How much of perception is truly reality?

Question

for example, what happens to the perceptions of a racist who grows up believing that Black people are incapable of complex thought. Does his reality get turned upside down. Is there some sort of adaptatation?

oops - typed over part of my question.

What happens when that racist happens upon a Black person who is far more intelligent than himself?

Answer 1

Interesting question.

I do believe that some racists' minds can be changed via education and proof that they are wrong. Because, despite the fact that many, if not most, racists are set in their ways, there are those who don't hate (or even dislike) people of other races- There are some who are just hung up on stereotypes because they are ignorant and misinformed. I think it's possible to change the minds of SOME of these people.

Unfortunately, however, many (possibly most) racists are determined to remain convinced of their false beliefs. The reality is that their perceptions (or rather false perceptions) will not change regardless of what they observe. Example- You seem to be very intelligent. Has Robert changed his attitude towards you or any other black person here on Yahoo Answers? No. I realize that this is a faceless forum. After all, this is the Internet. However, logic suggests that, although some folks "fake the funk", the behavior on this site is, at least to a certain extent, a reflection of their true attitudes and beliefs. Ever heard the old saying, "Alcohol is a truth serum"? Well, I think the Internet has sort of the same effect on people- allowing for them to be more open and honest in many ways because inhibitions are lowered.

Anyway, my point is just what I said- that many, if not most, racists are set in their ways. They are determined to hold steadfast onto their twisted images of what/who people are. They will use any twisted explanation to reason that their misconceptions are fact. I used my aunt as an example in response to another question. This is what I said:


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Many racists (and other prejudiced people) are so convinced that what they believe is fact (and many are so determined to hate) that they rationalize their beliefs by any explanation necessary. I'll give an example to illustrate my point:

One of my aunts is extremely prejudiced. She is racist, homophobic, sexist.... You name it, she's it.
She was evicted a few years ago and went to live with my grandmother, who lives in a majority-black neighborhood, for a while until she found a new place. So she had the chance to get to know a few of my grandmother's black friends- very polite, respectful, educated black women who provide for their families and are a joy to be around for more reasons than I have time to say. And my aunt agrees that they are very nice and that they are, as she says, "being assets to society". But this has not changed her attitude. Here is one of the comments that she has made: "Yea, they're good black people. But they're still black. They're good because they chose to fight their blackness." I'm sure you understand what she meant by that statement, but I will clarify for those who may not understand....

My aunt thinks that "black" is similar to mental illnesses- something that has to be "overcome". (She thinks the same about all others whom she stereotypes.) She has convinced herself that black people are inherently rude, loud, lazy, liars, schemers, etc..., but that these "unfortunate predetermined characteristics" can be "beaten" by the select few who seek therapy and/or live by the "positive example of white people".
I'm sure you can imagine what I've had to experience with her. I will no longer have anything to do with her. She went as far as to say that my husband is not to be trusted alone with her teenage daughter, because, since he's black, his "nature might get the best of him". HOW SICK! I'm sure you can also imagine how confused my little cousin is.

Anyway, my point is that prejudice does not adhere to common sense or the obvious. Unfortunately, we are dealing with several people who are determined to cling to their ridiculous beliefs regardless of what facts are presented to them and even regardless of what they observe for themselves. I am convinced that there are some prejudiced people who are ignorant and need only to be educated and shown that they have been taught misinformation. But, regrettably, there are those who are lost to us- those who are going to hold steadfast onto the falsehoods that are fixated in their minds. And they will continue to embrace those falsehoods regardless of all logic, regardless of the obvious, regardless of what is staring them right in their faces.
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What it all boils down to is that many (or most) racists WANT to believe as they do. And you can't do anything to alter the false perceptions of those who WANT to cling to their way of thinking. People can only change if they are open to it. If a person is not open then he/she cannot be convinced of anything regardless of what is said or done.

As far as adaptation is concerned: I definitely think that several racists are forced to adapt on some level. They cannot escape from the changing world. Unless they retreat to unpopulated areas or areas that are "racist friendly" and include a majority that is their own race, they have no other choice but to, at some point, interact with people of other races in a respectful manner unless they are willing to accept (or at least risk) the consequences of not doing so. I have family members who are "adapted racists". (I don't have anything to do with most of my family. Fake smiles aren't enough for me.)

Answer 2

Seriously, I think it depends on the racist. Some racist people use the psychological mechanism of scapegoating (blaming a group because of their short comings). I doubt they will ever realize that they are wrong until they overcome whatever it is that they are blaming a certain group of doing.

Then u have the racist that are isolated, less educated, extremely religious, from an authoritarian background, anti-scientific, fearful of change, narrow-minded, dealing with some serious self esteem issues or dealing with their negative past experiences that involved the group that they have conflict with (ethnocentric scale). I think they can somehow realize that their beliefs make no sense (if they really try to seek some sort of truth). I know that some racist people have "exceptions" (within the group that they have conflict with) but continue to be somewhat racist.

I have no idea what it would take for all racist to realize that their preconceived notions are completely wrong. Some are just plain ignorant, and their ideology justifies their beliefs. No matter how much "proof" they have sometimes it does not change a thing.

Answer 3

Reality is the combination of all the unique realities assumed by all the unique people, animals, birds, insects and everything that can assume in this big and undetermined world. There is no way for this reality to be unreal. - this is MY perception at present.

Answer 4

I really think that a lot of the racists had to listen to this from their parents back in the 50's and 60's. Things were really bad then. I really think time has changed for the better, but I don't think it will ever be 100% perfect until there is intervention (ie, Rapture). Just my opinion.

Answer 5

Good question. Interesting how much we see the world from the mind's eye. And how some of that is not reality or truth. Later brother.

Answer 6

The idea that a white person would run into a N igger that's smarter than him is beyond fantasy. Come back to reality,Sambo.

Answer 7

When you bust up their stereotypical ideas of what a black person's intelligience is "supposed" to be, then they lash out...as they do everytime you post something. (Robert Shelton and other racists posting here only prove this point.)They are threatened that you are so much more intelligient than they are.

Answer 8

it always depends on the person..they might change if they are willing to...or they might look for some excuse to justify their "reality"...whats is called again?....ignorance right?