Over the last year or so I've started keeping up again with racial/ethnic issues (it fell to the wayside when I started college, unfortunately). I've come across some theories and approaches to these topics which are really interesting, and which I hadn't heard about before. I'm interested in who agrees with what! Sorry for how long this is, I wanted to cover all the bases.
Racism (multiple choice, private voting)
06/04/2012
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Theories on racism are so interesting. There's a theory that wariness of "different" was an evolutionary trait. Generally your family group kind of looked like you. When we were cavemen, we needed to be wary of those who were different from us.
There's also a lot of experiments done that show almost "everyone's a little bit racist." It's just how you respond to it. Subconsciously over 90 percent of us are prejudiced. I guess it's to say there is a difference between being racist and prejudiced. Being prejudiced means you have some ideas or thoughts, but racism is when you actively do things on those thoughts.
Also, culture is a huge factor. I'll give an example from my upbringing. My father, as a hispanic man, said I should never be with hispanic men because they're dogs and this and that etc. Now, I know not ALL of a group is X. But when you're brought up being taught that, it'll stick with you. I catch myself making swift judgements because of that and try to correct it.
Good question! It's very interesting and I had fun thinking about it
There's also a lot of experiments done that show almost "everyone's a little bit racist." It's just how you respond to it. Subconsciously over 90 percent of us are prejudiced. I guess it's to say there is a difference between being racist and prejudiced. Being prejudiced means you have some ideas or thoughts, but racism is when you actively do things on those thoughts.
Also, culture is a huge factor. I'll give an example from my upbringing. My father, as a hispanic man, said I should never be with hispanic men because they're dogs and this and that etc. Now, I know not ALL of a group is X. But when you're brought up being taught that, it'll stick with you. I catch myself making swift judgements because of that and try to correct it.
Good question! It's very interesting and I had fun thinking about it
06/04/2012
Quote:
I know! There's so much research done on these topics, but then again some of the older stuff was clearly influenced by the prejudices of the scientists doing said research (for instance, older studies on eugenics).
Originally posted by
Mwar
Theories on racism are so interesting. There's a theory that wariness of "different" was an evolutionary trait. Generally your family group kind of looked like you. When we were cavemen, we needed to be wary of those who were different
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more
Theories on racism are so interesting. There's a theory that wariness of "different" was an evolutionary trait. Generally your family group kind of looked like you. When we were cavemen, we needed to be wary of those who were different from us.
There's also a lot of experiments done that show almost "everyone's a little bit racist." It's just how you respond to it. Subconsciously over 90 percent of us are prejudiced. I guess it's to say there is a difference between being racist and prejudiced. Being prejudiced means you have some ideas or thoughts, but racism is when you actively do things on those thoughts.
Also, culture is a huge factor. I'll give an example from my upbringing. My father, as a hispanic man, said I should never be with hispanic men because they're dogs and this and that etc. Now, I know not ALL of a group is X. But when you're brought up being taught that, it'll stick with you. I catch myself making swift judgements because of that and try to correct it.
Good question! It's very interesting and I had fun thinking about it less
There's also a lot of experiments done that show almost "everyone's a little bit racist." It's just how you respond to it. Subconsciously over 90 percent of us are prejudiced. I guess it's to say there is a difference between being racist and prejudiced. Being prejudiced means you have some ideas or thoughts, but racism is when you actively do things on those thoughts.
Also, culture is a huge factor. I'll give an example from my upbringing. My father, as a hispanic man, said I should never be with hispanic men because they're dogs and this and that etc. Now, I know not ALL of a group is X. But when you're brought up being taught that, it'll stick with you. I catch myself making swift judgements because of that and try to correct it.
Good question! It's very interesting and I had fun thinking about it less
I totally forgot to include stuff about prejudices toward one's own race! I've heard similar things from friends of mine. It's excellent that you work to correct that kind of stuff!
Thank you! I've been interested in the EF community's thoughts on this stuff for a while, but was worried it would cause too much of a stir or wouldn't be appropriate. I'm glad you had fun with it!
06/04/2012
I live in the South, so I'd say at least 90% of the people I know are racist. If I stopped associating with racist people...well, I'd have to move or something.
Generally, I feel like the more we move along the more different things are deemed "racist." My general view is that one can choose if they are offended by something or not. For example, my grandmother came here from Italy. She got called a WOP quite often and other such phrases. She always laughed and said those things were only hurtful if you let them be. I think if more people took that approach, racism would end faster. Don't let words mean so much to you and they'll lose meaning across the board. The actions will follow suit.
Example B. I live in a racist area, but went to a private school. It was primarily upper class white students, but we had a few students that were other races. No one was telling us "accept each other" or that we were different somehow, so we just all looked at each other as people, not people of different races. It wasn't until I left school and entered the "real world" that I even began to notice skin color.
Now, some people are so racist that there's not much that can be done about it. But if new generations start to not look at skin color rather than look super hard at skin color, perhaps we'd make progress.
Generally, I feel like the more we move along the more different things are deemed "racist." My general view is that one can choose if they are offended by something or not. For example, my grandmother came here from Italy. She got called a WOP quite often and other such phrases. She always laughed and said those things were only hurtful if you let them be. I think if more people took that approach, racism would end faster. Don't let words mean so much to you and they'll lose meaning across the board. The actions will follow suit.
