Do all races contribute to racism in America?

Question

We've all heard of racism, as well as "reverse racism" as it has been found that racism exists within various races in America. What is your opinion on the subject? And how do you think different races contribute to racism in America?

(please no "racism is racism" answers) Thanks!

Answer 1

Racism is the most challenging issue confronting America. A nation whose ancestry includes every people on earth, whose motto is Epluribus unum, whose ideals of freedom under law have inspired millions throughout the world, cannot continue to harbor prejudice against any racial or ethnic group without betraying itself. Racism is an affront to human dignity, a cause of hatred and division, a disease that devastates society. Notwithstanding the efforts already expended for its elimination, racism continues to work its evil upon this nation. Progress toward tolerance, mutual respect, and unity has been painfully slow and marked with repeated setbacks.

Do you remember the experiment done in Riceville, Iowa in the 1960s? Jane Elliot, a 3rd grade teacher, divided up her class into brown-eyed children and blue-eyed children. To make a long story short, as she reinforced the idea that the blue-eyed group was superior to the brown-eyed group, noticeable differences began to appear quickly. The brown-eyed group began to perform poorly on their work, largely because they were told they weren’t as smart as the blue-eyed children. They began to lose interest in trying to do better, because they felt they weren’t capable. However, when the roles were reversed, the same result came from the blue-eyed students and the brown-eyed students started performing at their previous levels. There was also a serious difference in the way they treated one another. The group on the top always treated the group that was perceived as being the lower class group much worse than they had ever treated anyone before!

Psychologists have known for years that we as parents can contribute to the success or failure of our children by how we teach (program) them. It has also been proven that no matter where a child starts or how much negative programming they have endured, they can change enough to overcome it and go in either direction if they choose. The same can be said to some extent when it involves an entire race of people.

As an example consider the following. When the English first came to North America, they had very high self-esteem and high expectations for what they could accomplish. As a result they eventually dominated the entire continent. The story was exactly the opposite for the Africans that were brought to America by the slave traders. Several generations were dominated and treated as property. As a result there self-esteem was very low and just like the children in Ms. Elliot’s class, they became to believe they weren’t as good or as smart as the white race. Granted there were very little if any educational opportunities available, but this only compounded the problem. The lack of educational stimulus and the lack of initiative that developed would hinder them for many years to come.

If we can be programmed to think less of ourselves, doesn’t it stand to reason we can be programmed to think less of others? I believe that’s all racism really is, being programmed to believe that “different means worse”.

If you look back to the previous examples, the white man has, since the beginning of American history, dominated others. As a result that mindset has always subconsciously been passed on. The black man has always, until recently in America, been oppressed. This causes resentment that is focused toward the oppressor and is passed, by enlarge, from generation to generation.

Racism is a two way street, and even though it’s not just a black and white issue, there are racist, both black and white. If the chain of racism and hatred is going to stop, it has to first stop in our own mind.

Answer 2

Yep, there are racists in every race in America.  Sad, eh?

Thank goodness not everyone's that way.

Answer 3

Every race has a sort of hate for each other. It's part of making yourself feel good under certain circumstances. I was ranted upon by blacks because I have European parents. It looked ridiculous at the time.

Visitors from Europe have reported on this palpable hatred among the races and national groups.

Answer 4

No, not really. We have about 1 controlling race in the US overall, although that might change over the next 20 years.  Racism is different than prejudice that's what gets people screwed up.   Racism is a system of prejudice.  Everybody's somewhat prejudiced about something: a preference for tall people, a dislike of people with glasses, a mistrust for beady eyes.  Racism is when these prejudices combine up in a SYSTEMATIC way that isn't just 1 person's prejudice but a prejudice embedded in a system.  America is still by and large run by white people.  Teeny niches such as Hollywood or run by Jewish people, who could or could not be seen as 'white people' since it's basically sort of a made up concept.  Therefore, as of yet, most racism in America is white.  Theoretically, a white kid living in an all-black neighborhood, going to an all-black school with all black teachers and who doesn't have a tv, could suffer from racism, if the black people were inclined to abuse him/her strictly because they were of a minority (in that situation).  Or a black kid living in a highly latino area might experience racism in his school and neighborhood. But that small system isn't common, could be stepped out of in a couple of minutes by hopping on a bus, so it's really less racism and more discrimination. If you can solve it pretty quickly by being physically moved a mile or 2, or if it's not even the ruling class discriminating against you, it might not be pervasive enough to qualify.  Racism is the largest category, discrimination is a somewhat smaller subset and prejudice is the smallest in my opinion.  Racism is about a 'master status' like being handicapped or maybe being female - something that's among the first thing people will think about you regardless of what you do.  Marlee Matlin is always the deaf actress - deaf comes first.  Oprah's a black, female, billionaire, in that order.  So my answer is no, not all races contribute significantly to racism in America. Other countries yes, America no. Europe's divisions are more about religion, class or values, not skin color nearly as much as here.

Answer 5

The real answer is not hatred but one group of people with a need of feeling superior over another group. The feelings, through ignorance, can then change into hatred.

Answer 6

yeah all races have contributed to racism! whites with slavery and blacks with affirmative action mexican with oranges and coming over illegally and i havent met a chinese person that can drive yet! i think is all wrong and goes aginst the very fabric of why America is America!