Serious Question : What is racism? How can we end it?

Question

I know this question will be a complete idiot magnet, but let's ignore the idiots.
Work from your knowledge or experience--from both sides and any side of the racial spectrum. Here's my take on it:
An African-American freind told me once that she didn't exactly know how to defiine racism but she knew it when she saw it: a racist was a person who never let her forget that she was "different."
Can a person be racist without ever using racist language or openly expressing racism?
Let 'er rip.
It's Saturday night and I've had a few Merlots, but I'm safely home, so I really don't care.

Welll. Thanks for the first five answers. Yes, I'm safely off the road--but I'm probably more of a threat stone cold sober.

I don't agree, completely, that racism means making someone feel "inferior." I have experienced racism from certain black people as something that made me feel, simply, white.

But let's keep talking.

Answer 1

Racism is a belief that differences in physical appearance between people (such as those upon which the concept of race is based) determine cultural or individual achievement, and usually involve the idea that one's own 'race' is superior.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary, racism is a belief or ideology that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially to distinguish it as being either superior or inferior to another race or races.

The Merriam-Webster's Webster's Dictionary dictionary defines racism as a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race, and that it is also the prejudice based on such a belief

Some sociologists have defined racism as a system of group privilege. In Portraits of White Racism David Wellman (1993) has defined racism as "culturally sanctioned beliefs, which, regardless of intentions involved, defend the advantages whites have because of the subordinated position of racial minorities,”

Answer 2

I agree with your friend. It is not always a comment or action but you can just tell when some people think look or act diferently toward you. I am an american indian woman single parent. And if you don't think american indians are discriminated against guess again. No to some of you I dont have a million babies and I'm not sitting in my teepee getting drunk. I work my butt off to raise my kids and better our lives. And there have been alot of people in our lives who look up their noses at us. Or when we go in a store we get followed around by the clerks. It's O.K. cause I know I am a good person and I am raising my boys the same way. My kids and I are christians and our church family loves us. and through them I haved learned to forgive anyone who is so closed minded that you just take one glance at us then judge.

Answer 3

I think the funniest thing I ever saw on racism was on Rescue me. the Lt calls the girl in the firehouse a ****** because she almost got someone killed. She demanded an apology and in response she reported him. He was forced to take an awareness class which the entire firehouse had to go to, Hillarity ensued.

Check it out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTRYeu8UV_4

Anywho. I believe you can be a racist without ever making a racist remark. It comes from the heart and is often the result of ignorance breeding ignorance.

I came across an interesting case of this myself. A boss of mine was accused of being racist against latinos, a charge I didn't agree with. The woman who reported him just didn't like that he made her work and wrote her up when she didn't.

I'm half Mexican on my father's side, though I look white. When the HR rep came to investigate he pulled everyone of us aside to speak with him privately. I charged that my boss couldn't be a racist because he didn't discriminate against me and I'm half Mexican. The HR rep asked if I thought that was maybe because I look white. My reponse was that it's called "Racism" because it is dislike or hate based on RACE, not looks. If it were based on looks it would be "Lookism." He was cleared of the charges.

But this brings up an interesting point. I believe it is more shameful and racist to hide behind your race and make false accusations than it is to be an outright racist. This detracts from the plight of our ancestors who really knew racism and really faced hardships and discrimination.

Don't get me wrong, if you are truly being discriminated against, it's an issue and should be stood up to and confronted. But to lie about an issue like that is as shameful and disgusting as what we saw happen to those poor Duke Lacrosse Boys.

Answer 4

First off, thank goodness you won't be driving after drinking. We can all live vicariously thru Paris Hilton from the safety of home. Racism is a two way street. Hate is taught and practiced by the racist but it also can be reinforced by the "different" person as well.

Answer 5

Seeing people as different or inferior!You'll never end it because we are all a little racist,whether you admit or not. My views may be seen as racist but I judge people on how THEY behave. If you are a pig,I don't care where you come from or what color you are. Scum is scum,no matter how it may be disguised! I am against mixed marriages...does that make me a racist??? I really don't care,,I just don't like it and I don't think it's natural! After all: a robin and a cardinal are both birds,but they don't get it on....do they??? A guppy and a goldfish are both fish but do they get it on?? Does that thinking make me a racist??

Answer 6

i'm uncertain what's stated as newborn abuse has to do with race, yet you are able to desire to argue the factor of diverse cultural traditions. MEXICO OR MEXICAN STATES alongside with different countries in the middle EAST, AFRICA, ASIA and there are greater could "marry" off their youthful at in the previous an prolonged time provided that's a custom. hence, it does certainly have a lot to do with custom and if the legal age of consent is 12 that could desire to purely prepare to marriage. i'm uncertain the place you won the above advice, through fact maximum Latins are Catholic and intercourse before marriage is seen a sin? Rape on the different hand is against the regulation and has not something to do with consenting to a sexual act. additionally actual adulthood and psychological and psychological adulthood are as diverse as night and day. Many youthful women will attempt to run faraway from those marriages presently or will bypass away their assigned husband in the event that they could. Many finally end up unhappy yet learn how to "stay" with the effect of those unions. MEGAN's regulation enforces the guidelines of youngster endangerment - and demands people who offend minors to be registered so as that all of us is alerted and understand that this individual has the skill to harm and injury toddlers. WITH appreciate TO RACE AND MULTICULTURALISM the muse of "ending Megan's regulation" is so a approaches off left base that i'm uncertain what your factor is - perhaps you're being facetious?

Answer 7

Racism is treating one race or ethnic group as better or worse than another, based purely on that racial/ethnic difference.

By technical definition, affirmative action programs are just as racist as hate-based prejudice, because they both treat people differently based on their race or ethnic origins.

Yes, a person can be racist without expressing that racism, if they act in such a way as to treat members of one race differently than members of another, based solely on that racial or ethnic classification.

The way to eliminate racism is to eliminate the concept of categorization and group identity. Treat everyone as individuals, not as members of a group. Much easier said than done.

Answer 8

all i know is that according to people like jessie jackson, blacks are incapable of racism. and that's partly why i'm kinda racist myself. miss black america, black this, black that, if you see a black person holding a confrence or speaking in a public meeting, you better believe, they're talking about race. race, race , race...obama is the exception, but we know he isn't wholly black..

Answer 9

A racist believes that people of a particular race are somehow inferior and treats them accordingly.

It's really not a difficult concept.

Answer 10

Racism is judging a person based on their race...even if the judgment is a good one.

To stop racism we need to judge on character.