Example B. I live in a racist area, but went to a private school. It was primarily upper class white students, but we had a few students that were other races. No one was telling us "accept each other" or that we were different somehow, so we just all looked at each other as people, not people of different races. It wasn't until I left school and entered the "real world" that I even began to notice skin color.
Now, some people are so racist that there's not much that can be done about it. But if new generations start to not look at skin color rather than look super hard at skin color, perhaps we'd make progress.
06/04/2012
My older sister, who is of mixed race, is the most racially insensitive person that I know. I think she must believe that because she is half black, she can use that as permission to be racist against other cultures, specificaly Arabic and Mexican people. It bothers me.
06/04/2012
It's really important and still a huge issue, but I think people are going after the wrong things to pick at a lot of the time unfortunately. There are larger issues to fight than people using nasty words.
06/04/2012
I do think that social issues must be addressed, because otherwise nobody will give a heck about them.
06/04/2012
Yes, racism is still a big issue. However, there are racists in ALL cultures and it's not acceptable in ANY culture. I also feel that the "race card" is used way too much.
I moved to the south from California and even though there is racism here, I'm raising my children to embrace and love people of all races. Besides, do we all not bleed the same color under the shade of our skin?
I moved to the south from California and even though there is racism here, I'm raising my children to embrace and love people of all races. Besides, do we all not bleed the same color under the shade of our skin?
06/04/2012
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Agreed!
Originally posted by
Master DarkWolf
I do think that social issues must be addressed, because otherwise nobody will give a heck about them.
06/04/2012
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Well said! No race should be used as an excuse for behaving a certain way. We are all people, and there is no point in pretending otherwise.
Originally posted by
SimpleTeaser
Yes, racism is still a big issue. However, there are racists in ALL cultures and it's not acceptable in ANY culture. I also feel that the "race card" is used way too much.
I moved to the south from California and even though ... more
I moved to the south from California and even though ... more
Yes, racism is still a big issue. However, there are racists in ALL cultures and it's not acceptable in ANY culture. I also feel that the "race card" is used way too much.
I moved to the south from California and even though there is racism here, I'm raising my children to embrace and love people of all races. Besides, do we all not bleed the same color under the shade of our skin? less
I moved to the south from California and even though there is racism here, I'm raising my children to embrace and love people of all races. Besides, do we all not bleed the same color under the shade of our skin? less
06/05/2012
Yeah...I definitely think everyone is racist to certain extent. Psychologically, it's the group mentality effect. Being in a race is being in a group, therefore you see other groups as different.
06/05/2012
I fully believe in the Morgan Freeman approach (though I've not heard it called that before, nor heard him offer his opinion on it). Furthermore, I also believe in the dictionary definition of racism.
06/05/2012
I'm agreeing with Kira here, I live in the south and the majority of the people I know are racist and it irritates me to hear them say things about other people they don't even know just because of their race.
06/05/2012
Thinking it's gone is ignorant.
06/05/2012
Quote:
I come from a small town and state and its sickening how many people are racist. And Im not from the south!! Even most of the police force is racist from what Ive seen...my older son is turning racist from being influenced by kids at school.I am far from it and dont judge people by there skin color but more by who they are as a person.I have biracial kids in my family so it bothers me my son is feeling that way
Originally posted by
pootpootpoot
Over the last year or so I've started keeping up again with racial/ethnic issues (it fell to the wayside when I started college, unfortunately). I've come across some theories and approaches to these topics which are really interesting, and
...
more
Over the last year or so I've started keeping up again with racial/ethnic issues (it fell to the wayside when I started college, unfortunately). I've come across some theories and approaches to these topics which are really interesting, and which I hadn't heard about before. I'm interested in who agrees with what! Sorry for how long this is, I wanted to cover all the bases.
less
06/05/2012
While I'm not racist myself (seriously...we're all human beings and we have one planet to share so we ought to just get along and try to make it a better place -_- ) I do know a few people who are, but I don't really let them know I think it's wrong because they're all elderly people that sort of grew up being that way.
I guess I'm a bit more forgiving of racism if the racist person is older (like over 70 or so).
My family wouldn't mind if I decided to date outside my own race though.
It is possible to be racist against white people, it's possible to be racist against anyone really. I recall seeing some Dr. Phil show where they had an African American person that hated white people (and a white person that hated African Americans too, it was sort of a clash of opposites thing).
I guess I'm a bit more forgiving of racism if the racist person is older (like over 70 or so).
My family wouldn't mind if I decided to date outside my own race though.
It is possible to be racist against white people, it's possible to be racist against anyone really. I recall seeing some Dr. Phil show where they had an African American person that hated white people (and a white person that hated African Americans too, it was sort of a clash of opposites thing).
07/06/2012
I think everyone has their own prejudices and racism is just a small part of that. I think pure hat just on the basis of race alone is non-existent these days.
07/06/2012
I think racism is still a big problem. It's not quite as noticeable as it used to be but it is still there.
07/06/2012
I am white, I work in a store that only have a handful of white people and I am Neo-white conpaired to them. (ivory skin) There is this one woman who hated me before she even got to know me. I didnt understand why she disliked me so much untill I saw how she acted towards other white people. Just because I was white she had hated me. I was hurt she couldnt look past my skin tone to get to know me and even though she dislikes me because of this I do not think its her falt, I think its how she was raised.
07/06/2012
Total posts: 19
Unique posters: 18