Are white people subconsciously racist to a certain extent? If so then why?

Answer 1

Yes, as a white person I carry an invisible napsack of unrealized privelages, just as you do as a man. Neither of us would willingly give that away.

Answer 2

If you are speaking "subconsciously" then yea probably, I mean everyone thinks they are the best (unless they have VERY LOW self-esteem)
Men tend to think they are better than women, and vice versa. Americans think they are better than those in other countries. One city thinks it is better than another city.
One state better than another state.
One race thinks they are better than another race....it goes on and on. I can't exactly explain why we are like that because I am not a psychologist (and even they could only speculate) but I assume it is just human nature to be unknowingly arrogant. That's the point though, we all reach our own enlightenment at different times. So unless you feel like you are in immediate danger because of someone else's actions, then I would not worry about it. Just chalk it up to life on earth, and don't get mad at others (no matter how hard it might be not to) it's not their fault they are ignorant. Also watch yourself for certain situations when you may subconsciously do these same things, and use the opportunity to learn from those experiences.

Answer 3

Yup. I think it's environment, but then you have the nature vs. nurture arguement. I was brought up and was not racist, but then I started buying into stereotypes. It's an easy pit to fall into. I think that all people are afraid of anything different from themselves at least subconsciously. What's worse though, someone that is racist or that person that goes out of their way to point out how "not racist" they are?

Don't mean to ramble, but it's a good question. I said yes, but I can't really justify it. It just is. The real problem is getting rid of it in society. No need for it in this day and age.

Answer 4

I think everyone is to a certain extent yes. Unless you immerse yourself in someones culture you will have some ignorance regarding their culture it is inevitable.

I can honestly say I have no racism with regard to Black Jamaicans because my wife is Jamaican and I have immersed myself in her culture. Do I have some ignorance regarding black american or african culture then yes so in my subconscious mind I fill the gaps in knowledge with what I see and hear.

What I see and hear about Black American culture is lots of guys talking about killing people selling crack and calling each other nixxer and lots of black women lightly clothed and dancing very provocatively. Do I think this is an accurate potrayal of black american culture no does it affect my opinion subconsciously it would be hard not too.

You know what I think... I think that ignorance like this isn't really racism it's just a natural survival process to group with together with those that seem familiar. I think if we can learn to forgive each others ignorances and look only at the motivations we can get closer to a racism free world.

I forgive your ignorance about white people dude because I know that it has come from an experience that has frustrated you.

We can all find reasons to hate our fellow man if we want.

But is there any reason better to love than peace?

Answer 5

People, regardless of race or any other social factors, are not racist to begin with. If you were to take a child from each culture as a baby, with no other influence, they would play and view each other as equals. We are programmed by our social and economic environments, as to how we should behave towards others that look or act different than what we see as accepted in our own "circles." I am wondering if you really mean prejudice instead of racist. The answer is still the same, but racism is when you act upon a prejudice. Prejudism is how you view another mainly by prejudging (see the similarity in the words - thats an easy way to remember it correctly) based on your own social status, and prejudice is not always but is usually negative.

Answer 6

Lets see, I've been chased through black neighborhoods, had black people try and do nasty things to me, and like "other stuff". Am I subconsciously a racist ? NO, I have also had black friends, and black people help me, so it's whats in your "heart" that I see, not what color you are, I've also seen some white people do some nasty things to black people that made me embarrassed of my race (specifically the scene where Dr. King is forcibly removed from a diner in the south by white policemen, simply because he would not leave the "WHITES ONLY" part of the restaurant, the poor guy just wanted something to eat, he proved his point though, truly a great man).

Answer 7

The issues you defined would be achieved in spite of the race. a guy or woman walking down the line sees a team of human beings forward. If the gang feels like thugs, the guy will ward off the gang. If the gang feels like skinheads, the guy will ward off the gang. If the gang feels like grimy previous bikers, the guy will ward off the gang. It has not something to do with the colour of their epidermis, however the character those human beings have chosen to teach to the international. a similar element with a woman clutching onto her handbag. i've got observed this quite a few circumstances and think that's greater of a shielding reflex consistent with that guy or woman's previous reviews. as an occasion, I as quickly as observed an elderly couple in a motor vehicle waiting on a pink gentle at a similar time as i exchange into walking on a sidewalk. as quickly as I have been given on the fringe of the motor vehicle, i spotted them roll up their abode windows and lock their doorways at a similar time as eyeing me suspiciously. not purely am I not black, yet i exchange into donning an entire protection rigidity uniform on the time. i in my opinion don't have faith that they theory each white protection rigidity member exchange into working around motor vehicle jacking human beings. they only did not be responsive to me or my intentions and have been being shielding approximately their place. there is not something incorrect with that. thinking how plenty crime there is in some places, that's not racist or paranoid, that's sensible. Edit: to the guy who implied that one and all white every physique is born with a silver spoons of their mouths, do you rather have faith there at the instant are no poor white human beings? Are you relatively that dense? power via a trailer park sometime and attempt to count quantity the silver spoons. the only difference between poor minorities and poor white human beings is that poor whites are particularly skipped over simply by fact of ignorant stereotypes like the only you purely regurgitated.

Answer 8

Because we've been brainwashed into believeing we're racist by races that hate us.
That's so confuseing even that's hard for me to grasp ...But it has truth to it!!
That statement just proves how much of a vicious cycle it is.
It's infinaty.
I just want to end it all and live in peace.

Answer 9

I think most people are subconsciously racist. People are unsure of anything that is different from them and there surroundings.

Answer 10

I'm very prejudiced... against stupidity. I could care less what color you are. I think racism wastes talent, and that is the most valuable commodity in the world. Plenty of black people are racist too you know. It isn't based on your color - its based on how intelligent you are... or aren't.

Answer 11

why would you care? keep on with your life. worry about you!! i am the color black as you can see to the left ..i don't care what everyone else is thinking. we are quick to call white people racist. we (blacks) want to be equal but we always want to do our own thing ie..B.E.T as soon as there is a W.E.T ohh here comes jesse jackson and everyone else!! maybe, if we didn't value stupid #$%^ and educate ourselves we wouldn't have time to worry if whites are racist...and you wonder why we think they are!!!! Come so far but so far to go!!!