Who REALLY spreads racism?
By Taskr36
@Taskr36 (13963)
United States
February 9, 2009 12:01pm CST
I'm starting this thread because in recent weeks I've been called a racist and a clan member repeatedly by a few ignorant people on this forum. Anyone with half a brain who knows me knows that whether you agree with me or not, there is never any grounds for calling me a racist. On to the topic.
Some seem to think racism is spread by the obvious racists like the KKK. I feel that those groups are extremely weak save for in some remote areas in Alabama and such. I think they largely preach to the choir and aren't attracting anyone who isn't already racist.
I think the ones who are really spreading racism are those that accuse everyone under teh sun of racism to make themselves appear to be victims. These are the ones who say that if you hired a more qualified person who happens to be white, you must be racist. These are the ones who claim that our justice system is racist because there are a larger percentage of black Americans in jail proportionate to white Americans, yet never claim that those in jail aren't actually guilty.
The people who riot in LA or Cleveland because they are angry about racism, are just giving people a reason to hate them and associate their race with violence and riots. The people who accuse anyone who doesn't support Obama of being racist are just showing the intolerance they claim to be victims of.
Ok, there's me rant for now. I'm sure I'll get all the same racist insults I've gotten over the last few weeks, but I'm eager to hear the opinions of reasonable people here.
Who do you think spreads racism?
3 people like this
17 responses
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I have been victim of abuse , insults and racial slurs from some very nasty people on this site who accused me of being a racist because I would not and did not vote for Obama. I do not trust him and his murky background. It has nothing to do with skin color. How ever I show respect for the office of president but I do not have to like the person who is holding the office.
Anyone who has checked out my profile photos must know how proud I am of my bi-racial great grandchildren.
2 people like this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
10 Feb 09
They seriously called you a racist because you said you would not vote for Obama? Seriously? Unless you said you aren't voting for him because of his race, they have no right to say that. Everyone is entitled to vote for who they want. I am sure no one is calling black people who didn't vote for McCain a racist. It is sort of like my ex-coworkers calling me racist because I happen to hate rap music. (I think that was meant as a joke, how it is funny is beyond me.)
(By the way, I voted for Obama, lest anyone say my reasons for agreeing with you are political. 
)
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@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
9 Feb 09
Before living in the South, while being raised in a lily white area of the North, I was taught to believe most Southerners were unreasonable, illogical, racists. Then I got out in the world. Southerners are not unreasonable, illogical, racists is what I learned.
I discovered this fact from daily observations in the work place and going out and about in society all over this country.
1 person likes this
@redyellowblackdog (10629)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I'm dancing around it, but what I'm trying to say is racism is spread by Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, advocates of affirmative action, advocates of reparations, and even Barrack 0bama.
@Bd200789 (2994)
• United States
9 Feb 09
I'm sorry people have been calling you a racist. I support Obama, but don't think that everyone who doesn't is a racist. I know some didn't vote for him for that reason, but that's no reason to say everyone who didn't is racist. You're right; a lot of people who claim to be tolerant aren't, because if they were, they wouldn't be accusing everyone who disagrees with them of be racist. I think those people actually make the problem worse.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
9 Feb 09
Racism is spread by those who can benefit from it in some way or by those who have had it so ingrained into their psyche that they are victims, they have no other perspective.
When I worked at the college I dealt with the racism/victim mentality quite often. My technicians were white, black and of many nationalities. I can't tell you how many students came to me to complain that the tech enforcing the rules was only doing so because he/she was a racist. The complaining student was not guilty...even if he/she readily admitted to breaking a rule...but was targeted because of his/her race or nation of origin. In some cases reasoning with the student worked but I was surprised by how often logic and the posted rules fell on deaf ears.
@paintpastel (10)
• United States
9 Feb 09
Who really spreads racism? I've thought about this, and I think the education system in the U.S. contributes to racism. As children, you aren't aware that another child is 'different' based on his/her skin color (unless your parents speak about racism). There is so much focus on slavery and racism. I know it was an integral, terrible part of our history, but I can't help but think that the emphasis on it, and how wrong it was influences how children react to it. Plus, with Black history month, it only reiterates how our culture sees African Americans as "different". I'm not saying I'm against Black history month at all, I just don't agree with the separatism.
1 person likes this
@fluffysue (1482)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I think you have a good point. I remember being taught as a child that everyone is the same, regardless of skin color or anything else. It came as a huge shock to me that people seem to like to be separated and considered different. I guess I still don't get it.
But then what do I know? I've been accused of racism for trying to fire someone for not working, and for disliking rap music. (I think that last one was a joke, but I am still not sure, frankly I don't find it funny to even jokingly say I am racist).
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
17 Feb 09
I think that careless remarks made infront of children spread racism. An example is from my own family, I was raised in an area that was mainly white, I do not think I had seen a person that wasn't while until I started school. When I was young I would hang around the adults while they talked, I was a very quiet child so often they did not realize I had came into the room. They would talk, and they are racist (unless you ask them) and I would hear what they would say. When I started school I was afraid to interact with the students that weren't white because of the stupid and careless things that I had heard at home. it has been many years and I now have friends of many cultures and races but I notice the younger people in my family repeating the hateful things they have heard and they do not even understand what they are saying.
Racism is fear. It doesn't help when people commit violence in the name of a race or for protest because it makes them look stereotypical which leads to more racism.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
17 Feb 09
I think that level of racism is more of the ignorance based type. When I was younger I lived in a part of New Jersey that was roughly 83% white and 2.4% black. I am NOT making that up. I just checked the census to verify it. The largest minority there were Indians. Aside from that my middle school literally had 2 black students and 1 Chinese kid.
