Why is there Racism?

I think there's two kinds of racism.

1. There's the kind of tribalism that attacks or mocks (same thing only milder) anything from outside your own tribe, and this is mostly based on fear grown out of a lack of knowledge, and a tendency to generalise, as a kind of social 'shorthand'.

I reckon this kind of prejudice probably happens in most societies. (But note that 'normal' is not the same as 'good'.)

2. There's the kind of racism that comes out of a history of oppression, (for example Europeans enslaving Africans, or Japanese enslaving Chinese.)

This kind of racism is, in my opinion, much more dangerous, and also much more puzzling.

My father, and my brothers, were all, to some extent, white supremacist.

I could never understand them, or get them to explain themselves.

Haven't seen them for years, & don't really want to.

As you say, racism doesn't do us whites any favours. Just as sexism cripples men, and homophobia, and all other forms of prejudice, paralyses the practitioners.

I don't think being opposed to terrorism counts as racism, until you start saying crap like 'all muslims are terrorist' or whatever.

Peace, bro.

Answers like 'People are ignorant' piss me off so much.

We have racism and prejudice so we can protect ourselves, it's our instict.

If you see a black person with a gangster swag using phrases like, "fo sho" - why cant I judge him? After all 99.9% are idiots, thieves and violent people. If I see someone with a nazi badge, why cant I judge him / her as a nazi? You see we all judge everyone, if you don't then you are just dumb.

Prejudice and racism is not wrong, if it were then every person on this earth is wrong. It is when we are prejudiced out of hate when it is wrong for example hating a asian person or a muslim.

That's a good question. I don't understand racism. if its over skin color, the only reason a person skin is lighter or darker is because of how close they were to the equator. i think people should just think of it that way instead of thinking they are better than someone because of the way they look.

I think it starts with the tone of peoples skin. and racists make an asumption based on only a few and think all people of the same skin tone is the same...? Quite bizzar to me. Have a look at this question... I find it very interesting

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AsiAE...

(also about race)

There is racism because it is human nature to reject the unfamiliar. Also, race is the easiest way to build hegemony next to religion, sexual orientation, sex, ect

People are ignorant