Can you honestly say you've never been a rascist?

Question

I know I have been a racist, for some strange reason I have a tendency to make fun of you jewish or russian kids at my school..It could be because we live in the suburbs and our school as about 50/50 on a Jew/Christian ratio... and because of most of my friends not being of either Relgious affiliation/Heritage....

Mostly I say its cause the fact that Im always the one Indian kid (I get made fuin of cause alot of the kids think Im African American aswell) in a class of like 30 white kids... and the jewish or russian kids seem to make racial jokes about me the most so I have psychologically gained an anger toward them...

Don't get me wrong I don't mind Jews or Russians, some of my friends are Jews/Russians, but they constantly say stuff to me too like "Shut Up Indian Kid!", like they didn't have to go there but its just the unnecessary use of "Indian" to make it worse...

Sorry my little rant, but I would like to ask all of you if you can 100% say (not even once has it entered your mind or you've never said a racial charged word similar to the N word) that you've nver been a racist? Thank You

Answer 1

No, there's only two things I hate:

People who are prejudiced against other people

...and the Dutch.

Answer 2

Well first off, I am SO sorry that you are teased just because you are an Indian. My best guy friend is an Indian too (the only one in the whole school) and gets picked on for it. It makes me really mad. But just ignore it. I know it's better said than done but try. People these days are really mean and they don't care about others feelings when they say the things they do. I really am sorry that you're teased for that. But anyway, back to your question. I have been racist before, I admit. BUT it was when I was little and didn't know any better. I was taught to dislike anyone the opposite of me. I was actually scared of African Americans, Hispanics, Jews, Atheists, etc. because of how I was taught. But now that I know the truth (that everyone's "equal") I'm not racist anymore. I know that just because people aren't white and a Christian doesn't mean they are going to come kill me in my sleep. So really it was a taught thing that I didn't know anything about. Okay, I'm going to shut up now. Point being: No, I can't honestly say that I've never been racist before but it wasn't my fault and I know better now.

Answer 3

I think we all have said somehing racist in our lifetime.

Answer 4

I never make, nor have I made, racist comments about anyone at any point in my life, in all truth.  I'm mostly white (dad's part Inuit) and my best friend is black, I grew up mostly in Asian or black neighborhoods... so it always seemed sick to me to be racist or assume someone is going to do something or act a certain way becasue of their race.

However, I only date Asian or half-Asian girls, which some could construe as racist (I just think of it as a marked preference).

Answer 5

It may help to realize that these other kids are just that, "kids."  Though they may be of different religious or ethnic backgrounds, they are not representatives of these cultures.  What they represent is primitive minded, mean spirited adolescent angst. They do this to mask some sort of insecurity that they a currently too immature to deal with on their own terms.  So, they must recruit someone that they feel is a threat to them somehow (most likely because this someone possesses some superior quality they wish they had) to become their victim making themselves feel superior.  Thus, apparently hiding these feelings of insecurity and inadequacy from their peers.  

Hey, but we know what's really going on.  So, the best we can do is feel pity for them.  Because if they don't learn how to deal with their inner most feelings, they are doomed.  Rest assured that anything they cause you to feel will be visited upon them at some future time ...and too bad, you most likely won't be there.  But, they will and they'll remember.  

Oh, yeah   ...to answer your question... F*** yeah, I have.  I say racially motivated things every day.  Racial stereotypes, negative and positive, play into my daily conversation. I may be poor white trailer trash but, I have the respect of my friends and extended family that represent more races and cultures than I was aware existed as a kid. And I treat them all equally.  Present or not.

-dkmk      

Answer 6

sometimes. indians and bangladesh people especially.

but i think racist jokes are funny but insulting at the same time

Answer 7

I think that most people have participated in discriminatory jokes based on race, religion, gender, (blonde hair), ect. The problem with them is why they're funny: either because someone can recognize how exaggerated they are or because someone thinks that they are actually true. But I think that either way they are harmful because it keeps stereotypes fresh in people's minds.

I think you would be hard to find someone who had NEVER had a racist or discriminatory thought because racism is so prevalent in society. I try not to think that way because I think that our differences are based more on culture than biology/genealogy.

I know you didn't ask for advice, but I would say not to judge other people or tease other people based on their identity factors, because you know how much it upsets you when it is done to you. You're problem is with how you are treated, not what those people are.  

Answer 8

Nope.  I have automatic prejudices against Natives, Jews, and the majority of anyone following religion (although that isn't really a race, but whatever).  I can easily be friends with these people once I know them, but the prejudice is definitely there at the beginning.

Answer 9

everyone is a bit racist  

Answer 10

me and my friends are always making racist jokes and comments, but we would never actually act on them, its just funny to us

Answer 11

I'm not racist. I hate everyone equally. :P ... not really. But I do find racist jokes funny.

Answer 12

If you study anthropology, biology and evolution you pretty soon work out that racism has no rational basis. We are ultimately all related whether we like it or not, and characteristics determined by race are minor variations in phenotype. So I can honestly say that as an adult I have never been guilty of racism, although I have been the victim of it at times. Its a pity that education has not yet penetrated to the racist fringes of society.

Answer 13

"Don't get me wrong I don't mind Jews or Russians, some of my friends are Jews/Russians"

Gotta love the "Some of my best friends are____!" excuse.

To answer your question, I think it's safe to say that nearly everyone has had a racist thought at some point (I say "nearly", because I don't want some idiot to be all "im not racist lol!!1!").  h**l, I'm accepting of different races, but I laugh at racist jokes.  I mean, if it's funny, it's funny.  I don't use the "N-word" because I wasn't raised like that.  I grew up in a part of Brooklyn that was about 70% West Indian, 25%Hasidic Jewish and 5% "Other".  I went to an elementary school that was nearly 99% Black.  I went to a Manhattan high school that was about 45% Hispanic, 40% Black, 5%Asian, 5% White, and 5% Other.  So I've been around different races.  I still laugh at racist jokes, and I don't care.  I'm never going to treat someone differently because of their race or culture, I'm not going to rule a guy out because he's not Black, so who cares?  We're not all going to politcally correct, so why even try?