I have heard this twice in the last few weeks, so I am curious about other's opinions. I heard someone say that they believe all people are racist. Where you live and what your culture dictates determines who exactly you are racist against, but ultimately all people groups are raised in suspicion of another people group (or groups). There are a myriad of reasons, and I won't get into analyzing all that. I instead want to focus on whether or not we are all secretly harboring hidden prejudice. Do you agree or disagree? Is it possible to be truly color blind? Do those who claim to judge character first, skin color second only deluding themselves? And if we are raised with racist views or teachings, is that something that will be permanently embedded in your mind, or is it something you can overcome?
I found this article interesting. I hope that these views aren't taken to the extreme, so that if you disagree with Obama (as I do) on his social and political views, it will be assumed that it is because of a deep seated, hidden racism. Personally, I also can't stand Bill Clinton (but that is largely based on his contemptible, degrading treatment of women), and he's white, although he tries to act otherwise to garner popularity. I feel it is just as ignorant to support Obama because he's black as it is to dislike him because he's black.
What struck me about this article was the assumption that a lot of people will not support Obama because deep down, they just don't trust the black guy. This article seemed to assume that all people are slaves to their hidden racism, and it is something we cannot truly overcome. I disagree. I believe only the lazy and ignorant are racist; only the small-minded who form their view of the world based solely on their own experiences. Whatever people group they have the most bad experiences with, or whichever group their authority figures (usually parents) label as "bad," "lazy," "devious," "incompetent," "untrustworthy," etc..., they will just transfer this prejudice to the entire people group. Rather than taking each person and giving them a chance individually, they make broad assumptions. Again, this is just the lazy, ignorant route. It takes effort, intelligence, and a truly open heart to evaluate people on an individual basis. Some groups, especially young people, seem determined to earn the negative stereotypes associated with them, and this is frustrating. Still, I think that there are people, and Christians especially, who should be able to transcend their societal views and evaluate people based on their individual personalities. All societies have their divisions, whether race or class, but is it truly impossible to overcome? I hope not.
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I think I tend to be overly conscious about being racist. To the point that it henders what a say to certain people and the relationships I have with some as well...
I will sometimes use race/color as a descriptive feature and then worry about if someone thinks I'm racist...
I know what you mean. For example, I know some people who won't even use the word "black." They will be talking about someone, and they will say, "This guy who was, you know, um... black." And they say "black" in a quieter voice like they are going to get struck by lightning for not saying "African-American" or whatever. The secure, well-adjusted black people I know find this humorous, and the only people it offends are those who walk around looking for something to offend them. (And I have to interject here that I have had two different black guys remind me that not all black people are African!) Anyway, if you are using a derogatory term, or trying to cast a negative light on a certain group, obviously that's a different story, but I think the attitude of people (like the authors of the article I cited) cause this certain level of paranoia. They tell us we are all racist, and then we are worried that everything we say will send the wrong impression. This worry and walking on eggshells makes us actually more uncomfortable around other people groups, which then gives the (often mistaken) impression that we are, in fact, racist! So it's a vicious cycle.
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