# Are you a racist? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 4, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966 "2017-10-04T17:55:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/21 "2017-10-04T19:54:02Z")
I should participate in my own thread: Reluctantly, I’d have to vote yes. If on a binary scale of yes vs. no, I have enough yes-factor to make it a ‘yes.’ Not proud of it, but yes. > [@kayaker](#): > > This looks like a poll that a white person would create. Maybe, but I’m not white. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/22 "2017-10-04T19:58:23Z")
I hope I’m not racist. I’m not sure if it’s possible to be certain that I am not. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/23 "2017-10-04T19:59:01Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Question to white people should be “Do you know you are racist?” Well, you’ve certainly proved you’re racist. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/24 "2017-10-04T19:59:33Z")
I’m obviously missing some sort of nuanced meaning to this thread. Because most of the posters answering “yes” I happen to like and have a hard time believing they are actually racist. Is this really a poll to separate those who believe everyone is a little bit racist and those who believe such a notion is false? ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/25 "2017-10-04T20:09:48Z")
It is acknowledging that you have been raised with white privilege is all. It’s a binary question but I think white people saying no are really saying “I lack self scrutiny.” Steophan’s post is my cite. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/26 "2017-10-04T20:12:25Z")
I think it’s a poll to see how many Western white people are able to acknowledge that racism is part of our cultural background noise. It’s there even when we don’t notice it. I don’t think I could honestly vote yes in that poll, as much as I wish I could. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/27 "2017-10-04T20:19:03Z")
I fully recognize that I have harbor racial prejudices. When a white person pisses me off, I sometimes experience a different set of emotional and cognitive reactions than if a black person pisses me off. When I meet a new person, I find myself making assumptions about them based on their perceived race (as well as their perceived gender, nationality, etc.) I have found myself making conclusions about people that I know I wouldn’t have made if that person weren’t a certain color. Sometimes those conclusions are value-neutral. Sometimes they aren’t. So I would say that I have racist tendencies. I not only see color, but I have emotional connections to color. I am not a race-neutral person, at least not internally. How does this translate behaviorally? I have absolutely no idea. I’m not in the position to hire or fire anyone. I don’t work with the public, so I don’t have opportunities to see if I unduly favor one kind of customer over another. And as a minority, I don’t have a lot of choices as far as what kind of businesses I patronize or who I socialize with goes. I would also add that just because I find myself having racists notions, I am fully aware that they are stupid. I have lots of stupid ideas that I am somehow able to ignore or resist. So, I am not particularly troubled by my racism. It just is what it is. I find ways to deal with it, but I don’t stay up at night worrying about it. Am I racist like the KKK? Of course not. But that’s not the only way a person can be racist. That’s not the most prevalent form of racism. Low-key racism is much scarier to me. A lot of people want to define “racist” so that it only describes a tiny, insignificant fraction of the population. But that’s crazy to me. We don’t do that with any other “-ist” (sexist, classicist, homophobist). But it’s always different with racism. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/28 "2017-10-04T20:19:11Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > …I think white people saying no are really saying “I lack self scrutiny.” … Bullshit. I’ve heard this “hey, everyone is a little racist” argument before, and it’s bullshit. Me, and my kids, and as far as I’m aware, every single one of my close friends couldn’t give a rat’s ass where you were born, what colour your skin is, or what religion you follow. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/29 "2017-10-04T20:20:28Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I’m obviously missing some sort of nuanced meaning to this thread. Because most of the posters answering “yes” I happen to like and have a hard time believing they are actually racist. > > Is this really a poll to separate those who believe everyone is a little bit racist and those who believe such a notion is false? IMHO, there are two schools of thought on this. One says that you aren’t a racist unless you are, say, 51% racist, or at least, significantly racist. The other is that almost everyone is a racist – that if you are even just 1% racist, you are a racist – and that it’s a matter of degree; i.e., are you only mildly racist or KKK-racist. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/30 "2017-10-04T20:37:59Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Bullshit. > > I’ve heard this “hey, everyone is a little racist” argument before, and it’s bullshit. Me, and my kids, and as far as I’m aware, every single one of my close friends couldn’t give a rat’s ass where you were born, what colour your skin is, or what religion you follow. Of course not. You live in a post-racial dome where nobody experiences racism or benefits from historical inequity. