Serious question on prejudicism...?

Question

This is a serious question so I need serious answers. I have finally admitted to myself and acknowledged the fact that I was sorta... kinda-racist/prejudice. I formally apologize to anyone on here that I have offended. I didn't post this question to be mean or anything. It's a serious question I have. I'm open-minded but I still have my prejudices about certain people. What can I do to get over it and stop stereotyping and treating people like they're dirt because of their race? What can I do to stop being prejudice? Please don't respond with rude answers because I wasn't rude in asking the question.

okay... the thing is -sigh- (I don't like saying this) I guess you could sort of say that I'm prejudice against my own race. I'm (random order) asian, white, black, native american, french. So, I've interacted with people of my own race. That's why I don't understand how I'm more or less say- prejudice against them. I'm referring to my black side. I've had the hardest time in dealing with that part of me so I guess I just started hating it. It's so sad I know, but I'm trying to deal with it.

Thanks for all of your comments and I wish I could give all of you who responded kindly, best answer.

Answer 1

It's good that you have admitted to yourself that you have a problem with a certain type of people.

The next step would be to debunk the myths you have about these people.

Lets say you have a problem w/ black people. One way U can get over that is to hang out with diffrent types of black people. Meaning, don't to go the ghetto to meet black people just because you figure they're ALL gonna be there. Go to places around college campus' and neighborhoods where you know some black people live and try to talk to them. This shows that not all black ppl are the same and you can talk to black ppl who don't meet the stereotype.

Then, after you get to know some black ppl, you can go outside of your new found confort zone and meet OTHER types of black people.

Naturally you will run into someone who meets a stereotype or two no matter what ethnicity you are racist/prejudice against. Just remember, stereotypes don't represent everyone in a group...just a few.

Answer 2

I appreciate the fact that you want to change your ways.
I think the first thing would be to #1- realize that you are in no way superior to anyone else regardless to color. #2- Respect the fact that people are different. We have cultural differences, social differences, etc. Take it as an opportunity to learn about something new. #3- Just talk to people. Once you get past the surface, you'll notice that we are all pretty much the same. I hope this helps you. Good luck!!!!


p.s... in response to memphis2... Stop with the ignorant generalizations. No one said it was not okay for a white person to be proud of their heritage. They can and should be proud. There is nothing wrong with pride. Supremacy is what other races have a problem with. So, get your facts straight and don't assume you know what black and latino people think, because YOU DON'T.

Having said that, I should add a #4- don't assume you know what other races think and feel. Ask people about their experiences, and how they feel about certain things. I'm pretty sure you'd be surprised what you'd find.

Answer 3

Congratulate yourself for admitting it. It sounds like you already have - that's great. Most people don't get that far. Everybody has some racist thoughts, some prejudice, in them, some people worse than others. My experience has been that the people screaming loudest at others for being racists, are afraid of those tendencies in themselves.

I think the only sure way to "cure" it is to get to know people personally that are in the group(s) against which you have those feelings and thoughts. Try to get out of your comfort zone and get out of the house, join some groups, maybe go to a different church or bar or whatever - where there are different kinds of people. Then maybe you can find a friend or two that are of a different race or religion or whatever - once you get to know someone as an individual, you are less likely to see all members of that group as all the same. Knowing someone personally will also lessen your fear of them - and I believe most anger, including racism, comes from fear - we fear what we don't know or understand. So get to know them!

If you live in a place where there aren't many different groups of people, you might try a more pointed approach like asking around, or asking someone directly - tell people that you are interested in meeting people of different races, colors, religions, and orientations, and see what happens.

Answer 4

I suppose that I don't like Muslims because of the horror stories my friends who are over there in Baghdad have written and told me. One friend's troop stopped to give out candy to some Iraqi children and a terrorist threw two grenades into the group of children killing 18 of them. He lost both legs and his left eye. Another friend witnessed a man beating a woman because he saw her ankle. How stupid is that?
I realize that all Muslims don't do that especially if they come here to live. But when you hear first hand accounts of terrible things being done to innocent children and women caught up in men's wars it's hard not to consider them as trash.
If someone can prove me wrong with this I would gladly acknowledge them but until I see that they have some sort of humanization, I can't accept Islam as a real religion.
This is very serious. I take this seriously.

Answer 5

I had this problem because of how I was raised and the location I was raised in.

My husband joined the Army and we were exposed to all kinds of races. It took awhile but some of our best friends are of different races. You have to put yourself in the mind set that they are exactly like you. They have the same feelings, challenges, struggles and desires that you do. You are not better than anyone and they are not better than you. Its not easy to break something that you too were probably taught (knowingly or unknowingly) as early as birth.

It seems like you are starting to realize this to some degree by accepting that you have faults. Be open minded and introduce yourself to the idea that there should be no sterotypes. Experience their life and you will soon see that it is just the same as yours.

Good Luck!

Answer 6

I don't know which group you are prejudice against, but one thing you can do to start off with is to ask yourself why you are judging these people? For example's sake, let's say you are prejudice against Chinese people.

Ask yourself why you dislike Chinese people? Are they all X or all Y? Just because one Chinese person didsomething bad, does that mean their entire race is bad?
Ask yourself how you would feel if someone cast you and your entire race off as "bad" and hated you. How would it make you feel?
Try to find evidence for your prejudice and it is likely you will find very little. Stereotypes are learned through society! Slowly you will learn to love people of every color. Good luck.

Answer 7

I dont care what anyone says, EVERYONE is prejudice to some degree. Given the choice people want to be with others like them. Doesn't matter if it is race, religion, origin, etc.

It does amaze me that blacks, latinos, etc can stand up and be proud of thier race but when a white person does it then it is racest. I am proud to be white and am not afraid to say it.

Answer 8

first of all, congratulations on making the effort. that's the first step!

meet and interact with people of other backgrounds

maybe a way to start would be to approach a clergyperson of their background, and explain your situation. I'll bet talking with this person regularly could be a big help, and could give you the confidence to make other friends as well.

Answer 9

I think many many people have prejudces, whether they admit to them or not is a different matter. Im not just talking race here either, as you say there are steriotypes that often infulence our reactions without us even realising it. How to tackle that predjudice, I guess to face it.

Answer 10

People mistrust others that they don't understand. This lack of knowledge turns into hatred and even fear. The only way to stop it for yourself is give people a chance. Don't always rely on first impressions and show a little respect!