US racism

[butterfly]

From a historical, socio-cultural and/or psychological perspective, how does US racism survive, and why does it appear to be so far-spread?

[Tatarin]

I can't speak for the Americans, since I don't live there, but as I understand, Europe has been more hard on racism than the US has.

Racism is mostly prevented through laws. Even workers who are sympathetic to nazism have been fired from their jobs. This doesn't mean that Europe is free from racism - far from it. In fact, right-wing anti-immigration anti-refugee -parties have been gaining in popularity.

Also, right-wing political parties, who have their history in the nazi-movement, have "shut out" those elements, and have taken a "less immigration, because it cost too much" kind of stance, which have attracted more people.

On the other hand, the US puts freedom of speach and freedom to discriminate other people before equality. So, I guess that is why racism is still intact and flourishing in the US. A sad note is that, apparently, 7% of the total population of the US is sympapthetic to nazi or nazi-like groups.

[KC]

Racism was created by the ruling class to divide the lowers classes and rationalize slavery, the murder of indigenous people, etc.

Created is too deliberate of a word. Racism was created in the same vein as patriotism/nationalism, and was the development of an ideology over time due to changing socioeconomic conditions. Although, the rest of your statement is correct.

[JimmyJazz]

^I don't think "created" necessarily implies deliberateness, unless you're talking about the product of a single individual. Culture is created (i.e., it's entirely made up), but it's created collectively and across time, rather than deliberately.

It may sound like semantics, but I bring it up because it's a realization that's been important for me in understanding the claim that a capitalist economy creates a capitalist ("bourgeois" as Marx would have said) culture. It's not necessary for the capitalist/bourgeois class to be some monolithic entity in order for it--and all the people who make it up--to collectively steer a society in a certain direction.

[The Douche]

A sad note is that, apparently, 7% of the total population of the US is sympapthetic to nazi or nazi-like groups.

Source? Not calling you a liar, just interested in seeing the study.


On the other hand, the US puts freedom of speach and freedom to discriminate other people before equality. So, I guess that is why racism is still intact and flourishing in the US.

Laws don't end racism, they attempt to limit institutionalized racism, we have affirmative action and plenty of laws that prevent discrimination based on race in housing, health care, and education.

[Comrada J]

Racism sure doesn't make much sense in counties like America and Australia. I can't believe the sheer amount of racism I've had to put up with in the country I was born in.

[butterfly]

When Rudd conversed with Jin-Tao, after decades of white Australia, there weren't the sort of conspiracies that we are watching with Obama.
People seem genuinely concerned that when he does win office he identity as a muslim terrorist will be revealed and society will come to a gringing halt.
Why didn't the civil rights act have more of an effect?
I can only see racism increasing once he does win and the economy degenerates.

[RedHal]

When Rudd conversed with Jin-Tao, after decades of white Australia, there weren't the sort of conspiracies that we are watching with Obama.
People seem genuinely concerned that when he does win office he identity as a muslim terrorist will be revealed and society will come to a gringing halt.
Why didn't the civil rights act have more of an effect?
I can only see racism increasing once he does win and the economy degenerates.

well Rudd is still a white christian male

considering the US is one of the most cut throat capitalist societies, and vicious imperialist country around, is it surprising that racism is prevalent?

[butterfly]

Learning is fun, it get's less suprising every day.
I speak out of inexperience and have not been confronted with such blatant, outspoken racism in reality. When I am confronted with it I'd like to know what's going on inside those minds, rather than just make my own assertions.

[DesertShark]

From a historical, socio-cultural and/or psychological perspective, how does US racism survive, and why does it appear to be so far-spread?
That's something that has bothered me for a long time because I had a hard time wrapping my mind around blind hatred. Racism survives because it is taught in the home, in schools, on tv, etc. Racism is not inherent, it is taught and the technique used most often is fear. Keeping people afraid of the 'unknown' or afraid of people who 'look different' allows for racism to continue.