I heard racial slurs frequently because with no black people around, nobody had any reason to worry about saying the n word. It didn't have the stigma there that it does in other places. I don't think anyone there "hated" black people. They just knew nothing about them and subsequently you saw a lot of ignorance.
I'm glad that my family moved to Florida where I got to live in a much more diverse environment. I'm also thankful that my parents didn't speak in such a way or teach such behavior. I wonder how many parents do allow that to happen and speak that way around their children. A friend once told me that he doesn't think racism will see another big decline until people from our generation are in charge because many of us still have parents that were alive back in the days when there were separate drinking fountains and such.
@okkidokitokki (1736)
• United States
20 Feb 09
I think that if there was a studey we would be surprised to find out that there is a large majority of people that still use slurs such as n*, I am studying to be a teacher and have gone into the schools as part of my course work and am shocked to hear the word tossed around casually within the African American population. Unfortunatly because of my family's attitude, I know many people who do not even hesitate to say hurtful racial remarks.
Racism takes years to chenge. An example was given to me by a profesor. When she was teaching 4th grade they were studying WWII. She divided the class, boys one one side and girls on the other. She was trying to show them how hate was wrong, and give an age appropriate example to help them understand what had happened. She then told the girls that they were to take the boys chairs and pencils, they would have to sit on the floor and would not be able to do the work. (this example was a 15 minute activity) when the excercise was over the students went to gym. The gym teacher had to bring the girls back early because of the way they were trating the boys. it took her a week to undo a 15 minute activity. Imagine how long it is going to take to undo the centuries of hatered. (and that is if we are truely working to make the change.)
@smacksman (6053)
•
10 Feb 09
It is just one more 'ism' to be used against anyone you disagree with.
It doesn't really matter what the subject is, but if you don't agree then brand them with an 'ism' rather than enter into a logical argument. That seems to be the modern way.
When I lived in Africa, racism was the usual 'ism' but since living in the UK we now have ageism, sexism, heightism, etc. to choose from which broadens the scope no end. haha
@MisterPlus (1915)
• Philippines
10 Feb 09
Racism is ungodly doing. Man were created equal. No matter what color you are, you still belong to one kind of kingdom. We are people with brains and powerful over any other creature here in earth. We've got one world to share. People who thinks that they are the only color to live in this world segregate themselves into a remote area where their own kind are the only one they see. Be realistic, there are other skin color in this world of ours.
To the question. Racism is spread by people who are narrow minded. They don't want to open their eyes to see other skin color. White,black,yellow, or brown we are still the same. We are all people created by one God.
@shell1986 (405)
• United States
12 Feb 09
I think it is very wrong to say that someone is a member of the KKK. I mean, the only time you should legitimately say that is if you are standing in front of them and they happen to be dressed in a white sheet.
@Aingealicia (1905)
• United States
17 Feb 09
Taskr,
Racism comes from ignorance. I don't nor have I ever thought you were a racist and perhaps those people just have some skeletons in their closets they are afraid to face. Hey though we are in good company here. I got called a terrorist for what I write about. Just made me shake my head and go 'huh'.
Ainge
@tinytankster (25)
• Canada
10 Feb 09
I would say America. George Bush was a big problem. Hope this helps. Bye.
@vijayanandp (682)
• India
10 Feb 09
well in my view Racism is in people who lack confidence and who think different like there is a diffrence in color of skin, lack of talking and negative thinking
@murugezh (273)
• India
10 Feb 09
This is all about the acceptance that we have on other race people it will differ person person periodically based on them experince over the community they have been together for a long time. If I am a new comer to a destination or country that is different from my country I can't see people every one ready to accept from other nation. All its depends on how we are settled and how our economy is running on all that depends on the well being of the community and the people who all are living up there. Some people they don't have a wide vision on this world to accept that some people have eagle eye focus on this world to accept it. So its depends on place to place, country to country, economy to economy, but one one think we must remember nothing here is to come with us when we are going back to that zero again. So I never support racism.
@jiang1111chao (97)
• China
10 Feb 09
i do not want to say racism
people is fair in the world
hope u konw
do not say the topics again
@plasma (673)
• India
9 Feb 09
Well, most often it seems racism actually grows in the minds of people who lack something. It is a byproduct of some kind of insecurity, be it because of his skin color, looks, his profession, the neighborhood he lives in etc. that the person keeps on associating himself with. This feeling creates a wall between his normal self and the society. At the slightest of instances, he feels and believes that the society is reacting to him in a different way and denying him rights that others are so freely enjoying.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
10 Feb 09
To me racism is when a particular group of people tries to discourage or prevent people other than themselves to settle and flourish in what is supposed to be that group’s own land or area by means of threat, insult, legislation, rioting, indirect innuendos and similar other tactics which in part forces the settlers either to leave or stay back and be neglected or oppressed. To me, in the present world scenario, this has less to do with colour and more to do with insecurity in our social and professional life.
@killhawaii (112)
• United States
10 Feb 09
I think the real spreaders of racism are the people who have it in their family to hate a certain race of people. They have it in their traditions to not forget who they hate and not even know why. KKK, though they still exist in a limited bases, are also helping the cause because their hatred is known around the world. They not only hate black people but everyone who is not white. My question is who said that white is supposed to be the pure color and the romantic color. The way I see it that color is nothing but the opposite. Now I aint racist and never will be but the white people of previous generations, like in the 1800s, had it in their system that white was the saviors color and if you werent white you were wrong and deserved to die. That sort of thinking obvious enough still exists and is what is really still spreading racism.
