Am I Racist?

Question

I have many friends from many different cultures but I was raised with very prejudiced family members. I have tried not to follow in their footsteps but sometimes I find myself thinking or saying prejudiced terms. I have talked to one of my best friends, who is black, and she says that she doesnt think that I am racist because I dont treat her badly but she does think that when I see black people who fit into the "poor black" stereotypes that I think racist things. I have never realized it until she said it but sometimes I do. Like if I see a black guy walking around with a rag on his head or in his pocket I automatically get scared. Am I racist?

Answer 1

It's difficult to make such a determination with so little information. I don't want to say ''no'' if you truly do harbor racist thoughts, but I don't want to say ''yes'' if you're simply being too hard on yourself and "making a mountain out of a molehill".

Based upon the information that you've given, it doesn't appear that you're racist. Racism is race based prejudice. It is to be prejudiced against people due to their race. In other words, a racist is someone who forms adverse judgments and opinions of another race (or races) of people without knowledge of and/or consideration of facts. To me, it doesn't seem that you do this.

"I find myself thinking or saying prejudiced terms."
----This doesn't deem you a racist. It's highly possibly that you are thinking and using certain terms out of habit. If someone is exposed to a particular type of speech for an extended period of time, it's likely that the person will adopt that very same speech.

"Like if I see a black guy walking around with a rag on his head or in his pocket I automatically get scared."
----What "leapt" off my computer monitor when I read this sentence was the word "automatically". You didn't say that you have negative opinions of the black men you mentioned. You didn't repeat any stereotypes. You said that you AUTOMATICALLY get scared. What this says to me is that you have been conditioned to react in certain ways towards certain people. In other words, you "act now, think later". This isn't racism- It's behavioral programming.

As far as I'm concerned, you simply need to think before you speak and act/react. Make a point to give everything as much thought as needed in order to re-condition/deprogram yourself

Answer 2

I think because of your background it is hard to get some idea out of your head. Whenever you have a certain thought that is bit ignorant, stop and think about it, is your labeling a just cause or a ignorant side effect from your small minded family. The more you bring the issues out in the open the more you can deal with them. Just because you dont understand the way a certain culture or person was brought up doesnt mean it is wrong or that they are out to harm you. The way a person dresses has nothing to do with who they are or can be! A person who is well dress and very educated can just as easlily be out to harm you or con you.

BTW to the person who said, "we are all racist" We are not all racist, maybe prejudice, but not racist. Don't categorize everyone, because you are.

Answer 3

I don't think that you are racist. Like you I too have many friends and family of different races. I however think racist things when I see anyone who fits into the stereotypical catagory of low life,. Doesnt matter to me if they are white, black, hispanic, chinese or anyother race. If they are walking around with their pants around their knees showing off their nasty boxers with a tank top undershirt and all their bling, I pretty much think they are trash. So I guess that makes me racisit to a point. Or maybe just smart.

Answer 4

nope you don't sound like a racist to me..
everybody now a days are racist, its population can't take much longer..
racists are those people who tread people vigilantly, saying stupid thing behind their backs and revealing their secrets that will not only hurt that person but the whole race were that person came from including the country...
you are considered a racist if you discriminate people whether their color, traditions etc...
thats a racist, and you have a friend who is black if you are a racist you wouldn't have any friend of friends that are opposite to your color...

Answer 5

I do not consider myself a racist.

I do however believe that there are certain people, no matter what skin colo they are, who do things that simply make their respective race look bad.

most of the time; if someone is seen on one of those TV judge shows; I think they pretty much set the standard for these people.

Answer 6

Everybody is racist, no matter how little it might be. Dont worry about it. You are dealing with stereotypes rather than genuine racism.

Answer 7

i think that you have some work to do in order to keep an open mind towards others, but i dont believe that your a racist. i mean your a gay jew, how racist could you be?

Answer 8

what the hell are you scared of? just the way you were raised, but from what you said your not racist but just prejudice towards some people

Answer 9

You don't sound racist to me...just maybe a bit fearful.

Answer 10

we are all racists at some point ..........the more you talk about it the more you becoming one.......just dont........ its your morale................its just when we are angry,sad or moody we tend to think bad things about people whichever group we choose ..............poor people , black,yellow, smelly.........the answer is not to be angry and live the life full of love