To the white people who generally don't like mingling or socializing with other races?

Question

Why do you feel this way? Any one incident? Several?
Does it have to do with upbringing or peer influence?

Also, in your town what is the makeup, racially?

Have you ever lived in a racially mixed environment? If so, what was your experience.

Please be candid. I'm not judging. Just need honest answers.

Jungle bunny? is this a recognized slang term among white supremacists for blacks? Furthermore, what do you think of the whites who are "wiggers."

Answer 1

OK, I am a white male who was raised in a very racially segregated society. Over the years this influence has been dampened by necessity. I am not a racist and I have acquaintances who are African American, Hispanic, and Asian. I typically do not socialize with anyone - I am just not a sociable person. We live in a predominantly white city in Texas, but other races make up about 35% of the total. Peer influence was a factor while I was growing up, but that no longer controls my feelings - I pretty much go from my personal feelings now. I have never lived in a racially mixed environment, but I think I could handle it just fine if I ever have the opportunity. I think it is high time that we forget our past problems and pull together as Americans to make an American society which is made up of a lot of different races. Here in Texas, we even pride ourselves in making Texans out of Yankees (some of my best friends are living in different states) so I guess I have made the transition in spite of my upbringing.

Answer 2

I was brought up and went to school in a very racially mixed area (north east London, UK). I went to school with Muslims, Hindus, Jews, Blacks, Indians, Pakistanis, Greeks... and quite a few "white christians" as well.

I got on well with most of them irrespective of their race or religion - in fact most of the more unpleasant characters in the school were white.

We lived with my grandfather who hated just about everyone who wasn't a white christian and I well remember the shame and embarassment of having to tell my best friend (who was black) that he couldn't come round to play at my house because my grandfather would not have let him in.

Taken individually I have found that most people are pleasant and sociable. However when there is a group of, say, black people (men in particular) or Muslims then they become less friendly towards people outside their own group. I have had several encounters with blacks who somehow think the world owes them a living simply because they are black and a couple of unpleasant experiences in my business and private dealings with Muslims who seem to think that lying through their teeth is a perfectly acceptable way of behaving.

I now live in a mainly white neighbourhood (my kids go to schools where there are less than 1% ethnic or racial minorities). I would be happy to mingle or socialise with any race or religion but I find that the few minorities in my area prefer to keep to their own kind.

Answer 3

Racism is simply lazy hatred. Instead of taking the time to get to know someone and determine if they're a decent person or not, racists simply presume that they'll dislike one entire race.

And as far as the 'some [insert other race here] dude did something bad to me one time' excuse goes, if you got an apple that had a bad spot, would you assume that every apple you ever saw after that also had a bad spot?

I encounter people of every race every day in my job, and it is attitude and personality that make more impact with me than skin pigmentation or physical ethnic features. There are jerkwads in every ethnicity, and there are good decent people in every ethnicity.

For most, the discomfort that they feel around other races is simply fear caused by a lack of knowledge of that other race/culture. This isn't racism, per se, but it is ignorance. And it's up to each individual if they want to learn more about other cultures to break through that ignorance.
And, choosing not to do that brings us right back around to laziness.

Answer 4

I am not one of those, but I wanted to answer anyway.
First, for me, no incidents, I choose to be around people who are interesting, fun and accepting. I have experienced some incidents with intelligent educated black people who showed an active generalized hatred toward most whites they were in contact with. When I recognized this I was pretty surprised that my only sin was to be white.
I did not really know of prejudices until I was in high school, the small town where I went to school was probably 88% lower middle class whites. I was astonished when I heard my own mother making disparaging racial remarks. She was relating a couple of incidents at the time. It was she who actually created the incident. One was with a man who worked at the bank where she also worked. I'd heard her talk of him before and had met him, just a nice man, same age group. During a conversation they were having he made the mistake of touching her hand while making a point. She said,"I told him get your black hands off me". I gasped truly in horror at this. I did not let this impact my way of seeing people.
As a nurse for a very long time I worked with all ethnicities in different levels of education, in jobs appropriate to their skills, Doctors to management to maintanence and cleaners. I always believed they were important in the job they were doing.
Those of us worked together often would socialize together and race never was an issue.
Now, my son is married to a Mexican girl who is one from a family of 9 children. Most are very educated or working toward their education. I really enjoy being with them when the whole family is together, love to enjoy the different customs. My mother would probably have been displeased. My son's father when the kids were in high school told our daughter she could not date one of the football players, he was Mexican. I was really disappointed when I heard him say that!. He did spend some time later with our daughter-in-law and her family before he passed on and I believe became somewhat less rigid.
I think every person should be chosen as a friend or friendly acquaintance on the merit of if they are honorable people one would enjoy knowing.

Answer 5

I moved from St. Louis, Mo , a VERY racially diverse population, to Troy, Mo., with hardly NO ONE outside of the white race. This doesn't stop me from associating with anyone of a different ethnicity.
My dad raised me to be very prejudiced b/c a black man snatched my grandmother's purse once and when my grandpa tried to chase him, he turned and shot him, dead.
However, the children I went to school with had nothing to do with this episode and I learned on my own that people are people and if you cross me, or hurt my children, I don't care what color you are, I will hate you.
However, I teach in a district that has an ever growing Hispanic population and have no problem with any of my students parents and it's amazing how empathetic all of the students are towards each other. They realized they each have their own problems and take care of each other, and try not to hurt each other.
I think our upcoming generation will be the one to help put this hurt to rest. Right now there are still too many adults and Seniors that like to carry a torch for wrongdoings commited in the past.
Thanks for the opportunity to be honest.

Answer 6

People of different races are generally very different people in more ways than skin color. Unless you have the black kid who grew up in suburbia, than he is whiter than me. I grew up in Montana that is like 90 percent white and when I was 13 I moved to Texas, and there it was just a big melting pot...I met a lot of black people who did fit a lot of stereotypes and made fun of me for being white, so maybe it is an experiances, but I think generally most people will hang around with their own race with a few exceptions, most people I know are white, I do know a couple of natives, but it's not racism...people fear and don't like what is different, it's just like the fat kid getting picked on, he is different. I think I am off topic now, so I'm just gonna stop

Answer 7

Most often, we are vicitims of our upbringing. Growing up with my parents, I can honestly say that they were racist because their parents were racist - it is what they were taught and it is what they taught.

But somewhere, someone has to break the cycle. The cycle stopped in my family when my daughter was born. I have made certain that she is color blind - I will not be responsible for slanting her views on different races, creeds, religions, lifestyles, etc. If she makes opinions or stereotypes, it will definitely not be because of my influence or teachings.

It takes time and effort to change the essence of a person or race. Somehow we have to end the cycle of ignorance.

Answer 8

I grew up in an all white / Indian town. Very close minded on blacks and gays. I am gay so you know the rest of the story. I never visit that town unless it is a family get together. I really have no black friends however I have acquaintances. Friends are just hard to come by black or white.

Answer 9

I grew up in Detroit and lived there until I was 30. Its a 95% Black city, I lived with racism (on the receiving end) most of my life. So now that I live in a majority White area, no I don't really go seeking Black folks to hang out with, lol. I can assure you Whites have no monopoly on racism.

Answer 10

I live in London, England. Something like 30% of the population define themselves as belonging to an ethnic minority. I have little problem mixing with all people, but I have noticed that these groups very often stick with their own ethnic group.

I don't really want to get into an argument because no doubt you will construe my comments somehow as being 'ignorant, uneducated and bigoted', but your question rather than smacks of the pot calling the kettle 'African-American'.