what is your take on racism?

I was accused of being a racist twice in my life.. First time was because this guy asked me out and I politely turned him down. He said it was because he was black and that I was a racist. I said "No, it's because you're a jerk, you're rude, you're a drunk and you smell like a brewery!" Now, if I'd been a black woman, would he have called me a racist for turning him down? I doubt it. Second time was because my next door neighbors thought it was cool to play mariachi music so loud out in their yard that I couldn't hear my own television in my own house and my windows were literally rattling. I asked them politely to turn their music down, they refused. So I called the police on them. Every time I walked out of the house after that I was called a racist. Now if I'd have been Mexican, would they have called me a racist? I doubt it. Are both these cases reverse racism?.. some people would probably say so. I think racism is a definite problem in the world, no doubt about it. But in both these cases the word was thrown at me like a weapon where no racism was expressed or intended. True racism is horrible and should be fought by everyone at every opportunity. However throwing the word at someone who doesn't deserve it is just as wrong. Have I ever been subjected to racism? Yes.

It seems that everything you read or hear, nowadays, is related to racism. I have been listening to some talk-shows and read a few articles on the subject and have come to a conclusion: racism is based on ignorance. The main reason people are prejudiced is because they are not educated on the matter. For example, most people who dislike Afro-Americans grew up being taught this. They were influenced by their parents and have always assumed that Afro-Americans are below their level of intelligence. If they had realized that blacks were just as human as white people, they probably would not be as discriminatory. Unfortunately racism seems similar to religion in that it is almost impossible to change the minds of committed people. I believe that if young children are educated on the subject at an early age through television and school, racism will decrease dramatically. It is unfortunate that something as foolish as racism is still around in the United States, a country made up of so many different people and cultures. Something has to be done about the problem if the country wants to survive.

Racism is wrong. I grew up in Detroit and was often the only white kid in the school/class. So, I was constantly berated for it, if not assaulted on a daily basis. I also work in the public sector and have been accused of racism because someone felt they couldn't get their way. Of course, nothing came of it except some questioning from a supervisor. I think people are way too free in accusing other people as racists. Just because someone is another race and doesn't like you, or doesn't let you have your way, doesn't mean they're racist. Racism is the belief that one race is better or superior over another. And a racist is someone who acts on that belief by discrimination. Not someone who doesn't like you.