What are the main causes of racial prejudice?

Answer 1

I think there are many causes, really. Some people have no prejudice until something happens to them and it tarnishes their image of a particular group of people. That is sad because generally speaking, most people are good and kind.

I think another cause is learned behavior. Kids learn and repeat their parents attitudes, ideas and prejudices. If everyone taught their children tolerance, love for all people, kindness and respect, people would be much better off. I am fortunate that my parents taught me to accept people for who they are, not what color they are or what their religion is.

Finally, I think people's opinions are greatly influenced by the media. Unfortunately, the media tends to only show the bad things in the world (happy stories don't bring in ratings like crime and violence). People have to be careful not to let the media influence them negatively.

Answer 2

The main cause of racial prejudice is ignorance. It is probably the most simplistic and inaccurate form of prejudice.

If you take cultural prejudice and compare it to racial prejudice, cultural prejudice starts to look enlightened, which is saying something. With cultural prejudice, a person might have met several people from a particular area, and have a prejudice, based on cultural attributes applicable to that region. For example many British and French people generally judge each other based on a cultural prejudice.

Somebody who judges on the basis of racial prejudice judges by race, demonstrating a complete lack of understanding of cultural aspects that would affect people of all races. For instance a Black guy from England, will be very different in culture and behaviour to a Black guy from Togo. An White guy from New Orleans will behave very different to a White guy from Germany.

The thing is, it is seen as generally acceptable for people of the same race to hold cultural prejudice against each other. But as soon as it is directed at a country where the dominant races are different, it is accused of being racism, which often it is not.

Answer 3

Ignorance, it is only naturaly that human beings fear what they do not understand. The feeling of being dumb is one that not many people enjoy and because not understanding something offends them, they let out their frustration through racial prejudice. After a while people strictly believe that a certain person or group is below them. In one word Ignorance

Answer 4

All humans are capable of prejudice. It means to prejudge someone before we get to know them. We do this to our own poeple.
Thinking that someone upset over something, and acts up the
first time we meet them, is that way all the time. And distance ourselves form them, or talk bad about them, and don't even know them.
Racism, is a false pride. Like sexism, nationalism, and religious
intolerance. That comes from the Ego overcompensating for
bad feelings about onesself. As we all have to deal with criticism
from one person or another on a daily basis.

Answer 5

Dealings with other races with poor outcomes, hypothetically if 4 out of 5 times I encounter a dog and do nothing wrong I get bit. I am going to have a bad opinion of dogs. It is the same way with people of different races.

Answer 6

People along the lines of Reverend Al Sharpton !
Everytime an african-american is in the news ,he has to be by their side complaining of prejudice ! He probably thinks O.J's innocent !

Answer 7

Experience.

Answer 8

Lack of knowledge and understanding. Misguided.

Answer 9

bad experience with the race

easier to blame problems on others than to look at yourself.

it could be learned

Answer 10

Ignorants, hatred, and lack of love for ones self, one must love him/her self before he/she can love anything or anyone else.