Hmm... I'll put it this way. The quickest way to become a racist against black people is to live in a typical black neighborhood.
Generally speaking, most prejudice comes from 2 sources: 1) experience & 2) ignorance. Some people become racist because of repeated negative experiences with a given race. Admittedly, I've had quite a few negative experiences with black people because of the area I currently live in. However, I'm prejudiced rather than racist. I'll get to the difference in just a minute.
Other people become racist because of belief in what they've been told rather than experience. There are many white people that are racist against black people who get their views from media instead of experience because of the lack of black people in their area.
The first form of racism is more understandable. It doesn't make it right, but it's easier to understand why it happens.
The second form is far more repugnant to me because it has no logical basis.
Now, I said before that I'm prejudiced. My prejudice is towards 2 groups: blacks and Muslims. I have prejudice toward certain black people because of crimes committed by black people against me and my brother. I have prejudice toward Muslims because of what I've researched. Admittedly, my prejudice toward Muslims is similar to the ignorance racism I mentioned, but it becomes difficult not to hold a prejudice toward Muslims when you read a lot about things like Wahhabism and some of the brutal history of Mohammed.
Now, what distinguishes my prejudice from racism is that I don't have unconditional hate for either group. I am very guarded around black people who dress and act like "thugs," but I befriend the polite and educated black people I meet.
With Muslims, it's similar. I don't know many Muslims on a personal basis, but the ones I've met have shown a wide range of viewpoints. Many of the African immigrants that work in my warehouse are Muslim, and I get along with them fine. I know a rare few Middle Eastern Muslims as well, and while I haven't really gotten to know them, they seem relatively normal. You can bet that I'd react differently, however, if I met a militant Muslim, and I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of many aspects of Islam.
Now, to explain how an actual racist behaves, you have to cross the line into completely illogical and radical territory. A racist against blacks would hate all black people in general and would only befriend even a polite black person if forced into it. Racists against Muslims are basically the same.
Probably one of the best films I've seen on racism is "American History X". For those of you who haven't seen it, it's an excellent drama that shows the nuances of racism and how people sometimes eventually overcome it.
Prejudice, on the other hand, is something much more subtle and tends to be more permanent in nature. It's hard not to be prejudiced in many respects, the more experiences you garner in life.
Generally speaking, most prejudice comes from 2 sources: 1) experience & 2) ignorance. Some people become racist because of repeated negative experiences with a given race. Admittedly, I've had quite a few negative experiences with black people because of the area I currently live in. However, I'm prejudiced rather than racist. I'll get to the difference in just a minute.
Other people become racist because of belief in what they've been told rather than experience. There are many white people that are racist against black people who get their views from media instead of experience because of the lack of black people in their area.
The first form of racism is more understandable. It doesn't make it right, but it's easier to understand why it happens.
The second form is far more repugnant to me because it has no logical basis.
Now, I said before that I'm prejudiced. My prejudice is towards 2 groups: blacks and Muslims. I have prejudice toward certain black people because of crimes committed by black people against me and my brother. I have prejudice toward Muslims because of what I've researched. Admittedly, my prejudice toward Muslims is similar to the ignorance racism I mentioned, but it becomes difficult not to hold a prejudice toward Muslims when you read a lot about things like Wahhabism and some of the brutal history of Mohammed.
Now, what distinguishes my prejudice from racism is that I don't have unconditional hate for either group. I am very guarded around black people who dress and act like "thugs," but I befriend the polite and educated black people I meet.
With Muslims, it's similar. I don't know many Muslims on a personal basis, but the ones I've met have shown a wide range of viewpoints. Many of the African immigrants that work in my warehouse are Muslim, and I get along with them fine. I know a rare few Middle Eastern Muslims as well, and while I haven't really gotten to know them, they seem relatively normal. You can bet that I'd react differently, however, if I met a militant Muslim, and I have to admit that I'm not a big fan of many aspects of Islam.
Now, to explain how an actual racist behaves, you have to cross the line into completely illogical and radical territory. A racist against blacks would hate all black people in general and would only befriend even a polite black person if forced into it. Racists against Muslims are basically the same.
Probably one of the best films I've seen on racism is "American History X". For those of you who haven't seen it, it's an excellent drama that shows the nuances of racism and how people sometimes eventually overcome it.
Prejudice, on the other hand, is something much more subtle and tends to be more permanent in nature. It's hard not to be prejudiced in many respects, the more experiences you garner in life.
