Why Are People Racist? Can You Give Me Some Examples?

People are racist because .....

A: They were taught that way. Parents, its your responsibility to teach your kid(s) right from wrong. Being racist is just wrong. Teach them to love the other sex, the other race, the other color. Being white is beautiful, being black is beautiful, being asian and hispanic is  also beautiful. If you don't teach your kid(s) that simple thing, then your ignorant and so would be your child when they  grow up.

B: Thinks the other race/color is a threat. Why hurt the other race, talk down to them, whats the reason behind all of that? Solution: You think their a threat. Probably to you, or the economy.

EX: (KKK) Didn't want any other race that weren't white on Earth; why? Because its obvious blacks, Jews, Hispanics were a HUGE threat to them.

*I don't like racist people at ALL.

Some people are racist because they are afraid and others because that is what they were taught, to hate people of other races. An example of this would be if someone were to introduce you to a black person and he/she were to hold out a hand to shake yours and you wouldn't shake their hand. It's all a heart attitude.
I grew up in an all white neighbourhood. As I grew older and moved different places where there was more diversity in the towns that I lived. I wasn't used to seeing people of different cultures. But that doesn't mean I'm racist. I think we all need time to get used to change and things we are not familiar with. There are wonderful people in all races. We can learn a lot from each other.

People are racist because they are afraid of change. All human beings go through the 'not accepting change' stage. Some people just don't know when to stop, or when they're going overboard with it. Racism has been around for as long as anyone can know, and unfortunately will never cease.

I'm white, and I love my boyfriend who is black very much. Racist people should never get in your way of what makes YOU happy. No matter who it may be. You're alive, you're living YOUR life, so you deserve to be happy. Love has no color.

Children don't know racism. It is not something you are born with. It is something that is instilled in a person sometimes in the way they are raised or being influenced by others who have been influenced or taught to ge racist.

I believe racism is not alright. It hurts me to know that our world is like this. Everybody was bought up in different ways, but it doesnt mean to be racist. Were all humans who have friends and families that love us for who we are, so why is it hard for others to love eachother for who they are not for what they are..:(:(

just to say, I'm against racism, for me it would be great if everyone got along, for the sake of their families and especially the children.

Because people are stupid/thick/ jealous losers...

Racism is the biggest waste of time in the world.... Whats the point of shutting yourself away from brilliant people just because they are from a different culture, you miss a lot and will die extremely sad/lonely if you only keep to your own 'set' of people from the same culture/ country... You learn from other people from other countries just like they do from you.

Honestly people should just live and let live..

If you don't want to mix with other people you don't have to but just don't be nasty about it...let everyone get on with their lives.

I think some elements of racism can be blamed on the parents but also school, friends, government, media... Basically socialisation of all levels...
Racism is one of the worst diseases and one of the biggest killers...

Diversity FTW!!!!
(-:

Rant over....now time for a big group hug...(:

People are racist because they're ignorant, in some cases they were taught to be that way. Also, they might not know the person and just believe what their social group says about them.
Example: I'm hispanic, I was riding my bike when to guys (who were white), called me "Dumb spic" which is a bad word to call someone from the hispanic race.

Nowadays, people forget they human before there look at there skin colour.

Some people are probably racist because they were taught to hate as young children . Racism is a very bad thing. In my opinion racism should not exist . But some people can't seem to change their hearts .

If Anyone Says A Racist Comment Just Reply Back Speaking Normally Saying" Wow, Your Mum Must Be Proud Of You!"
People Are Racist Because One Reason Is Because Their Parents Didn't Them Right Including The Sad People Making Comments Here Too.

I think racism exists because its human nature to try and feel superior about everything be it race, sex, religion, etc. Inherent prejudices are more common than most people realise for a variety of reasons such as ignorance, unfortunate experience, stereotyping, up bringing, etc. The best way to overcome these problems would be to treat every individual equally and with respect, no matter what the differences. Tolerance is the key word. We must always remember to put ourselves in the other person's shoe to know what its really like to be at the receiving end of it and how unpleasant it can actually be.

