identify and explain at least two reasons why people might be racist?"?
824288
In the words of Edward R. Murrow, "Everyone is a prisoner of his own experiences. No one can eliminate prejudices - just recognize them."
540726
1) This is a free country so people can say things that offend you.\n\n2) These people are generally trying to offend you.\n\n3) The best way to deal with them is to ignore them.
1009025
As long as people exist, there will be racism. People tend to dislike anyone that is different from them. So, whether through ignorance, cruelty or whatever, as long as there are different races there will be racism. I think it is  just human nature to shun something or someone we don't understand. Hopefully, one day we will get past it but I don't think so.
318989
First of all let's be clear--the vast majority of people who talk of racism the most generally don't even understand what racism is.  By definition racism consists of one of three things:\n\n1.  Taking a specific example and applying it to all people of a particular race (a driver is cut off by a white driver and from then on claims that ALL whites are impolite or unware drivers.)\n\n2.  Assigning similar traits to ALL people of a particular race (all blacks enjoy basketball, all Asians are good at math, all whites marry their relatives, all Mexicans are lazy and inherently uneducated, etc...)\n\n3.  Placing the various races on tiers of some sore (the smartest race is _____, the best athletes are always _____, the dumbest race has to be ____)\n\nIf your attitudes or opinsion do not fall into this category they are not racist opinions or attitudes.  For example if one were to say, "The vast majory of crimes committed in America are commited by non-whites," that is NOT a racist statement, because it is a proven fact that can be verified with statistical information.  If one were to say, "A lot of whites are intolerrant of non-whites," that is a true statement, because they do not say, "ALL" whites, they simply state that a lot are--which is true.  There are many statements that uneducated and poorly read people claim are racist which in realilty are not racist at all.  Simply because someone says something about your race that makes you angry, does NOT make that statement racist in nature.  To say that most Asians are good students is a correct statement--the drop-out rate among Asians is the lowest in the United States.  Inversely, to say that Hispanics are the lest educated group in the United States is also correct--Hispanics drop out of school at a MUCH higher rate than any other race.  Because that statistics makes someone angry does NOT make it untrue or racist.\n\nSo in answer to your questions--I think that virtually everyone has some racist notions to one degree or another.  Those who claim to be totally unracist probably don't understand what racism really is.  Being a professional teacher for 20 years I have found more EXCEPTIONS to racial stereotypes than examples of racial stereotypes.
841399
Racism or religion - people are passionate about both xx
115012
The question is why is there so much hatred between ANY groups? We discriminate between skin tones, ages, sex, sex preferences, weight, car preferences, sports teams, political parties, language, education, finances, and far more.
475921
Maybe if you have ever experienced racism you would see.It is not unfounded,I have seen questions like "do all mexicans have diseases?" And the "SWARM from Mexico....."These are things that some white ppl do not see as being derogatory.But I certaintly do.I have experienced it first hand ,all the time.Especially lately,wonder why.I had a job where I experienced daily.It sux.
499162
I think what you meant by your statement about how "white ppl can be so blind" is not that you are calling all white people racist, but rather, you are wondering why white people seem to have a harder time seeing the consequences of racism or identifying their own racism.\n\nI think everyone is racist to some degree.  From my experience, there are two groups who admit it: \n\nThe first are those that are KKK-like extremists.  They admit to it, encourage it, and try to covert people to their belief system.\n\nThe second are people who try to not be racist, but were socialized or conditioned to see differences and attribute generalizations to people possessing those differences.\n\nI find the latter group - people who acknowledge their racism, are embarrassed by it and are trying to overcome it -- to generally be less racist than those who say "I am not racist."  Everyone who I have ever met that said "I am not a racist", I have found to be just that!\n\nTo those that say they are not racist, who do they want to find in a life partner?  Do you have requirements when it comes to specific race, gender, socio economic level, religion, body type, national origin or cultural heritage?  Don't lie.  eveyone does.  Well, that can be construed as racist, homophobic, classist, ethnophobic, etc.  We are all guilty. Admit it.\n\nYes, racism is in almost every skin color - but it's not necessarily racism based on skin color... it is bigtory based on any difference.  It Ruwanda it wasn't white people committing genocide, it was between the Tutsis and the Hutus.  In Germany, it was Aryan people against mostly other Caucasians.  In Germany it is now against the Turks.  In the catholic church it is against the homosexuals - not a race, but a difference in sexual orientation.  In the gay community there is bigotry against Transgendered people.  \n\nBasically, the real issue is not whether Latinos are racist against white people (which for some reason comes up all the time here at Yahoo Answers), but whether people in power and/or with authority are bigoted against a group with less power and/or authority.\n\nThink about it: What has a greater effect?  We have 2 imaginary men: The Senator from North Carolina and a Dishwasher from the local Olive Garden (I am making this up as an example... I don't know anything about the Senator from North Carolina, and I really hate the Olive Garden).  Both think that women don't belong in the workforce.  So, obviously in this scenario, both are sexist.  But, who really cares if the dishwasher is sexist?  What impact does that have on society?  That is not going to impact me, or anyone else for that matter outside of his family.  On the otherhand, if someone who has authority, who can make decisions that impact my life, that can create laws, that has more authority than I do, hates me for my gender, race, creed, weight, or sexual orientation, that is where it become an issue.  \n\nSo, to answer your question, because Caucasians are in a position of power in the United States, they do not directly feel the effects of racism.  They do hear it when it's blatant: when the KKK burns a cross on a lawn or when the Mayor of New Orleans uses the term Chocolate to describe his city, but they don't notice that standardized test questions are targeted toward the white middle class experience.  Math questions about the speed of two roller coaster cars don't make as much sense to someone who has never seen an amusement park.  A rat to a wealthy child might be a pet or a test subject - an animal that can be touched.  A rat to a poor child is more likely viewed as a bearer of disease, a pest.  When test writers don't take these differences into account when writing questions, it is subtle racism and classism that favors those who are of their status. My favorite example is Coco, the gorilla that knew sign language, got an answer wrong on an IQ test because she poi
890854
racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race\nor racial prejudice or discrimination \nSo if you jsut don't like a certain person that is black or a diffreent color but you don't ahte all of them then no.
753351
I think racism is classified as any derogatory remark towards a person because of skin color, nationality, or ethnic background. If you discriminate against a person because of their background or make harsh remarks regarding their ethnic background, it is racist.
372033
I don't believe people are racist.I truly think they are fearful of what my happen when they let there enter self take over with feelings that make them say and do fearful things . You do have to say a lot has happen.Give them time to get to know you and see if you still feel the same way .Are maybe them are the people you just need to still away from.
659149
1. Language barriers and\n2. Distorted message
276748
The best example of racism I have seen yet - the answers to this question.
856237
Well, it could be colorism.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorism\n\nOr...it could be just simply Racism...racism can take many forms, including self-hate.\n\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Racism
923157
Some people are just hateful and want to find any reason they can to dislike other people.  Color is just a very easy way to divide people.
1021354
'Racist' clearly is just an insult they use to freeze discussion.  No one wants to be racist.  If they can make people who aren't thinking in racist terms afraid to enter into the discussion because someone might call them that name, that is the most effective thing they can do.  \n\nClearly logic isn't on their side, so rational arguments can't work.
84742
Because your a racist!