Last week, there was an interesting writing topic on the board, and many of you seemed to have some very definite thoughts on the subject. The question was fairly simple: Do you think you're racist?
During the course of the discussion, you learned (hopefully) the difference between being a racist and being a bigot. The difference is huge--racism is the hatred of people because of their race ONLY and bigotry is the hatred of people for...well, just about anything. It could be because of their sexual orienatation, their religion, their socio-economic status, their intelligence, etc. So, based off those definitions, do those of you who think you're racist want to change your answer?
If so, why?
Either way, racism and bigotry are both rooted in the same thing: HATRED. Where do you think that part of it comes from? Are people born haters or is something they learn? If it something they learn, where do they learn it from? Can the cycle ever be broken? If you are either of those things (racist or bigot) do you want your kids to be raised the same? Why or why not.
450 words/75pts
No, I don’t know think I’m a raciest. I think being raciest or bigotry comes from a few things. One thing that I think makes you this way is the way you are brought up. You don’t just grow up hating something you are taught to hate it. The interactions you have with other people the situations you see in your house hold all play a role in why someone may become like this. Another reason people are like this is experiences they have in there life. If a young girls is rapped and beaten by her father and she grows up to hate men this is understandable. This is because of a past experience she has had. it’s the same with everything else there is always a reason behind why you “hate” something. Hate is a very strong word and I don’t use it unless I really do hate something/someone. To have hatred for another human is a lot to say. I do not think people are born haters it is definitely something that they learn. If you have a white baby and the mother and father are part of the kkk if you were to put this baby next to a black baby do you think they wouldn’t play together just because of the color of there skin? Of course not, that doesn’t matter to them they do not know any better. This is a perfect example and shows people are taught to hate. I think maybe the cycle could be broken but, it would be very hard to do. Growing up and learning something all you life then trying to change that is asking for a lot. The person would have to want to change on there own. If you tried to talk them into losing the hatred they had it wouldn’t work. If you cut the problem off from the beginning you have a very high chance of breaking the cycle. When the baby was little you would have to put them in a non-hating house hold to have any chance of them growing up not raciest or bigotry. I can understand why people are raciest, but when they grow up they are than old enough to make there own decision and see that yes there are bad people in every sex and race, but that’s just life. To be the bigger person you need to take humanity as it is with the good and bad and not hate on one sex or one race just because one person did something bad to you now you hate them all. Misfortunes happen to every body that is life. It only makes you stronger to over come it and see the good in the situation it makes you a more round individual.
ReplyDeleteI am a bigot, i know that. I believe that this form of "hatred" comes from my father. He always makes stereotypical remarks...AND THEY'RE ALWAYS TRUE!!! I don't believe that I'm a hater in any way because I have nothing and nobody to hate. I'm satisfied with myself very much. I think the bigotry comes from certain people who come from other countries and think that they can overrule everybody in America. That won't happen. Another thing that obviously bothers me is the Gay's in the world. What does a person call that? Are some like that because they're retarded? I believe that this topic will stay unanswered for a long time, but I know the difference between right and wrong. I just think some people may get racism or bigotry from their role models. I think that how an individual is raised determines how he or she may act in their latter years. A person's bigotry or racism cycle may be broken, it depends on how easily can can be convinced and how strong they are when supporting their beliefs. The cycle can be broken too, if the person doesn't really care what they think. Once again, I am a bigot, however, I feel that it is right to be the way I am. My children should be the way I am because they shouldn't want what's happening when they are grown and experiencing the horrible things that are going on that may still be going on when they're around, for example, George Bush put America in an economic crisis and debt. Since he messed everybody up financially and even mentally, I believe Caucasians are corrupt, fraudulent, and deceitful people. So Caucasian people can thank George Bush and all of the other corrupt politician people for my beliefs and reasoning.
ReplyDeleteNo, I do not think I am a racist. Being racist/bigotry is being selfish. It's judging someone before you know them. You already have an opinion of them before you even get to know them. People dont just wake up racist, something has had to influence them to make them have that mind set. Either the household you grew up in, the people you surround yourself with, or an incident that happened. Many people are racist against blacks, because of the reputation some blacks have. There are some educated black people as well as uneducated black people and the same thing goes for every race. I will admit I dont like certain people but that doesn't mean i dont like their whole race. Being racist is an ignorant way of thinking. Even if i don't like someone, I never take it to the point where I hate them. Hate is a strong word and many of us don't know the depth of it. The cycle can definitely be broken. If people get educated and leanr more about different cultures and races, there would probably be less HATERS in the world. In my opinion people are only racist because they don't know anything about the race that they are racist against. If people stop judging others before they know them their mind will most likely be open to get to know them. Me being against rascism and bigotry, I would be ashamed if any of my kids were a racist or a bigot. I want them to be open minded and embrace difference. In the end it will make them a better person and it will get them further in life.