P.S. I read a post from someone in England saying how immigrants have taken over his/her village. Well it would be worthwhile for this person to remember that England's colonisation led to hoardes of Brits coming into countries where there were not wanted robbing these countries of their natural resources and leaving much of their populations starving. I don't see Brits suffering any such fate in the hands of any immigrant. However, I do agree that its important for anyone settling into a foreign country to respect the culture and traditions of that country and at the same time be able to live in harmony with their own.

This is my answer alright, this is my opinion. You can agree with me or disagree I don't care.

I think that that people are racist because of what has happened and what other people have labeled them as. I also think that the more racist people in Australia are Native Australians.

Racism has been around for a very long time and is still till this very day. I think that the reason some people are rascist is because they feel threatned by a person who has a different race or culture. We as people should make a stop ot it and make it no longer acceptable becuse I believe that everybody is equal no matter what their skin colour is, or language they speak. This is what makes you different from everybody else and you should be proud of it.

Right I'm 14 and I'm studying 'The Black People's of America' in history. I'm really enjoying it, it's so interesting! Everybody has their own opinion - some of you will think my views are good and others will think they're stupid.
I made a comment in history today. I said:
"I don't blame the white Americans for being racist. Imagine you see a black person for the first time in your life, you'll think they're an alien or a monkey. You're obviously not going to treat them like a white person because they're 'different'. Also, because they came in as slaves ('rubbish' people), you'll think that you're superior to them. So then this thought has been passed through generations, because kids are going to learn it from everyone else. Or like if you are born into a Christian family, your parents raise you as a Christian and so you think that Christianity is THE religion and that's what you believe because you were brought up to believe it. So you can't exactly blame white American's for being racist. It's not really their fault that they believe black people are different to white people."
After the lesson, the most popular girl in the year started having a rant at me and called me a racist.
I felt so offended because I'm not a racist - I am completely against racism. I was just stating my opinion about why I think people are racist.
I think people just need to understand why people are racist in  the first place.
Btw I think people have made some very good points on this thread!

People are racist because they're taught to be.  Even if what they've been taught about other races isn't always true, they hold to their belief so that they come out looking and feeling superior to those of the so-called "inferior" race.  Also, some of the cowards hide behind "free speech"--which, unfortunately, is protected by the First Amendment.  So you can spout off racist rantings and hide behind the "free speech" banner.

Its a sad fact that racism has been around since biblical times but also through ignorance and the way parents bring their children up, there is no colour when you are small because you don't notice these things so it is the way you are brought up, but let us not forget racism is world wide.

People are racist because they really want to make others feel bad and make themselves superior.

Racism is a learnt trail. Humans do not realise that they are hurting other peoples feelings. They should think before they speak

I really think that people are racist because they want you to get your attention and make you feel sad and embarrassed. They want you to think that they are much stronger, superior, and that they are really telling you that you don't belong to a certain country but I believe that every person on earth is the same no matter what your color, ethnicity, race, sexual orientation, disabilities, etc is. This is because everybody has the same feelings and thoughts. Think about it if someone calls you something bad because your different from them that is going to make you either mad or sad(normal feeling) See. Say this why do you think that African American people (not being racist) are more vulnerable to be mistreated based on their color? What if it was all the other way around and African American being racist to a white person because of its color? Wth!! This is all a misunderstanding. The holocaust is one example. What is wrong with this world? Here is the truth in the author's opinion(me), people have a tendency to be racist because they are not stupid or idiot, they know they are wrong to be racist, is just that they want you to feel less accepted because they are afraid!! That's right afraid to be accepted by other people. And when this happens... Your self-esteem lowers and you feel depressed and you just either want to die or just make you feel lonely.  One  think that make me stand up is a movie called "freedom writers" really good movie you should watch it is about different ethnic groups that hate each other.

