Re: OT: Prejudice/Racism

On Nov 30, 12:40 pm, John_Brian_K <John_Brian_Kent_1...@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Nice explanation - I do have a question, though. If racism is defined
as believing that one race is superior to another or others, what's the term for
someone that doesn't necessarily prejudge others based on their race or
ethnicity but does recognize that there are patterns and differences between the
races and that there is some basis in truth for stereotypes (like your Bentley
example).

It will ALWAYS be a prejudice when part of the description involves
the 'type or group' of people. When the person or group is removed
from the equation it is called ...................

Thanks.I'd agree with JBK on his answer. As a matter of semantics, I
don't think you can "recognize patters and differences" without
calling it prejudice, since that is what the word means. Of course,
the world is what it is, and when you see someone and think they fit a
pattern because that's what's been drilled into your head for years by
society at large - "Oh, he's a rich young black man - he must be a
drug dealer or a rapper" - I don't think it's necessarily a failing
UNLESS you lend credence to that stereotype by assuming it's true and
acting accordingly. IMHO, the problem is not in thinking something
that you really can't control as far as it occuring to you as an
initial reaction, due to societal influences, it's lending weight to
that characterization by not recognizing it for what it is and
dismissing it.

Of course there is SOME truth to any sterotype, in that there are some
rich young black men who are, indeed, drug dealers or rappers. The
problem is expanding that fact to the larger group. Unless at least a
majority of the people of a group exhibit some trait, then you're
making a logical error by assuming that THIS person has that trait
just because some people in his "group" have it. Of course, even if a
majority do have that trait, you're still pre-judging, or "profiling"
if that is a less divisive word in this instance, but at least it has
some logical basis.

But this has two problems:

First, you have to determine if it is a logical progression (they are
X BECAUSE they are Y), or just happenstance; at which point you get
into the whole nature vs. nurture argument, which is a whole other
kettle of fish.

But the second, and bigger, problem is the fact that you are still
seeing that person as something (good, bad, criminal, law-abiding,
etc.) based on one thing (e.g., skin color), and not taking into
account over evidence, such as his character, other actions, etc.
Again, that's laziness masquerading as objective truth.
.

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