ReplyDeleteRacism is a very touchy subject. Ever since I was little schools and my parents have taught me that racism is bad and I should never judge someone on their race. Regardless of what kids are taught there is still plenty of racism to go around. Now has racism gone down since the 60’s absolutely, is it all gone, no. However, I feel after being taught that racism is bad I feel I’m not racist at all. Even though I’m not a racist I do believe I am a bigot. In every race I have friends, also in every race there is a group of people I can’t stand. The most obvious one for me is the very loud and very annoying African Americans. These are the kind of people that just give African American’s a bad name. Some people believe that all African American’s are like this when in truth there is only a few that are like this. These select few people are loud, annoying, inconsiderate, rude, and have no respect for anyone around them. I believe in almost everything they go against. I believe in good manors, being polite, and respectful. So when I go out in the world everyday and see some of these people it just really gets under my skin. There are just times I want to walk up to them and smack them across the head until they realize what the heck they are doing. Of course I realize this is a bad idea because if I did this that little group would probably kill me, but still doesn’t mean I don’t like to think about it every now and again. Now I just don’t hate these people because they are African Americans that is by no mean what I am trying to get across. I simply despise the people that think they are better than everyone else and have no respect for anyone. No matter what race or gender these individuals are, if they are like that I hate them.
ReplyDeletePeople aren’t born racist; I don’t even know how that could even be possible. People are taught to be racist whether that is by their parents or their friends. No baby is just born hating Asians, to me that just doesn’t seem logical. However it is very easy for a child to learn to be racist. I think it’s the child’s parents that teach a child that way because their parents taught them that way. This is a very long chain that goes all the way back to slavery times. Now how do you break this chain? That’s a good question; unfortunately it’s not as easy as it sounds. In order to break this chain you have to make the people see that the race isn’t what they make them out to be.
I’m a bigot I don’t doubt that one bit and when it comes to any future children I may have I hope they are bigots to. Maybe they won’t be the same kind of bigot, but I do want them to be one. I want my children to believe in their morals and dislike anyone who goes against them. In this life morals are the most important thing to a person and everyone should stick by them. So I don’t want any of my children or anyone I’m friends with to go against those morals. When it comes down to it the only person you really need to make happy is yourself.
Now knowing what racism is exactly, I can say I am not a racist. Not even semi. I would never HATE someone simply because of their race. That logic never entered my mind, and I honestly don't think it can ever be justified. Now I think wether we like it or not, at one point or another I think we all are bigots, and sometimes even unintentionally or without hatred. I think bigotry could be dislike, or distaste for a certain way of a specific group of people. I believe that bigots can come in different degrees, while racist can only and strictly be rooted through hate.
ReplyDeleteHate is taught, and no one is born hateful of a specific type of people. I feel like that's impossible because when you are an infant, you are oblivious to the world and the future. It's hard to fathom that a baby would hate all African Americans, or Orientals simply because of their race. Yet when you are growing up and all you hear are racist remarks wether from your surrounding community or your parents, and hateful thoughts and opinions on other people then it becomes what's normal and approved of in your eyes. Hate is taught, and it only blossoms if it's not stopped early and educated. It's hard to believe one thing your entire life and then change. I've seen cycles stop because they met someone that they were racist to their race and then that person of that race was introduced and showcased themselves to actually be normal good people. Yet when speaking of the entire world of racist and it's cycle stopping, I simply don't have faith in the world nor do I believe that it's in any way possible. The world will never be free from racism, that only means that it's a utopia. I don't believe that that theory or ideology could ever be reached. I also wouldn't want to reach, as sad as that sounds. I think we need some bitterness and bad events to makes us more human, more appreciative, and more helpful. There can be no peace without war.
I want my children to be better then me at EVERYTHING, and if I see that my bigotry is wrong, it's just more difficult for me to change my feelings then I'll try to teach my kids better. Though I will teach my kids that homosexuality is wrong, I will also teach them that they are not the judge of people and that they can't bash nor hurt people because of their views. My parents since I was a little girl would show me videos of Mecca and tell me look at all those people performing pilgrimage. Almost 3 million people and the number has grown each year since then, all in simple white clothes. The dress code is demonstrating the purity and the fact that you are nothing more then human in the eyes of God and that you are all equal. All of them are just trying to reach peace within themselves. Mecca was also the same place that Malcolm X changed his Black Supremacy and extremely racist point of views and realized that bashing the white race would not be helpful. The way my parents reasoned and helped me get my belief system, I will do the same with my children.
