Nazi Germany and Brainwashing

[Red Menace]

I got into an arguement with my history teacher and I need some help. Tell me if you guys agree with me. He was comparing the racism that occured in the late 1800's towards african americans after the civil war, and the anti-semitism displayed in Nazi Germany. I said that they were different, because alot of it was that the German people were brainwashed into believing and accepting the things the Nazi party said. That they country had to be convinced and brainwashed some how into the acceptance of an annialation of a group of people. And this was different from America's racism towards african americans.

If you guys agree with me, I need some arguements to counter my teachers.

[Dimentio]

It is obvious that there are huge differences. The African minority in the US was viewed as of lesser value and as a human subgroup, but not as a physical threat.

[Hit The North]

You weaken your argument by employing the dubious idea of 'brainwashing' which is not sustained by any evidence. Also, it downplays the historical existence of a deep-rooted antisemitism in European society which was ultimately exploited by the Nazis.

In both examples, the Jews and the Africans were similarly stigmatized as sub-human by the dominant cultures which oppressed them. The real difference is in the way they were disposed of. The random murder and casual racism of the KKK versus the systematic, industrial extermination camps of the Nazis.

To be honest, I'd probably side with your teacher.

Serpent:


It is obvious that there are huge differences. The African minority in the US was viewed as of lesser value and as a human subgroup, but not as a physical threat.

The whole white supremacist psyche is propelled by fantasies of the physical threat of the African-American. How many people did the KKK lynch, beat, shoot, rape or leave to die in burning churches?