2006-12-18 07:28:45 · 8 answers · asked by ste23bron 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Most people are not racist. Where racism still exists, there are several modern day explanations.
1. Fear of crime. Like it or not, it is a fact that certain races have disproportionately high crime rates. When many white people see lots of urban blacks, they get scared. When they see urban hispanics, they assume gangs. These assumptions, while unfortunate, are based on real facts.
2. Poverty. People who are poor or uneducated have a tendancy to blame others for their own misfortune. This has translated in the past to anti-black, anti-Jewish and generally anti-immigrant racism.
3. Bigotry. We all have a tendancy to create stereotypes based on our experiences, such as: "All Asians work hard"; "all blacks are criminals"; "all Jews are misers"; etc. We always prefer simple concepts to complex ones. It is simpler to believe a group stereotype than to take the time to understand the individuals within that group.
It is human nature to get along with other people. Children who go to school with kids of other races will naturally make inter-racial friends. They become racist only if they are taught to do so.
The key to reducing racism is to reduce poverty. With more money, people in the higher crime racial groups will get better educations and move into areas that allow mixing with other racial groups. This mixing of races, over time, will cause racism to diminish over time.
Another factor that will reduce racism is the changing demographics of our population. In the U.S. (and many other countries), the percentage of white Christians in the population is steadily declining. Inter-racial marriage and co-mingling is on the rise.
Racism is on the decline. When it does occur, we make a much bigger deal about it than we used to.
2006-12-18 07:43:16 · answer #1 · answered by jordannadunn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, a few people have said that there are still ignorant people in the world. Also, racism has been as fruitful as religion, xenophobia, etc at generating riches and acquiring land. It can be used to justify atrocious actions against other humans. I'd say that racism is as much a part of the human experience as religion. It takes awhile for any of these forms of thought to die off. But since people still do not value rational thought as much as I believe we should, all forms of 'isms will be here for awhile.
2006-12-18 08:06:51 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because certain races just won't let it go. I never was racist until I began working w/ a large number of blacks, all of which are nothing but nursing aides. They are racist, lazy and threaten to wave the black flag if they're written up or fired. Meanwhile, the white aides are working and doing their job because they don't have a flag to wave. They expect things to be handed to them and actually believe that the white of this country should financially compensate them for their lives as slaves. NEWSFLASH: you weren't a slave and furthermore, I am the first generation born in this country. Neither I nor, my ancestors did a damn thing to anybody. Is it fair to say that ALL blacks feel this way. Well, I don't know of any black where I work that doesn't feel that way. What a coincidence it would be that the majority represented at work would feel this way but the rest of them that don't work with me wouldn't feel this way. The blacks themselves are the ones that have turned me away from them.
2006-12-18 07:33:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've often wondered this myself. It seems like such a narrow view to discriminate against another person on the basis of their skin color, etc. The only thing that I can come up with to explain it is that as our world has been drawn much closer by technology, our sensibilities have not kept the pace with it.
People haven't matured as quickly as their abilities to harm another person has.
2006-12-18 07:35:00 · answer #4 · answered by somewherein72 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I really don't know. I'm 70 years old and have never been prejudice. I'm white and have always had a variety of friends and for the life of me I really don't understand and probably never will.
2006-12-18 07:31:53 · answer #5 · answered by howard 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately people are still ignorant.
2006-12-18 07:30:48 · answer #6 · answered by Hanky 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's in men's nature to hate and you can't do anything about it.
2006-12-18 08:03:45 · answer #7 · answered by Callie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there will always be fear
2006-12-18 07:30:54 · answer #8 · answered by RACHAEL R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