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/31 "2017-10-04T20:38:24Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > It is acknowledging that you have been raised with white privilege is all. It’s a binary question but I think white people saying no are really saying “I lack self scrutiny.” > > Steophan’s post is my cite. So every single white person is racist? Is this a degree thing? White folk range from somewhat racist to KKK, but we can’t be without racism at all? And how about people of non-white races, are any of them not racist at all? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/32 "2017-10-04T20:38:31Z")
I must have racist tendencies, because I rolled my eyes on receiving the news that my college has announced its “Inaugural Multicultural Alumni Weekend.” You see, previous alumni reunions have been, well, racist. “Like many colleges and universities, we have not always been able to meet our goals of inclusiveness, which has caused some alumni to feel disconnected from the College both during their studies and after their graduations.” “The planning committee is hopeful that this Multicultural Alumni Weekend will be welcoming and engaging for both current students and alumni and will either rekindle or strengthen a love for (the college)\*. We promise…interactive learning opportunities, and some promising updates about the College’s current priorities and plans as they relate to diversity and inclusion.” Oh, and “tons of fun” are promised too. On reflection, this is a big improvement over alumni reunions based on graduation class, which was pretty damn classist. \*and bigger monetary contributions. \*\*at least they didn’t pull an Evergreen and request that white alumni stay away. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/33 "2017-10-04T20:45:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So every single white person is racist? Is this a degree thing? White folk range from somewhat racist to KKK, but we can’t be without racism at all? And how about people of non-white races, are any of them not racist at all? Yes it’s a matter of degrees. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/34 "2017-10-04T20:52:06Z")
> [@tnetennba](#): > > Of course not. You live in a post-racial dome where nobody experiences racism or benefits from historical inequity. We call it “Canada.” Sure, racism exists everywhere. I submit that it’s a hell of a lot better in Canada than the US though. Of course there are historical factors influencing this. Another thing, with me specifically, is I moved here, from the UK when I was about 6 and, like most kids of that age, lost my accent very quickly. I am an immigrant, but no one knows it. So I get to stealthfully listen to other idiots bash immigrants. It’s quite fun to tell them that I wasn’t born here, and listen to the backpeddling. My parents had friends from many cultures, and they both showed the utmost respect for anyone and everyone. So, no I’m not in the least bit racist. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/35 "2017-10-04T20:53:20Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > So I would say that I have racist tendencies. \*\*I not only see color, but I have emotional connections to color. \*\* I am not a race-neutral person, at least not internally. Bolding mine. I like that way of putting it. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/36 "2017-10-04T20:57:40Z")
I don’t know if I am racist. I certainly hope that I am not, as I like to think that I do not look down upon or fear other people simply because of where their grandparents were born. Let me ask my black friend. ---
**Author:** ![icantdraw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/3ec8ea/32.png) [@icantdraw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icantdraw)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/37 "2017-10-04T20:58:04Z")
I know I have some biases, and these are things I am not proud of and know enough recognize and to be ashamed of them. But they exist in my own head, I can’t stop my immediate thoughts, so I’m afraid I had to answer yes. Maybe next year I will be proud to answer no. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/38 "2017-10-04T21:05:50Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > We call it “Canada.” 😃 Funny, dude! I have a friend in Canada, this prickly professor friend who sometimes identifies as black (his identity is complicated, to put it mildly, but I believe his mother was black). His stories about Canada do not, again to put it mildly, support this claim. But it’s funny, so I’ll give you that. > [@monstro](#): > > I fully recognize that I have harbor racial prejudices. When a white person pisses me off, I sometimes experience a different set of emotional and cognitive reactions than if a black person pisses me off. When I meet a new person, I find myself making assumptions about them based on their perceived race (as well as their perceived gender, nationality, etc.) I have found myself making conclusions about people that I know I wouldn’t have made if that person weren’t a certain color. Sometimes