What Constitues Racism?

[ChristineES]

It sounds like an ignorant question, even from my corner.

When I was a child, racism, bigotry, race hatred, etc. was all pretty well defined by certain actions: 1. Racial slurs 2. Open hostility 3. Condescension. 4. Stereotyping 5. Not hiring for jobs. 6. Separate drinking fountains (that was before my lifetime)7. Not letting certain people into a business (I think that was before my lifetime, too) But it seems nowadays, it can be more subtle than that. Is a person a racist for just noticing that someone else is a different ethnic group? I never thought so, and most people here don't believe so but I have heard it out of the mouths of various people. Is being ignorant of various ethnic groups considered form of racism?

What do you think constitutes racism?

 

[Kilgore Trout]

What do you think constitutes racism?

Having a problem with other people based on one's perception of race, and engaging in a behavior which negatively affects or impacts a person/people of that race.

 

[Engyo]

Having a problem with other people based on one's perception of race, and engaging in a behavior which negatively affects or impacts a person/people of that race.

I would add 'knowingly or unknowingly' before 'engaging'.

 

[bigbird123456789]

It sounds like an ignorant question, even from my corner.

When I was a child, racism, bigotry, race hatred, etc. was all pretty well defined by certain actions: 1. Racial slurs 2. Open hostility 3. Condescension. 4. Stereotyping 5. Not hiring for jobs. 6. Separate drinking fountains (that was before my lifetime)7. Not letting certain people into a business (I think that was before my lifetime, too) But it seems nowadays, it can be more subtle than that. Is a person a racist for just noticing that someone else is a different ethnic group? I never thought so, and most people here don't believe so but I have heard it out of the mouths of various people. Is being ignorant of various ethnic groups considered form of racism?

What do you think constitutes racism?

400 + years slavery?

 

[ChristineES]

400 + years slavery?

Yeah, that one's a given. That is why they stopped it in 1865, ultimately. But even afterward, civil rights had to be gained- and that took more than 100 years and is still going on. I mentioned those a bit already.

 

[Just Another]

It sounds like an ignorant question, even from my corner.

When I was a child, racism, bigotry, race hatred, etc. was all pretty well defined by certain actions: 1. Racial slurs 2. Open hostility 3. Condescension. 4. Stereotyping 5. Not hiring for jobs. 6. Separate drinking fountains (that was before my lifetime)7. Not letting certain people into a business (I think that was before my lifetime, too) But it seems nowadays, it can be more subtle than that. Is a person a racist for just noticing that someone else is a different ethnic group? I never thought so, and most people here don't believe so but I have heard it out of the mouths of various people. Is being ignorant of various ethnic groups considered form of racism?

What do you think constitutes racism?

What constitutes racism in 2012 isnt wasnt it used to be. Overall as a society we're much more open with it IMO.

Today, youd have to be pretty direct and intent but itd get a reaction.

Like, "Hey! Those nappy ninjas look like theyre stealing the hubcaps off my ride!"