Why does the term "racist" carry so much weight?

Question

I'll be thought of a racist just for asking this question. If I were to make this statement just for example. (Black people are a minority.) People would start pointing a finger at me. You're a "racist". It's like the kiss of death or something. "RACIST" "MURDER" "RAPIST" The thing is, one person shouts racist and it automatically it becomes a fact.

Boy you two have made it very difficult to choose a best answer. I hate having it go to vote for fear someone else may get best answer. So I must pick one.

Answer 1

There are people in management, government, other politics, police etc., who are afraid of their lives of being called 'racist'. It is the curse of the times. Political correctness my ***. The vast majority would not know what racism is if it hit them between the eyes. There is nothing wrong with calling some one black, even black basket, provided you do not call all black people, black baskets. It is the same with the Irish. You can call an Irishman a drunken bastard, but you cannot call all Irishmen drunken bastards. (Being Irish obviously, makes it alright for me I suppose to make the analogy, and being married to a black woman, again makes it o.k. in the first instance). However, to get back to the point. If I read a question from an African American, I immediately realise that the person is black. If the same person had merely said that they were American, I suppose I would have assumed that they were white. I do wish, though, that Americans would not qualify their nationality with a prefix such as African, Polish, Latin etc.

Answer 2

there is a great deal of history attached to that word. it is a dark and painful history. there was and still is a lot of struggle to overcome the devastation that word caused and still causes. it all comes down to being careful with its usage. most people do not pay attention to the meaning of the words they use. stating facts is not being racist, but make sure you are stating facts. these situations are so detailed. it is an emotional subject, and emotions are different with people. the label of "RACIST" becomes a fact by your actions and not the spontaneous regergitation of the word by some careless (or sometimes extrememly hurt) person. look at the meaning of the word. do you meat the criteria of a racist? it's actually quite simple. yes, racists are still out there. they may sugarcoat themselves to hide, but they're there. we all need to educate ourselves so that we can make a positive id. God Bless You and Yours!

Answer 3

people fear that term whether it applies to them or not

Answer 4

yes thats the way it works