So what to do in case of someone being racist to you.
They are no don't in this list!
*Feel good about yourself that you're alive.
*Tell someone about your problem if you are in school they are more likely to get in trouble.
*If you think that what that message was really harsh and inappropriate absolutely tell a teacher.
*If you don't go to school do a comeback like use your fingers or say the F word or shut up or something without using sound just use your lips and make a good expression so they feel the pain that you felt when that person disrespected you, but sometimes that could get you into more trouble. But if you got to a school and it was a person who just doesn't snitch on a teacher or who is quite sensible or much weaker than you then you might as well get a come back. But not recommended!! You can get in trouble. But it is worth it. If you use your lips without sound that could actually work cause you are not using any sound at all and there is no proof that you said a bad word so, yeah!! Racist Loser!!
*Be exactly who you are based on your morals. Very important!!
*you could also stand up and say to that person with a high voice , "I don't like how you...... Blah blah blah racist to me blah..." ,but not that high of a voice  because that could make it worst and if you talk more of a normal tone without mumbling you are actually making that person embarrassed.
*Which makes the crowd think that they don't mess with you!

Racism is a form of discrimination of colour, content, and culture. It still goes around today. It's a shame that people are judged by the content of their character. People are looked at differently if they are a certain skin colour or if their background is different than other people's. That's a form of racism or being a racist.

No one can explain WHY people are racist. That's just their belief and it's sad that people will judge you because of the colour of your skin and where you come from. We ALL are people and we should not be discriminated in any kind of way! People cannot judge people. That's God's job and in God's eyes, we all are beautiful. He doesn't look at what colour you are or what background you come from, he judges the inner appearance not the outer appearance and some people need to do the same.

Some people are racist or are percieved to be so, when immigrants, come over and inflict their wishes and become quite vocal and aggressive towards the host communitty and inflict their culture and religion on the host community. Here in England we see that people have become more racist as mainly Islamic people will bomb shops because they have Islamic (urdu) script on shoes and stop free speech in tha case of Greet communitty, stopping traditional butchers selling pork, trying to close a very British institution like the pub and taking over whole areas. The place I lived in was a beautiful English village. Today you only get halal butchers, the Church and non Islamic places are all vandalised and the non Muslim people are bullied. All the white people have moved and the councillors are in the pocket of the Islamic foundation. This sort of behaviour wear the parasit kills the host breed racism. Now in England people move if one coloured person moves in as thwy have seen what happens when you give an inch and they take a mile. It doesnt   help when the councillors and politicans will prostiute themselves for votes. Racism is more prevalent in UK than ever, only you have gagged the non islamic people. However the Brits suffer from not voicing their opinion and saying enough is enough you our in our country, we don't mind but behave. If you want to live here you have to behave in a certian fashion. But this has been deemed rasict. People should respect the country they move to and their customs, don't get me wrong in the 70s and 80s and stiil today the Brits are very racist, whilst making curry the national dish and not having everyone show you how to make a curry except Indian men. They will employ Indian women in BBC and all place where eye candy is needed but will not showcase the male. If they do they the Indian male is shown as comical, gay or inferilte. Inshort not an alpha male. These are all the attributes of passive aggression. Think about it why would you have to legislate you can't call anyone the P word or N word if you did not have a problem. Then the Brits think they are multicultural and would wish to run off to a country which is predominantly White. Aussie, NZ Canada. SO this is a moral of not standing up for yourself and talking out on people who are soft but will not dare say anything against those who you should say something to. The violent and most vocal will be heard.

People are racist because they are scared to admit that they want to do something with that person or group

I think people are afraid and need something to make them feel good about them selves so they are mean to people of a diffrent color

Ignorance. Many kids are raised to be racist and don't even think they are racist but believe that that sad way of thinking they have been taught by their parents is the correct way of thinking.

