Why are people racist?

Question

I just don't understand....Why?

Answer 1

Ooooo....TOUCHY subject, for sure. In a nutshell, I would say it's easier to objectify and classify people than to deal with individuals on a one-to-one basis. Sort of a "pigeon-hole" response. And then again, some people are taught to be a certain way from birth, and if they're pretty young, may still be that way. I got called the "n" word the other day. And would you believe it? From the mouth of a child (around 10 - I am mixed - Jewish/Native American/Irish). I told the child, "No, that's a bad word and you should not say that". He had the most evil look on his face. I don't think there can be a definitive answer to this question. For there to be a reason for being racist would be saying people who take this route have an excuse to hate, and there is never a reason to hate.

Answer 2

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 3

Enivorment, Customary and life effects that make a person racists. If I was born into a family who hated anyone who was different then I would more then likely be racists or If a person who was different did something horrible to me that was unforgivable then I would more then likely be the same. You can't hate people because they are ignorant it just feeds them and proves nothing to them. You just have to be a postive person and hope they can change.

Answer 4

No one is born a racist. It is a level of thinking that is taught. Until people start to question those lessons they'll accept them as the truth and the way things should be and we'll always be battling against racism.

Answer 5

Because the people they're racist against make it too easy to be a racist. So many of them seem proud in fitting their stereotypes, and it gives their whole race a bad name.

Answer 6

because they have not been taught any other way

people are still living in the old times - when it was ok to be racist - they have passed their beliefs / ways on to their children and so on

Need to break the cycle and then there will be no more racism in the world - hopefully

Answer 7

Some people are racist because most of the people within
a given race that they have met are of a low class...
Some people are racist because of inflated egos...
There will always be racism...
It is one of the human foibles...

Answer 8

They think a certain race isnot as good as their own but they failed to understand that everyone is equal.

Answer 9

They are looking for something that makes them feel better about themselves. Someone to blame.

"If it weren't for (insert group here) I'd be (rich, employed)."

Terrible, terrible trait.

Answer 10

They think they are better then everyone else.