I can say that i am not a racist but i am a bigot. I wasn't raised to hate people and i wasn't born a hater. I grew up seeing how the different races act and some things that they did just made me hate them. Like when white people walk around thinking they are better than everybody else or they try and act black cause they think its cool. i don't like when Spanish people talk Spanish around me or to me because they can be saying anything and u wouldn't understand it they should take the time to learn English cause they came here. I especially hate when black people act loud and obnoxious and ignorant. Black people say and do the most annoying things sometimes and it really ticks me off. i don't think this cycle will ever end people will always be stereotypical about other races and its impossible to stop it completely. people raise their kids to hate other races so it will never change. I would never raise my kids to hate another race because of the color of their skin, but i cant stop them from making stereotype comments.
ReplyDeleteI’m not racist at all the reason why is because I don’t just hate people because of there color, sexuality, or any thing else they believe in. I believe that you shouldn’t hate someone because of there color or what they believe in it is there choice. They are exceptions though for me I am a bigot. The reason why I am is because of how they present there self. If they present them self as I could say an ignorant person it’s not a good look for a person and I don’t like that at all. Now you used the word “haters” there are haters in this world weather it is on how good that person is and they don’t like them for that or there are haters that are raised that way . I believe that you could be born a hater. You could be born a hater in a house hold there are parents that don’t like people at there job and could raise there kids to be the same way. When I have kids I will not raise my kids to be racist. I also will explain to my kids how I feel about them being racist. Also there could be a hater form there surroundings like at school for instance your on a football team and a friend takes your spot that you wanted at quarterback and now you don’t like that him just because of a spot that is a hater in my eyes. There are haters that stop being like that I believe it is a sign of maturity. I say that because in the real world there are people who are going to make more money then you and it could be your friend you can’t get mad at your friend because they make more then you should be happy for them. Going back to the football thing you should be happy for that person. In conclusion I believe being racist is not right god did not put us on earth to “hate” each other.
ReplyDeletei believe that people that "hate" on other people were kinda brung up aroud it and thats were they got it from.
ReplyDeleteim a bigot i dont like ignorant people i strongly dislike them, but if i grow up and decide to have children i would never teach them to not like someone else thats just not in my character.
I am not a racist person. Hatred comes from many thing place. The most come one is your parents, if they hate something you will to because when your little you will simple think that is how things should be. I do believe that the cycle can be broken. I am a bigotry on some people, however I don't want my kids to be like that.
ReplyDeleteI am not a racist or a bigot. I don’t judge a race by any stereotypes and I surely don’t hate any race even if they do follow up on a stereotype. I think bigotry came from people who felt the need to bring other races down as an excuse or to hide qualities about themselves or own race that others might look down upon. I think it’s something that people learn, I don’t believe people are born to hate, but that we’re not sure what to do. The world is new to us. When we’re little, we interact with everybody and accept them. However, some parents try to shape their kids to believe they are superior or to not trust so-and-so because they are known for “this” or “that”. Their environment is also a big contribution to people being bigots. They might pay attention to their parents and interact with other races but sort of from a distance, and pick up the negative things and associate those with the races because their mind is already set to believe it’s true from listening to their parents. Then, when they pick up these stereotypes and feel superior and grow a hatred against these other races, the other races pick up their attitude and feel the same way towards them. It ends up being a never ending cycle. There are obviously exceptions, like myself and others who accept everybody and don’t judge, or discriminate. I’ve taught myself to be like that. Most of my family, especially my mother’s side, are bigots. They would always say racist comments, use derogatory names, “warn” me about their behaviors, etc. and I’ve learned to just ignore them, and sometimes lecture THEM about it. Growing up, I got along with everybody. Of course people are a lot friendlier down in the south than up here, but I carried the same belief that we’re all still equal. I don’t hate “y’all damn Yankees!” or anything like that just because I’m from the south. It’s a shame that people are racists or bigots; they could be missing out on some really great people. Instead they decide to judge each other before getting to know anything about them. I would be very ashamed and disappointed if my children grew up to become racist or bigots. I would hate to have them feel like they have to stick to their own race for something as selfish as superiority, or the need to downgrade themselves because of the way another race treats them or acts. If my future children learn to be accepting of others, I think one by one it can change other kids and their viewpoints and start a whole new chain to break the cycle of hatred. That sounds pretty far out, but it sounds like a good plan. And if my babies’ daddy doesn’t like it, he can get over himself.
