Are these beliefs passed down, influences of our parents. Are the people around me races against blacks? I am not black. I have friends of all ethnicities, religions. Who could she be talking about? I don't see them doing anything racist, but she feels it.
2007-09-30 12:41:28 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Philosophy
HONDA MAN I BELIEVE YOU ARE WRONG!!
2007-09-30 12:48:06 · update #1
Well, I don't know your friends so it's hard to say. But, I think we all sometimes get a feeling when we meet people who don't like us....for any reason! Perhaps that's what the "sense".
2007-09-30 12:44:22 · answer #1 · answered by fdm215 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm black and I live in a majority white nieghborhood. My roommate is white and I have known him for may years, in fact we were once involved very seriously, now were just good friends. Racism is something that I talk with him and other white people about since it is something that I can detect as well. It's something that I was fortunate enough to be sufficiently armed against by my parents, family members and teachers that are black. There is a lot of subtle racism that some blacks don't see and that white people wont even acknowledge. For example; three very popular statements; Gentleman prefer blonds, the girl/boy next door, the all American type person. Those statements are racist and white people make statements like this all the time without even considering that fact. The girl next door is different if you are black, Latino or Asian, but the statement is meant to describe a white girl/boy with good, moral values and a decent home upbring, in general, the great white way. Gentleman prefer blonds? Well that implies that you're not a gentleman if you can't appreciate a blond. There are so many races that statement excludes that it would take all day to explain how it fits the category of being racist. The all American type is a term never applied to anyone that's not white. These are just a taste of the racist values so deeply imbeded into American culture that they are overlooked and when someone that isn't white comments on it, they are looked at in irritation as if what they feel about it doesn't matter and they should just keep quiet. White people don't have that issue, since they don't see anything wrong with anything that glorifys, justifys or enables their way of life to continue undisturbed. Racism is definetely something that can be sensed when you are the victim of it as opposed to the beneficiary. Racism is also different than being predjudiced. I belive anyone and everyone has a right to their personal predjudices but not the right/power to control situations so that the object of ones predjudice suffers as a result. The definition of racism is power plus prejudice. If I don't like something that's my right, but if I don't like something and I have the power to keep it out of the best schools, nieghborhoods, ecetera, then that's racism.
2007-09-30 12:59:45 · answer #2 · answered by sustasue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your friend has probably been taught from early on that everyone around them thats not black is racist. I can tell by looking at people if there is something not quite right about them, I'm not sensing anything, I'm going based on characteristics and ways of acting that have been scientifically proven to show that people have certain emotional or mental disorders. Saying that you can sense a person is racist is a bit silly. I have been judged before by some as being racist when in truth I am not. Those people who assumed something and wrongfully judged me were more than likely racist themselves.
I think people sometimes are looking for trouble. Maybe your friend has a racial problem and thinks that by accusing others of being racist first, it gives them a moral high ground so they can be the one pointing the finger.
2007-10-04 12:40:04 · answer #3 · answered by JackAcid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No but I do think we can interpret them wrong. Human beings are incapable of reading minds although "sensing" an emotion comes close to it.
My wife is from another country and I could just tell from the tone of her voice she was displeased about an outcome of an issue we were both over wroth about. So I agreed with her about that. And she was surprised and asked me if I knew what she was talking about to her daughter. And I explained to her "No, but I could tell how she thought about it in her tone of voice."
I know that is a little bit different than your post. But I was able to sense her emotion without her explaining it to me.
I do believe kids pick up behavior they learned in the home. Some when they grow up and become adults they make the choice to either behave as their parents did or choose not to give into that type of stereotyping and ignore it.
Personally I think families of all races do that. Blacks just happen to be more vocal about it.
2007-09-30 13:05:24 · answer #4 · answered by Uncle Remus 54 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being black, I do think that you can tell when a person is. Not saying that you can tell if they are racist, but you CAN tell when a person is uncomfotable around you because of whatever reason. I've felt it numerous times, and you do try to help others tht may not be young enough to understand it. You don't flat out tell them that a person is racist, but you make them aware of theire surroundings, and whoever is around them. I don't live in a area where that's a factor often, but it does still happen.
2007-09-30 12:47:38 · answer #5 · answered by Always A Lady 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I guess you can sense they're racist if they give you snide remarks or are just overall rude/bad to you. I myself am Filipino and I have "sensed" some people's discontempt towards possibly my ethnicity...however it's only happened once or twice. Maybe your friend just has this idea because she thinks white people are so different - maybe SHE has racist thoughts and prejudiced stereotypes about them.
However I suggest you don't tell her that.
2007-09-30 13:06:17 · answer #6 · answered by Lutremi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't consider myself to be racist, but I still crossed the street to avoid some young black men who were approaching me. Something felt "wrong." I don't know if what I sensed was on-the-money or whether it was a form of racism, but it was certainly a form of paranoia based on experience and knowledge. The same goes for what your black friends sense. They might be right. Or maybe they just have chips on their shoulders. But their paranoia is based on knowledge and experience too.
2007-09-30 12:46:34 · answer #7 · answered by vita64 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
racism definitely runs in families, but its not restricted to that. someone can be racist from an experience, or their company in life. i guess the intuition is possible, just by the way a person looks at you or acts when theyre around you. ive gotten the same feeling before... its kind of inexplicable... you just know.
2007-09-30 12:45:32 · answer #8 · answered by amanda g 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sorry, but that is nonsence.
They are LOOKING for reasons to find predjuice in other people, real or imaginary. I see it all the time.
If you go thru life with a "chip on your shoulder," then you will be a always-angry person.
They need to worry MORE about the black-on-black crime and less about possible "disrespect" to them by whites.
2007-09-30 13:02:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
88
2007-09-30 13:08:36 · answer #10 · answered by hates 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