And also because deep down they might feel threatened by the other race in some way so they join in the racism to push the other race down to make them feel better about themselves
e.g. A white person might feel a black person is better at sports than them so they might make crass degrading comments about black people being rough and violent and stupid and they fight a lot which is the only reason they are good at sports- which of course is a completely unfair statement to make and not true. Or a white person might be jealous of an asian person being skinnier, fitter and more youthful looking than them so they might make completely naff degrading comments about asian females being flat-chested and about asian male's penises being small- which is also completely unfair and completely NOT TRUE.

I'm a bit insulted by the lack of logic at rationality here. In every example of racism in your answers, the offender was white. That is also racism. I can truthfully say that I've been physically and verbally assaulted numerous times for being white, more than I have ever seen the other way around. All races are equally capable of discrimination.
We are all biologically racist. Look up the studies of brain activity and race, or how every person finds it more difficult to determine positive emotions from people of another race, or identify certain characteristics of people outside of their own race, etc.
While it is true that people should be treated with equal worth, people are not created equal. We are all unique and different. I wouldn't trust Justin Bieber anywhere near a hadron collider, but I also doubt that Einstein would've been well suited for a musical.  There are considerable statistical characteristics of each race, good and bad. Nobody deserves to be targeted simply because of their race, but it is also ignorant to ignore it all together considering your culture is a part of who you are mentally and biologically.

Hi, what of they talked above is right ,but they (Racists) mainly are from " prejudiced , bigoted or different educational people " too ,not only for the different colors or ignorance. What I mean is people who are ignorant of different colors could change their mind or from awareness after their understanding, so its about a change of thinking and raising awareness.

I think that the reason there is racism is because some people have a need to belong to a certain group to make them feel better about themselves.  What separates a group from everyone else is a common bond.  In this case, a person would be grouping themselves with a group of their own race.  In order to feel better about themselves, they find fault in others who belong to different races than their own.
Judging someone because of the pigment of their skin is similar to judging someone by the car that they drive, except there might be more logic in the latter.
Dr. Seuss' book "The Sneeches" is a great story about how silly segregation or racism is.  You should take a look at it.

Racism is a culture between white people its in there comedy shows they talk amongst themselves about how over run britain has become with other ethnic communities, its funny because it's true. But because of the cardinal virtues our society has they hide it amongst eachother and support the very thing britain fought tooth and nail for to stop. 88

People are racist for many reasons.  Some are racist due to a lack of education, some due to abuse in the home or society, some have had many bad experiences with people in other cultures and are only able to see things from what they believe they know, others feel threatened by other cultures out of a lack of cultural education (they fear what they do not know), some have an inferiority complex and therefore feel the urgency to make themselves appear more superior, and there are some who hate to feel the sense of a belonging to a group, regardless of it's practices... These are some reasons, but most importantly, it is also usually accompanied with arrogance and or ignorance.  Any race can be racist.  Ex: Excluding a person from being a friend because you precieve him to be inferior to you or because of his or her race you perceive him or her to be racist. Racism is an action and it doesn't matter how big or how small it still an act of treating someone else as an unequal or different.  For anyone who has ever been on the end of racism, just know that when others hate, they are feeling it too, and it's not a good feeling.  I feel sorry for those who accept making themselves feel this way.  We all have choices and in life how we percieve others is also a choice as our feelings are self chosen.  We can either become a victim and blame,  or we can do what it takes to make ourselves a better person.  I feel so sad that race is still an issue in our society, but alas, it is.  My solution is to try your best to not focus on racism and when someone is being racist, because life is short.  Instead work on what makes you happy.  Out of love for all humanity and understanding of every race I wish everyone a good happy and full life.

I have a few reasons to be what could be considered 'racist'. Now before we start, I am in the UK and not the US, so things may be different. Also, what race someone is actually doesnt matter to me at all. It is simply peoples attitude and what they do.

