Former Member 12 Years Ago An interesting question. Often one finds that those defending a racism charge will claim that they are not, because 'many of their friends are black, asian, etc'. However, if they have made racist remarks then it might suggest that they do actually regard those friends as genuine friends but nevertheless inferior in some way, related to their ethnic origin. (Think Robinson Crusoe and his 'friend', Man Friday). It is this subconscious prejudice that needs to be recognised and faced up to by the individual. An analogy would be the wife beater who insists that 'many of his good friends are women'! 0 Reply as... Cancel
Former Member 12 Years Ago I think most people are just prejudice and to some degree this can be rationalised through past experiences and what you absorb through the media etc., but I think if you then treat people unequally based purely on ethnic origin etc., and disregard someone as an individual and just view him/her as "one of them", then your prejudices are so biased against a certain group that you are infact a racist. I think prejudices are a safe and normal part of human nature but to let them blind you to a point that you no longer see people as equal and as individuals is a massive flaw. Let us not also forget that racism works each and every way, and that all ethnicities, religions etc., are victims of racial abuse and hatred. 0 Reply as... Cancel