferior due to race differences.

Racism is therefore an act that reduces the discriminated party in power or position. Racism = denial of a bank loan, a mortgage officer practicing redlining, a teacher who grades differently for kids of another race, a boss that won't give a premier assignment because of his underlying racist beliefs, etc.....

Collectively, the racism exercised by individuals in such situations changes the total experience of the discriminated party in the culture / society. So people say, "That company is racist" because the collective racist acts (conscious or subconscious), if tolerated, create an "environment of racism."

If thought of this way, maybe people wouldnt be so sensitive about discriminated parties crying racism. People say, "I'm not racist!!". Maybe not. But other individual acts that have been tolerated by the majority organizational culture (club, school, corporation) truly have created a negative environment for those affected. In other words, weed the bad acts out and the culture improves for everyone.

Answer 3

Racism is when people judge you by your skin colour. It's not a white/black thing but a completely multi-cultural thing.

What causes it? The dislike of things that are different.

Daniel E - huh? That doesn't answer the question?

I've come back for another Edit. JustmeMimi is the only person here with any clue - it's about "the fear of the unknown". You don't necessarily like things you don't understand. It's NOT only white people who are racist. You'd be surprised to learn how many other races are even MORE racist than whites.

"Ignorance" and education have nothing to do with it, that's bs.

E R N I E - You're a genius. You've summed it up perfectly!

Answer 4

First of all: bias is not racism. It's just a natural response to difference...a preference for what we are familiar with and accustomed to.

Racism is an organized attempt to exclude a group of people from the benefits and privileges of society. Think apartheid. This is often accomplished by establishing "proof" that they are inferior and otherwise less deserving.
In America, this was done by convincing the populace that black people were fundamentally different. (Ex. They have unnatural expressions of faith in god). Then, by asserting that those differences were indicators of a natural predisposition to failure. (Ex. They cannot take care of themselves). After that, the rest was easy.

Anyone who believes that black people are inherently louder or predisposed to crime, is a victim of racism. Anyone who believes that Asians have a higher IQ (there exists statistical evidence), is a victim of racism.
If you believe that race even exist, you are a victim. If you believe that racism is the result of an aversion to difference, then you are a victim.
By victim, I mean they have suceeded in their endeavor; your perception of yourself and others is determined by them. It's only natural and to be expected. It's also fascinating.

Bias is natural. Racism is political. It's about power.

Answer 5

Racism refers to various belief systems maintaining that the essential value of an individual person can be determined according to a perceived or ascribed racial category and that social discrimination by race is therefore justifiable.

The word "racism" itself appeared in the 1930s, both in the English language and in French. Such racial prejudice usually includes the belief that people differ in aptitudes and abilities (such as intelligence, physical prowess, or virtue) according to race.

Most individuals who use the concept of racial categories believe that different races can be placed on a ranked, hierarchical scale. Racism may also be defined as the act of separating groups according to these ascribed race categories. In doing so the term receives the appropriate -ism ending, meaning the practice or act of doing such as described above.

By definition one who practices racism is known as a racist. Since racist became a pejorative term in developed nations during the last quarter of the twentieth century[citation needed], the identification of a group or person as racist is nearly always controversial.

Answer 6

Racism is akin to Xenophobia. People use their distrustful feeling towards others coupled with their inherent mannerisms that result thereof and try to justify their feelings due to this. Different cultures mannerisms that aren't shared or tolerated by other cultures, usually results in their twisting that mannerism to show why it's evil or contrary to what their belief system is based upon. Then they get others to believe their twisted take on other cultures customs and even physical appearance, to propagate and spread their lies broader. To be open and tolerant of all is the only way to truly defeat racism. Also reaching out to cultures you're afraid of due to a lack of understanding, helps bridge the gap of knowledge worldwide and defeat racism as well.

Answer 7

Ignorance and Fear.

Ignorance of differences in Skin color and what that MEANS to differences in races. Does it go further than skin deep? Why do people, including Hitler try to wipe out races based on "eugenics" (which was started in the United States in the late 1800's) when they would sterilize "undesireable", i.e., poor people, people of color, mentally retarded, people with low income jobs, etc. This then went on to become a national movement in the 1900's in the US and even Hitler picked it up from us. Eugenics in the US ended sometimes in the 1950's or so, when the last hold-out, Mental Hospitals stopped steralizing mental patients.

Instead of REALIZING that the only difference BETWEEN BLACK AND WHITE is nothing but skin color, they decide BASED ON NOTHING; THAT it must be Genetic and DNA. However, anyone with a decent education can tell you that "everyone is the same," the only difference is "skin deep." Sadly, the ignorance of some is seemingly "never-ending." ://

Answer 8

Racism refers to various belief systems maintaining that the essential value of an individual person can be determined according to a perceived or ascribed racial category and that social discrimination by race is therefore justifiable.

The word "racism" itself appeared in the 1930s, both in the English language and in French. Such racial prejudice usually includes the belief that people differ in aptitudes and abilities (such as intelligence, physical prowess, or virtue) according to race.

Most individuals who use the concept of racial categories believe that different races can be placed on a ranked, hierarchical scale. Racism may also be defined as the act of separating groups according to these ascribed race categories. In doing so the term receives the appropriate -ism ending, meaning the practice or act of doing such as described above.

By definition one who practices racism is known as a racist. Since racist became a pejorative term in developed nations during the last quarter of the twentieth century[citation needed], the identification of a group or person as racist is nearly always controversial.

cause: parents raising their children with racist beliefs, practicing prejudices at home, etc.

Answer 9

Racism is the act of prejudice, hating, accusing or mistreating someone of a specific race, just because of their race. Like when a person gets bullied by whites because he/she is black, even when that person didn't do anything wrong. It is often caused by certain people within that race who have a notorious reputation for: breaking the law, being arrogant, and etc., therefore, people tend to assume that everyone else who is of similar race acts the same way. Its just wrong.

Answer 10

Racism is the cruelty toward a race other than your own. Close-minded people who believe in stereotyping cause it. The film "Crash" is a prime example of how racist people can be and what people may do in situations that involve people of another race. Racism isn't something to be proud of, nor project toward another person. I suggest renting "Crash" (rated R) if you want to fully understand racism and stereotyping.

Answer 11

Some scientist have theorized that it's origins were a defense mechanism and survival instinct in prehistoric man for clan survival. Basically, be weary and/or aggressive to those not a part of your clan. This base "Animal instinct" may still be prevalent but society has just put a name on it and attempted to justify it. Whether or not these scientist are correct, choice and environment are the major factors that propagate racism in today's society.