I would like to gather your thoughts on whether or not I am a racist. I don't think I am but I am called one now and then. First, I don't dislike black people but I also do not want to live next to any. I feel that their lifestyle clashes with mine. I am quiet and kind of anti-social and like my life to be quiet as well. Black people are very social and make a lot of noise. Second, I don't dislike Mexican people but I do not want to live next to them. They seem perfectly happy with cars in the yard, 20 people living in the same house, constant yelling. I just am not comfortable living in that situation. Same for asians. Seems that there are families coming and going constantly, too many people in a small place. Of them all, I prefer living next to the asians just because their social rules are close to mine. So just because I dont really want to live next to these people, does this make me racist?
2006-11-22 15:18:52 · 44 answers · asked by m-t-nest 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
You really didn't provide enough information for me to know if you are racist or not. As far as I can tell, you are. You say you don't want to live next door to people who exhibit the behavior you described, and you have observed this behavior to a great extent coming from members of particular races. So to say you wouldn't be inclined to move into a predominately Mexican or Black neighborhood would make sense, but you said you wouldn't want to live next door to one. If you weren't racist, I think you would have said that although you have seen many Black and Mexican households that make a lot of noise, park in the yard, etc., you wouldn't mind living next to members of those races who do not have those characteristics. So yes, I believe you may very well be racist, but I reserve judgment since I don't know you personally.
2006-11-25 12:44:05 · answer #1 · answered by celebduath 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a HUGE difference between race and culture.
Your description of why you don't want certain neighbors sounds like you are prejudicial to cultures more than skin colors.
I know white trash, dirty Asians, quiet and conservative blacks too...
I disliked living near East LA - predominantly Hispanic because of loud drinking parties and how they used the streets for garbage cans...but I work with some dynamite Mexicans on the other side of LA (near UCLA) SO, I wouldn't say I am anti-anything and the choice of neighborhood should be determined by similar life-styles not similar colors...
II live now in an elite neighborhood on the coast. One side is black, the other Mexican and across the street is Asian but we all keep the same "rules" about how we want our neighborhood to look and respect each other too...
I guess you will just have to pay a higher rent to separate from the "lower class" - whatever color they are!
2006-11-22 15:32:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Honestly, my response would be that these are the ramblings bigot and an attitude based on ignorance. You seem to know nothing about the people you are speaking about. You are who you are and you certainly have a right to your opinions. I have no idea where you got these perceptions. You say you are quiet and anti-social...this is probably why you have such ill informed notions about people. This is like someone saying they do not want to live by white people because they live in trailer parks and play loud rock music and leave beer bottles all over and shoot at their televisions when they do not like the show and marry their family members, having loud and destructive kids. This is a very hateful and horrible stereotype which I think you and I both know is wrong; as are the false allegations you present about Blacks, Mexicans and Asians. Maligning people like this is racism and causes harm to people.
2006-11-22 16:05:05 · answer #3 · answered by ValleyViolet 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Mabe you are a little, but for the most part i think you stereotype ppl way to much. Now, i know stereotypes come from somewhere...they are basically a skewed reality. It is true to a point. Youve got to remember luv, that ppl are individual. and itsnot fair to judge ppl and make generalizations before you get to know someone.
As for the black pl are loud, well my family is the complete opposite of that. In my house there is never any noise. Its always quiet. My mom doesnt like a lot of noise.
Also, i am a little quiet to, sometimes...but i wouldnt sat anti social. I love learning about different ppl. I love to listen to what pl have to say....but you are you and i am me....
Also, theres nothing wrong with being an out going family...Plus, you seem like you have some sense, you KNOW just as well as i do that there are loud families in every race.
in any case luv, you are entitled to your opinon but perhaps you should let ppl into your life...there are lot of good ppl out there and it would be a shame for you to miss out on them...
peace and love- chai
2006-11-22 16:25:40 · answer #4 · answered by chai 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think this is racism. Not all white people will have the same lifestyle as you. Not all Blacks are social and make a lot of noise. Not all Mexicans will have 20 people living in the house with cars in the yard. I can understand that you wouldn't want to live next door to loud neighbors, but from what you describe yes I think it's being racist.
2006-11-22 15:28:52 · answer #5 · answered by Gemini Girl 4 · 2⤊ 3⤋
We are all racist to some degree . yours is fairly well developed. First clue is you characterize habits you have noticed in a few to the whole race. You would not want them as a race to live next door, no matter what their habits. You have not taken the trouble to check out your beliefs against reality. You mention every race not your own as poor neighbors. You have not mentioned any white subculture, such as rednecks, as bad neighbors. ( check out the junk cars in the neighboring KKK neighborhood.) Every trait you mention is common about us white trash.
You are asking the question, which is the good news. You could have just looked it up in the dictionary to find the meaning without examining your beliefs. You took the first step. Talk with people of other cultures, one on one.
We all have our prejudices. I once went to an almost black meeting. Talk about feeling like hiding! RUN is more like it. I swallowed the softball in my throat, approached each one,introduced myself, & discovered about the same proportion of them as whites avoided me. Also that we had a lot of stuff in common. I live in a lily white Sr complex where everyone is in everyone else's business. I hate that. I would LOVE to bring home a black female roommate which would create a series of massive heart attacks here. Yet the ones I know are really good people. Hope I helped.
2006-11-22 15:45:38 · answer #6 · answered by bob h 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are a racist because you have stereotyped Blacks and Mexicans. Would you mind it if Colin Powell lived next door to you? How about Condi Rice? Of course these people would not be interested in living next to an ignorant person like you. There are many lovely, educated and upstanding people of every race, ethnicity, and religion. How dare you put them all in the same category? What if I said that all whites a rednecked Klansmen who are inbred? I wouldn't want to live anywhere near a narrow minded fool like you. And I am a well educated, white person with a high income.
2006-11-22 15:30:10 · answer #7 · answered by notyou311 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You tred a fine line saying you don't dislike certain groups of people, but are quite specific why you wouldn't live next to them. I think a racist is a person who believe that their genes are better than someone elses. You obviously think your social rules are better than the stereotyped social rules of different races. Stereotypes unfortunately are rarely completely wrong, but they are never completely right. Out of all the people I have lived next to it is generally the white people who are the loudest. Should I avoid living next to white people because my previous experience has been negative? I would have to move away from myself. I think your anti-social behavior is the real reason you avoid living next to people who are different from you. Not all white people are like you and there are many people of other ethnicity's who are just like you. You lack the common hate that most racist have, but you are prejudice because of your social ignorance.
2006-11-22 15:39:11 · answer #8 · answered by Future Resident 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You seem like your somewhere in between. You don't mind people of different people of different orgins but you don't want to be near them. I'm sure if you found a person of a different ethnic group that broke your stereotype of the ethnic groups you are naming you could probably be less of a racist. I'm sure if a family of different orgins moved in beside you that wasn't loud or too many people living in a house then it would help you allot. You should quit stereotyping and give these people a chance you may find that these races are much different then what you think they are. I hope this makes sense and helps.
2006-11-22 15:30:12 · answer #9 · answered by Kaydi Em 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that you have completly bought into the stereotypes that perpetuates our society. Try to look at people as individuals, who may each have a different culture. If you do this, you may find yourself living a happier life. And remember...no mater what your background, or culture....it was hated by someone or some group because of a stereotype that was created. Are you a racist....no, just a little ignorant.
2006-11-22 15:32:10 · answer #10 · answered by chris f 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