For example, if two Asian people come to this country, one gets a job (or at least tries to.) as well as trying hard to learn our language and respect out culture over here, I would have absolutely nothing against them whatsoever. They'd be a good UK citizens. However, if someone comes over here, makes no attempt to get a job, learn the language and just uses our free healthcare and benefits, then of course I have a problem with that. Milions in taxpayers money goes into that; it should be a safety net, not a way of life. Unfortunatly for some, it IS a way of life. Whatever your colour, if you take advantage of our country, ill have a nit to pick with you.

Another, somewhat controversial reason is the recent 'wooden horse' thing, and other terrorist/extremist activities. Those few idiots give their whole race/religion an unfairly bad reputation.

Many here find that this country is becoming 'islamified' and to a point, I agree. Again, no problem with the peoples race, only that many of them are trying to push their culture and customs on us.. For example, I recently turned vegetarian one reason (of many, however.) was that because now, you never know what your eating. Is it halal, is it ordinary meat? Resturaunts don't always state, and more often than not now they serve halal. 88% of halal is actually stunned so the animal doesn't feel pain, but about 22% did have to undergo excruciating pain before it arrived on our dinner table.

To summarise my points: You go to the UK, you speak English and you respect English culture. Go to France, you learn French and you respect French culture. The same goes for all countries.

Its not because there afraid and if they don't know about the culture they are only scared because humans are scared of thing they do not understand. Most people are racist because they find it funny but sometimes its a horrible mistake if you know what I mean.

Hello, I am 14 years old ! Andd I was wonderingg thee samee thingg . See all my Friends aree African American , andd when myy father found outt he toke it the wrong way , I belive if god wonted only white he wouldve just made white . My aunt passed away a year ago and she was married  to an African American man . Andd shee was treated every well. Myy dadd always warns me about black people ! Likee what is that it is so badd too hang out with them. And myy Best Guy friend is black also . ILove him every much . We had been friends sence 4th grade ! Andd he is really sweet , andd ijustt mayy call himm myy brother , butt myy dad don't likee thatt . Hee tells me thatt youu shouldd stick with your on Race ! Andd truly that makes me madd , !

This is a geusse but it mainly white ppl because of elizabeth the first

Its a way to show how much is hate inside them against that certain targeted group.

People could be racist because of they way they are brought up. Also because of the past history. Wars may effect on how people think about each other of different races

You should never be racist as it is so extra mean and horrid never do it just because people look a bit different

Oh my god, people who are racist doesnt mean they are scared of the group of people who they are being racist to. Example: Nazi's, etc

People, by nature, are scared of everything that is a little bit different. Please note that blacks can be racist towards white people just as much as a white person can be racist against a black person. Racism is based on stereotypes and ignorance.

I think racist ppl are raw it shouldnt be a crime to be a diff rent color if any one is racist to me they will get a Punch so don't mess with me right Coors ppl who r white sud have names to

Insulting white people won't discourage racism btw.
Friends also spread racism, and even black people encourage it in some places with the over abusive n - word that many seem to take advantage of.

Its just how some people are and you should ignore those people because thats just negativity

People can be racist by the parents bringing them upto be racist, but they they choose to be racist their self so its therev own fault for being racist not just because their parents were supposed to teach them to be racist against other people

Its a very sad thng that people are still racist I belive every colour is the same no 1 is diffrent I mean if 1 induvidual does some thing that dosnt mean every 1 frm that race is the same

Because their parents raise them

Ok well my family was taught to hate some races and I grew out of that and in older generations its still there maybe its where you come from that hated a race

People are usually racist because of racist language used at home since they were kids...some people are racist because they had unhappy childhoods where usually violence and fears were common...

People are sick to the back teeth of scrounging foreigners

Because they hate the way they act not because of color

Can people in the workplace discuss racist words and the meaning of them

Racism is good always that hate is away from it

Egg fried rice

People are racist because everyone but white people and english speaking people should die and go and burn in hell.....it sais so in the bible PEACE OUT YALL!!!!!!