ReplyDeletePersonally I am not a Racist or a Bigot. I think it is wrong. You cannot judge someone at all, especially just by analyzing their race, religion, social status, sexual orientation, etc; it is wrong point blank. I feel it is wrong because just by seeing someone or being around them for a few, doesn’t mean you know them. They are different and the exact same at the same time. They are different in which what they believe in, color, race, social customs, etc. They are the same in which they breathe, digest, bleed, live, and die just like you.
ReplyDeleteIt’s kind of crazy how you can hate someone or a group of people that you really haven’t gotten to know. Everyone is too quick to judge on appearance or assumption, however there is so much more than what meets the eye. Beneath the surface of the outer layer of their personality there is more than what you choose to discover, because you fail to seek it out. Everyone is beautiful in their own way; you just have to take the time out to find the beauty in them.
I do not hate anybody. I may say I hate somebody, but I don’t really. If they came up to me and apologized, I would forgive and befriend them. Hatred is something you learn; you are not born like that. I believe you are born with a clean slate. You learn hatred from your family, friends, environment, neighborhood, media, books, etc. You do not just pop out of your mom’s va jay jay and go “Hi doctor, I hate you because you are white.” That just doesn’t make sense.
Hatred is not set and stone. You can revoke it. You just have to live life and think of everyone as an equal; whether you approve of what they do or not. You cannot compare yourself to others; because truth is, one of you will appear better. You may be prettier on the outside and them on the inside, or vice versa. You will never know, unless you take the time to get to know.
Kids have so much potential to be anything in the world. You should teach them to look at the world positively and see people clearly. You cannot raise them to hate anything. Supposedly love makes the world go ‘round. So if that is true, than how can have them hating people on sight or stereo types and still expect them to go far. What if they hate white people and their boss is white? Should they quit? What if they hate men because of their uncle or father? Should this stop them from associating themselves with them? No, of course not, so how could you sit there and teach your kid to hate for no other reason than a closed minded opinion. It’s wrong; don’t corrupt a young brilliant mind just because you believe in something wrong.
Being a racist or a bigot is unfair, judgmental, and unnecessary. Treat people how you want to be treated, and everything will run smoother. Looking at other people from a racist’s or bigot’s point of view is sad because even though you may hate men or women according to your prior encounters or hate a race because of the stereo types, you still don’t know them. You still don’t know what they go through or how they are. It is very uncomfortable to even fathom the thought that people actually are these things. It kind of hurts me inside, because no matter what you have been through in your life, nobody is the same.
Personally, I think that almost everybody is racist (myself included) because of how society generally is. However, I always thought that racism was just judging people based on their race. When I heard that racism meant hatred of people because of their race, I took back what I said. I consider myself more of a bigot, but there are very few people that I actually hate. I could count the number of people I hate on one hand, but I really dislike stupid people. When I say stupid, I don’t necessarily mean grades and courses. It’s mainly just how people act. If someone drives while drunk/texting/putting on makeup/playing games, then I consider them stupid. If someone is trying to take part in a conversation and completely ruins the topic, I consider them to be dim. If someone fails every single class because they just don’t even try, I consider them to be dense. I usually lose respect for people who do unintelligent things. Everybody has a brain; I just wish that they’d use it. I believe that hatred isn’t something that people are born with; I think that it comes from experience. If someone is racist and hates black people, there is no way that he/she was born that way. The hatred must’ve come from a past experience involving black people. The cycle can definitely be broken, but it would mean that the person must grow up in a racially assorted environment in which everyone is at peace with each other. The only problem with that is that it can be difficult to arrange with people willing to participate and the unpredictable nature of humans. If I had kids, I would try my best to steer them away from racism and bigotry. In fact, I would try to get them to be a part of the scenario I just mentioned about a peaceful environment. The problem with doing that, though, would be the reality that the kid won’t be prepared for. If he/she grows up in a closed environment like that, they wouldn’t have any experience with the real world.
ReplyDeleteI know for a fact I'm not a racist. For one I Date all types of women. Black , White , spanish , I mean it really doesn't matter. I get called racist names all the time. To me Being racist is just a big sign of immaturity. Calling someone a Cracker or the N word is Just like calling someone Fat or ugly. People shouldn't really dwell on things like that. People are always going to think one way and another. As far as me being a bigot, i don't think im that either. Ill conversate with just about anyone. I crack alot of jokes about others but its only jokes. I'll befriend anyone. That's just how i am. I have geeky friends , Gangsta homies , Tom boy friends , I mean you name it. Its not really much more i can say about this topic. I just know i dont focus too much on other people. I dont worry about what someone does and has. I worry about what i do and what i have. Long as I'm doing good then to me everything is good
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