2013 And Racism in America?

[Thaluikhain]

But most people who aren't racist won't see such stereotypes as enough reason to treat them any differently without due cause.

Because if they weren't racist (at least to some extent) they wouldn't hold those stereotypes.

Consider this scenario: Someone who believes in the stereotype that Asian people are often bad drivers isn't likely to then avoid associating with or them hating them out of spite, or wish that they didn't exist.

Is it a little racist to think things like that? Yeah, it probably is. But it's not the same thing as wearing white sheets and calling yourself a wizard while talking about race wars and how all "them coloreds" are ruining your country.

Certainly. However, being less racist is not the same as not being racist. IMHO, I'm very wary of people considering themselves not that bad because they aren't KKK level racist. Yes, that was an extreme example you picked, of course, but that sort of thinking does seem to creep it's way into things. The target to work towards should be "not racist" rather than "not as racist than someone who is clearly more racist than me".

Now, this is not me trying to seem holier than thou. I admit to being racist myself, I have grown up in a culture that produces racism, and I'm not magically immune. However, having acknowledged my own racism means I am able (in theory at least) to minimise it, both to avoid treating people differently based on race, and to avoid reinforcing a culture which promotes these attitudes.

 

[BoogieManFL]

But most people who aren't racist won't see such stereotypes as enough reason to treat them any differently without due cause.

Because if they weren't racist (at least to some extent) they wouldn't hold those stereotypes.

Consider this scenario: Someone who believes in the stereotype that Asian people are often bad drivers isn't likely to then avoid associating with or them hating them out of spite, or wish that they didn't exist.

Is it a little racist to think things like that? Yeah, it probably is. But it's not the same thing as wearing white sheets and calling yourself a wizard while talking about race wars and how all "them coloreds" are ruining your country.

Certainly. However, being less racist is not the same as not being racist. IMHO, I'm very wary of people considering themselves not that bad because they aren't KKK level racist. Yes, that was an extreme example you picked, of course, but that sort of thinking does seem to creep it's way into things. The target to work towards should be "not racist" rather than "not as racist than someone who is clearly more racist than me".

Now, this is not me trying to seem holier than thou. I admit to being racist myself, I have grown up in a culture that produces racism, and I'm not magically immune. However, having acknowledged my own racism means I am able (in theory at least) to minimise it, both to avoid treating people differently based on race, and to avoid reinforcing a culture which promotes these attitudes.

I don't believe it's currently possible for anyone to have absolutely NO measurable level of racism, no matter how seemingly insignificant it may be. That is ultimately my main point. If someone believes in a racial stereotype it doesn't mean they are a racist person. To dissect this meaning any more would just be nitpicking, because the alternative (being 0% racist) is not possible. Therefor to speak to that end is utterly pointless.

Demographics exist and are based on real factual data, and that is where a lot of people get their stereotype based racism from along with real life experiences. One could argue the fact that they exist means it's not entirely racist to think that way so much as you're an intelligent sentient being that is able to comprehend patterns as associations.

Then you have stereotypes that aren't even based upon race, but upon education, country of origin, religion, political beliefs, weath.. The list goes on. That is another reason I don't feel that stereotypes, so long as they aren't taken too far, aren't really as much of a part of racism as much as just sociology.

EDIT: Also, nice Hooter.