Do you harbor any racist beliefs or stereotypes?

United States
October 20, 2008 3:37am CST
I hate to admit it, but I do. I live in a 'ghetto' part of town and deal primarily with blacks and Hispanics. I love 'em both and get along with them great. But, a lot of the black people I know are users who always want to use my phone, use my computer, or borrow change. They never do something in return to make up for it. A lot of the Hispanics are plain rude and mean-spirited, and talk about me in Spanish and laugh. A lot of the white people I know are intolerant, uptight, and say racist things about my neighborhood and neighbors. I love all these people, but I hold stereotypes about them.
5 people like this
8 responses
@rockvixen (894)
• United States
20 Oct 08
Well I'm Hispanic and I get along with everyone. I don't have any racist beliefs nor am I stereotypical, but I know people who are, and those people are pretty much closed minded. So everyone does things we don't like, it does not mean they are wrong or bad in what they do. Sometimes even you, do things that other's cannot stand. We are only human. But to each thier own.
• United States
20 Oct 08
I think that Barak Obama's approach is to acknowledge that racist beliefs exist then move on without dwelling on it. There a many injustices visited upon a person, but the real measure of his or her strength is how they rise above the racist stereotypes and beliefs.
@taripres (1499)
• United States
22 Oct 08
Stereotypes and racism, gota love it! I'm not going to sit here and say I'm the advocate of We Are The world, though we are! The thing is, everyone catch themselves saying something ignorant one time or another, I don't care who u r! Maybe the biggest stereotype I had, was Caucasian women had no butts! Well, that stereotype is no more!! I've seen plenty of White women with very nice ones! Another was Asians have big heads, well, lately, that has not been the case! The only things I still feel sort of funny about is White men with Black women! That's not necessarily a racist thing, that's more of how what I've seen and heard throughout the years and how some of our Black Women still dog us Black Men like we're worthless. So, in my opinion, I think that many Black Women seek out other races as a slap in the face to us! Then, I feel some White Men do it as slap also! Then that's just my opinion. But, all in all, I love everyone the same, just have to keep my eyes peeled for everyone! Taripre$
• United States
20 Oct 08
Sadly, I harbor two. Asians and driving badly, and Mexicans and Tex-Mex music. Every single time my grandmother and mother have been in accidents it was an Asian who caused it. No joke. Every single time I am cut off on the freeway, an Asian is behind the wheel. I am not trying to be racist, and I do not want the Asian community to hate me for saying this, but I see it and my friends, many of them who are also Asian see it, Asians are bad drivers. Show me one Asian who has not been in an auto accident. Now, to the Mexicans. I live in a predominantly Mexican neighborhood, and all I ever hear is Tex-Mex music. Why? Is this all that Mexicans ever listen to, please say it is not so? Come on. I know that Mexicans have more than just Tex-Mex music to listen to. What about Spanish Rock or Spanish Pop? I am okay with that. Tex-Mex is like the equivalent of American Country music. It is okay at first, and in small dosages, but listening to it all of the time has got to drive a person insane. Again, I am not trying to be racist, but I am pointing this stuff out because it makes me wonder about people from other countries?
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
20 Oct 08
These are some stereotypes about black people I picked up in movies and tv shows because of the false image given about them. I think that they feel so important because they were the original people according to evolution and were supposed to be the rulers and therefore they deserve to get the top jobs, be the police chiefs, be in charge, etc. And then if a bad guy shoots at everyone, by some miracle they will get missed. They can redeem themselves if they are evil and do not die repentant as the whites do or and they are just wounded. I mean you can shoot them almost through the heart and they can get up and walk around. Oh and they are the ones who hold the moral standards and can claim they go to church. So you can see by the above before you all start ranting and accusing me of racism, that the movies and tvs may not decrease racism and stereotypes but rather increase them. The stereotypes up here are about Indians, that is American or Canadian Indians is that they are lazy, but I think when they leave the reservations, and start getting jobs, and get away from the influence of drinking, they become just as productive. And I do not hold the stereotype that once they do it, they are better than us. They are good at some things and we are good at some thing. I do not hold the stereotype as the wise Oriental or the nature loving American Indian, the evil white man. Some people I love, some I do not love, some I hate, like, or are indifferent. I do not generalize. I am not like in the movies.
@hellcowboy (7374)
• United States
20 Oct 08
I have never been the type of person to hold racist or stereotypical beliefs because I think it is wrong to be racist or to judge people off of stereotypes,I know a lot of people who are racist,and I know there are some bad types of people in all races,there are white people who will cheat you and rob,just like there are African Americans and Hispanics who are bad,but now all are bad,and me and my fiance have a friend who is black and we both see him as a really good friend,and we like hanging out with him,and I think anyone who is racist should be locked up because it should be illegal.
@excellence7 (3655)
• Mauritius
20 Oct 08
No I don't have any racist beliefs. I believe in cooperation and respect for all. I believe in equality for everyone. Whatever the case is, racist feelings are not good to be exerted. We must control ourselves and learn to live in society and accept other's religions also.
@donna22 (1116)
20 Oct 08
I think sometimes it can be hard to understand what people from different countries are saying if their English is not very clear and I sometimes find myself getting frustrated. I know its not their fault if they are trying their best to make themselves clear. There have been a few times when I have had to see a foreign doctor and Ive struggled to understand what they are saying. I do not mean to sound rude when I am constantly asking them to repeat what they are saying but I probably do.
@mapi26 (549)
• Philippines
20 Oct 08
we are one world with different races, cultures, languages, way of living etc.. that divide us & this is one cause of our barriers to each other. in your case they are your neighbors, like for me, i deal with different people in my line of work. there are really times that the way they/we speak would be difficult to understand because of the intonation/pronunciation etc cause by regional/internationallanguages.. there are times that even the way of eating will be something we can't remove thinking brought about by culture. & same with your neighbors, they are already brought that way so at times we need to coexist with them. as for me, i set aside all of these to have a harmonious living & to get things done efficiently & effectively in our work. but honestly outside work there are times that it pisses me off because of this differences but i still keep my posture as this is how i'm raised & since i'm educated enough not to lower down my level to such people. and besides since there are really cultural differences amongst us, so as much as possible i try not to judge other people. with your case though & base from your story, i don't think it's still healthy for you to cater their needs to your expense like them abusing your kindness by using your phone, your computer & even spare change. this is no longer a way to co-exist, regardless of their race they are already taking advantage of you. yes there are people who talks their languange especially when they know you can't undertand & indeed it is rude. here in our country, since we have may dialects we also experience the same. imagine we are already with the same race, can undertand with our national language, but since there are still regional languanges that separates us, there are instances like what you experience. so what more with others right? but as i've said, we need to all segregate all of this for us to co-exist. not unless your foot is being stepped on, then that's the time we need to stand up to them.