How do you decide if a person is a racist, whats your formula? Could you be wrong?

Question

Thank you all for answering, there are a lot of very thoughtful and intelligent answers coming. I personally would not consider myself racist though I am very proud of my heritage.
Lavadog-Your boss was either very racist or very stupid. I think often ignorance and intollerance go hand in hand. I am sorry you had that experience.

Some of you seem to think that determining whether a person is racist or not is very simple. I disagree. I know I have misjudged people and have been misjudged by people on this issue.
You are right that a person who uses racial slurs and is violent twoards a certain race is a racist, but there are a lot of people , especially now while illegal immigration is such a hot topic, who are mislabled as racist because they forget to be sensitive while voicing their beliefs. I know that there a lot of bad people in the world, but please don't assume a person is a racist without really taking the time to be sure your're not jumping to conclusions.
Thank You.

Answer 1

I once had my boss tell me, "since its slow today, why dont you trim the bushes, i know all you mexicans know how to do that"..he never considered it racism

Answer 2

A person who perform a negative action towards a group, base on Race, color creed, ethnicity, Religion or culture. I have exemption for religion and culture in a different category, because some religion and culture preach abuses towards others, since they are more a belief system. For culture, it is unacceptable to push ones culture over the culture indigineous to to the area. As for REligion, it is only acceptable to tolerate religion as long as the religion doesn not preach any harm towards others. I usually give a person the benefit of the doubt. There are cases when people say something so outrageous that I automatically assume their racist. I also believe it's racist to lower the standard of racism due to a person's race or culture.

Answer 3

When they make a statement or perform and act that is based solely on race. For example; there is a song that says "thick white skin and eyes bright blue". It's a hip-hop song and it is derrogatory towards president Bush Jr. Comments towards busheses's actions in the song are fine but when the songwriter brought the above phrase into the song it illustrates his own racist qualities. Another example would be Mexicans using the term "racist!" as a method of silencing anyone that is non-mexican and against illegal immigration. Racism is typically two-faced. Usually the ones that cry racism the loudest are the loudest racists.

Answer 4

Judging what a person /is/ can be difficult, not to mention presumptuous. But it's certainly possible to determine whether an opinion or judgement might either express a racist agenda, or possibly betray some degree of prejudice.

It's also, of course, possible to project one own's intollerance upon others. The expectation of racism and zeal to find it everywhere can, itself, be a form of prejudice.

If someone openly and persistently judges others by thier ancestry, that person is likely racist - or, for some reason, persuing a racist agenda or using racist rhetoric to advance some other agenda.

Answer 5

You can take someone who has never been prejudiced to anything or anyone and expose them to daily abuses of everything around them that they work hard for and it is destined to bring about resentment. When it seems to come predominently from the same category of people you are then termed racist when your frustrations start to boil over.
I still think you may not be racist but generally fed up?!!!!!

Answer 6

There are no racists....All races here have a right and duty to put their race and pride as #1. If you do not know which side of the line to stand on, odds are you get stood on, and then in return whine to mommy about racists.

Answer 7

My decision is always based on my personal experience with the person. I have experienced racism from many different angles. I am 1/2 Puerto Rican and 1/2 Italian. My skin would categorize me as "white". I grew-up in a predominantly black neighborhood and always got racist comments from black women that did not like that my boyfriends were black. I would consider them racist.
When I went to college, it was the opposite experience. My college was predominantly white. Because my lips were a little bigger, my hips a little wider, and I spoke with a NY accent and liked rap and Spanish music, I was shunned by some whites. I would consider them racist.

There is no formula and you shouldn't make assumptions. Let experience be your guide.

Answer 8

I listen to how they speak and see how they treat people of different races and religions. If they are discriminatory or mean-spirited about them, then they are racist. If they treat someone differently based on their race or religion they are racist.

And I don't go out of my way to judge others... I simply mean if I see their behavior first-hand. And I guess I could be wrong...maybe they were having a bad day or something, but we have to be aware of the way we treat others and how it affects them. We should be kind to everyone to the best of our ability and not judge them based on external factors. Just my opinion.

Answer 9

Sometimes you can tell in demeanor or statements. Somethmes, however, you can misread cues. A person just may be culturally insensitive and not haboring prejudiced attitudes towards others.

Answer 10

people label you as a racist anytime you find fault with another race ---- so i think we ALL possess a lil bit of racist in us...im from texas and im partial to people who talk like me and were born in my state...i cant stand those boston accents so i guess im a lil racist....