Why does it seem that many white racists have such little education?

Question

Whenever you hear about the KKK or other similar racist organizations, you hear very little about any of their members attending college or doing much past high school. They feel they have the right to attack every person of another race, uneducated, educated, accomplished, poor, hardworking, lazy, it doesn't matter, yet they seem to rarely have be educated themselves.

Good point, it's possible that those that are raised in those types of environments and go on to college begin to shed those beliefs and become more accepting.

kentuckygal: That's why I used the word "seem." Sorry I didn't specify this, but I am referring to the type that you see in documentaries about Neo-Nazis and the KKK, not the types that you may often see in political offices. I know that people in higher positions can be extremely biased and no better those that are uneducated. I never said that I thought ALL were uneducated, I just said that it SEEMED that MANY (not most) were.

PEOPLE. I'm not making this assumption on all racists, nor did I state that.

I focused on white racists due to the prevalence of images of members of KKK and how much such organizations put themselves out there. I never said that there aren't uneducated racists of other races, I know that there are, I've met many.

OK, I apologize for any unintentional implication I may have made in this question and any assumptions some of you may have made because of that.

I was only referring to those racist organizations that put themselves out there more prominently as racist (such as the KKK and the White Aryan Resistance).

I did not intend to imply that all racists are uneducated, I know that that is not the case.

Finally, I was not trying to imply that all racists are white or that only whites can be racist. I know the opposite all too well as I've seen bias in my own family.

I apologize if some of you misunderstood where I was going with my question, if you want you can view my question as such:

Why do many members of the KKK and similar organizations tend to appear uneducated?

Answer 1

i currently live in the south, so i know the kinds of people you're talking about. many members of my local government are not very educated, & are rumored to be affiliated with some kind of race organization, or they have a long family history of KKK membership.

most people in this area (i'm in rural N.C.), put very little emphasis on education past high school, or even through high school. most of those people are very proud of their southern heritage & are very into the civil war (don't get me wrong, i'm proud of my southern roots, but we lost the war, they need to forget about it).

i think that the combination of the history of this area (the south) & the war & what it stands for, & the lack of emphasis on education answers to the stereotype of white racists (& it's accuracy, lol).

Answer 2

"A little knowledge is a dangerous thing". Maybe we should be grateful that they don't have college educations. If they did, they would be able to use that information to manipulate and control the uneducated AND the educated. I think history backs me up on this.

Anyway, you actually make a very good point. My first husband was a high-school drop-out, and he was constantly criticizing and berating me for using "big words". (Words like "redundant" or "arrogant".) It made him feel small. He accused me of thinking I was "better" than him. This is the same mentality of the racist. Their ego cannot handle the equal status of another race, because it leaves them nothing to hide behind. An educated black person terrifies a white racist, because it exposes the fraud that white people are smarter. The uneducated white racist knows he is not smarter than an educated black person, but his ego will not allow him to accept this as anything other than an insult to himself, and by extension, his whole race. It is not enough to be equal. He must be better, smarter, superior. His ignorance will never be equal, so he cannot allow himself to be anything other than superior.

Even if he meets an uneducated, ignorant black person, he would not consider himself equal. In this case, he uses the opportunity to exercise his ego again, identifying the black person as "typical" of the entire race, in order that he can once again include himself in the "superior", educated white majority.

Answer 3

As others have said, people who are educated are likely to learn that racism is stupid...or at least learn that they need to keep the worst of their racism to themselves. There are plenty of well-educated people who make racist jokes in private, but they know not to do this when it could hurt their career or social status.

Another issue is that some people who are poor and uneducated want to have someone else to blame for their problems, or a group to look down on in general. A person with no accomplishments of their own might figure that at least they can be superior to others because of their skin color.

Answer 4

While I appreciate your statements, I can say that you aren't very accurate. You would be suprised to find how highly educated many of these individuals you are talking about are. Furthermore, self-education is often much more gratifying and unbias than college education....so just because one has no degree does not mean they are any less educated than one who does.

Anyhow....wouldn't a more appropriate question have been why do some racists in general appear to have little education? The black racists and organizations I see in the public eye on a much more regular basis than the white organizations and figures you are referring to present themselves as rather uneducated and ready to attack anyone as well. I fail to see any honorable and unbias purpose you may have in separating white racists from all racists.

EDIT: I did catch the "seem" part, I was commenting about your statement of what you may have heard or not heard of their education. From observing common reactions of the world around me these days, I can also say that if these racists were presenting themselves as geniuses with multiple masters degrees people would speak of their ignorance and lack of education because they disagreed with them (not to say people should not disagree with them and their bigotry - but disagreement does not equate ignorance). However, either way, I cannot think of a respectable reason for you to separate white racists from all racists. You are speaking of white racists picking on both hardworking educated folks and lazy uneducated folks.....yet you're picking on white racists rather than all. The former flawed thought process isn't much worse than the latter. Not trying to offend you...maybe you didn't recognize how your question "seemed." But if you are asking a question in that manner, perhaps subconsciously you are unable to put black racists in the same box as white racists...?

Answer 5

G'day mate i beleive you have your answer right there, people whom are racist ARE uneducated thats why they are jealous when they observe (from outside the kindergarten fence) people with the drive to complete their education and start the ol debate that immagrants are taking all the jobs and blah blah blah.to those people i have a movie that might be of motivation it's called "Billy Madison" go back to school

Answer 6

And how did you come to that conclusion?

I am racist and I have a masters in Geology.

The president of the United States of America is racist.

Not all racist are as ignorant as the KKK.

The KKK just hates to hate, I hate because of minorities actions. If a minority proves worthy of respect then I will give them respect. I just assume the worst until I see otherwise. I am this way because of the experiences I have had in life.

Answer 7

You have it right, most are uneducated and/or haven't experienced much of life outside their immediate area. I tend to think racism comes from personal insecurity and fear. Fortunately I see this country changing (very small increments mind you) for the better, with each new generation it will get better. At least I hope.

Answer 8

Part of it is ignorance I think, and part is just plain outright stupidity. I think ppl who are racists have issues with the world, not just a race, but it seems racism is the easiest and simplest thing for them to do since they all belong to the same "club".

Answer 9

This isn't a complete answer by any means, but just something to think about. One of the easiest ways to maintain power is to divide and conquer the masses. Giving lower power (ie poorer or less educated) white people an enemy to focus on (ie people of color) keeps them from focusing on who is actually making their lives more difficult (ie rich white people).

Answer 10

You have some very well educated white men that are avow racist... And don forget that there is something missing in their lives... Like self-respect, And the true living God.. I am not sure what god they are worshiping.. But by the action of their mouths and their bodies... They can't be worshiping the one and only true God that I know and worship...............................