Racism was created by the ruling class to divide the lowers classes and rationalize slavery, the murder of indigenous people, etc.

The U.S. was built with slave labor on land taken from the indigenous people that once lived here.

Created is too deliberate of a word. Racism was created in the same vein as patriotism/nationalism, and was the development of an ideology over time due to changing socioeconomic conditions. Although, the rest of your statement is correct.
The first appearance of racism in America (that I am aware of, I think I read it in Lies My Teachers Told Me or A People's History of the United States, both good books) was when it was still a colony trying to break free from England. 'Divide and Conquer' is an excellent way to over take a group or suppress an uprising. The British began to divide the colonists into 'whites' and 'others' in an attempt to keep a revolution from happening. Continually pointing out the difference in physical appearance and linking it up with fear to cause the colonists to change their focus. I also think racism continued for the reasons described by Nothing Human Is Alien. I think it was created, not something inherent like pride in where you are from.

-DesertShark

[Mindtoaster]

Its mostly a stupid classist thing. White American culture is obsessed with the protestant work ethic and has this false belief that there is equality of opportunity in America.

They see blacks as being lazy welfare leaches who commit a lot of crimes and don't contribute to society.

Generally they have no problems at all with middle-class blacks, they just might tease them every now and then. There are a few who will dislike someone simply for being brown, even if they are educated and well-off, but they're a minority.

Trust me on this, I live in the south =/

[DesertShark]

I recently began reading a book by Thomas Sowell called Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality? and this topic is discussed in it.

Many of the groups most subject to violence have not been generally viewed as innately inferior. Indeed, many have been hated precisely because of superior performances as economic competitors. (he goes on to list many examples)...

Even the enslavement of blacks was not the result of a doctrine of innate inferiority. On the contrary, this doctrine developed as a rationalization of slavery already in existence and under fire from both moral and political critics. Moreover, innate inferiority was not even the first rationalization used. Religious rationalizations - enslaving "heathens" for their own spiritual good - were first used and then abandoned as more slaves became Christians, and the innate inferiority doctrine was then substituted. This pattern was common both to the United States and to South Africa, though it was East Indians who were enslaved by South African whites. Moreover, in Brazil, the largest importer of slaves into the western hemisphere, the innate inferiority doctrine was rarely used.

In short, belief in the innate inferiority doctrine has been neither necessary nor sufficient to explain intergroup hostility, oppression, violence, or enslavement. (Page 22-23)

-DesertShark

[thinkerOFthoughts]

Racism is something that is virtually unknown to me, in my state lol, Mainly because my state is the whitest state in America, and we abolished slavery way before everyone else lol. I will admit to something, I am sorry to say that I tend to look down on people that act, live, and do trashy things. Like people that talk about shooting people, and doing drugs, and acting like asses. Whether its white or black. (although its the whole gangster attitude and life that I am against, which is sadly something I notice more for black people but not all of them) I have nothing against black people I got a black friend lol I just dont really like the ones that actually act like gangsters and thugs:crying: maybe thats something I need to correct? I dont know?

[Sankofa]

Racism is something that is virtually unknown to me, in my state lol, Mainly because my state is the whitest state in America, and we abolished slavery way before everyone else lol. I will admit to something, I am sorry to say that I tend to look down on people that act, live, and do trashy things. Like people that talk about shooting people, and doing drugs, and acting like asses. Whether its white or black. (although its the whole gangster attitude and life that I am against, which is sadly something I notice more for black people but not all of them) I have nothing against black people I got a black friend lol I just dont really like the ones that actually act like gangsters and thugs:crying: maybe thats something I need to correct? I dont know?

I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry after reading that.

[thinkerOFthoughts]

I honestly don't know whether to laugh or cry after reading that.

Care to explain?

[butterfly]

White people sing about raping corpses sometimes

[thinkerOFthoughts]

Yeah I find that disgusting! I hate people like that lol sorry.