those conclusions are value-neutral. Sometimes they aren’t. > > So I would say that I have racist tendencies. I not only see color, but I have emotional connections to color. I am not a race-neutral person, at least not internally. > > How does this translate behaviorally? I have absolutely no idea. I’m not in the position to hire or fire anyone. I don’t work with the public, so I don’t have opportunities to see if I unduly favor one kind of customer over another. And as a minority, I don’t have a lot of choices as far as what kind of businesses I patronize or who I socialize with goes. I would also add that just because I find myself having racists notions, I am fully aware that they are stupid. I have lots of stupid ideas that I am somehow able to ignore or resist. So, I am not particularly troubled by my racism. It just is what it is. I find ways to deal with it, but I don’t stay up at night worrying about it. > > Am I racist like the KKK? Of course not. But that’s not the only way a person can be racist. That’s not the most prevalent form of racism. Low-key racism is much scarier to me. > > A lot of people want to define “racist” so that it only describes a tiny, insignificant fraction of the population. But that’s crazy to me. We don’t do that with any other “-ist” (sexist, classicist, homophobist). But it’s always different with racism. This is a very good answer. And I see a difference between “Am I racist?” and “Am I a racist?” The former deserves a “yes” from almost every modern human being: there are so many racial messages bombarding us daily that it’s very difficult to escape responding to them\*. The latter is significantly rarer, IMO: it makes sense to say a person is “a racist” if their views on race are a major factor in their deliberate daily choices, including politics. How I respond racially comes up often in teaching. Being totally color-blind would not be appropriate. One crystalline example was offered by a black teacher at our beginning-of-year meeting: she pointed out that most of our white students spent most of the summer under the care of white adults, whereas most of our black students spent most of the summer surrounded by black adults (our town is pretty segregated in housing arrangements). White students coming back to a school with mostly-white teachers would have much less of an adjustment than black students coming into the same environment; for many of them, it could feel like entering alien territory. She urged us to recognize the stress they might experience and to try to account for it in how we responded to them and helped them in the first weeks of school. Being colorblind would mean not recognizing this different experience and not responding to it. But responding to it carries its own risks: how do you treat everyone fairly and still account for different experiences with racial factors? When I discipline a black student, I check myself: do I discipline white students similarly? Am I watching black students for misbehavior disproportionately, as research suggests many teachers do? Are there behaviors that are cultural that I’m calling out unnecessarily? Am I structuring the classroom in a way that disfavors perfectly legitimate behaviors from traditional black culture and favors equally legitimate behaviors from traditional white culture? (For example, correcting students who call out during a read-aloud is sometimes necessary, but if black students do it more, is it because they go to more interactive churches, or have more interactive storytelling at home, than white students do?) I don’t get paralyzed by these questions; I still gotta teach, and that means disciplining kids who aren’t learning. But I think it’s crucial to reflect on these questions and to try to find ways of accounting both for any preconceptions I have about race and for any real trends in culture such that I can help all my kids feel welcome and be successful in my classroom. - Edit: I know about arguments about how oppressed people can’t be racist. I find that to be semantic twaddle, and would rather us use “structural racism” to refer to what’s referred to by that argument. ---
**Author:** ![tnetennba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7993a0/32.png) [@tnetennba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tnetennba)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/39 "2017-10-04T21:45:57Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > We call it “Canada.” > > Sure, racism exists everywhere. I submit that it’s a hell of a lot better in Canada than the US though. Of course there are historical factors influencing this. > > Another thing, with me specifically, is I moved here, from the UK when I was about 6 and, like most kids of that age, lost my accent very quickly. > > I am an immigrant, but no one knows it. So I get to stealthfully listen to other idiots bash immigrants. It’s quite fun to tell them that I wasn’t born here, and listen to the backpeddling. > > My parents had friends from many cultures, and they both showed the utmost respect for anyone and everyone. > > So, no I’m not in the least bit racist. Are you white? ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966/40 "2017-10-04T21:52:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > This looks like a poll that a white person would create. > > Just saying. Oh. Hmm. I suppose I should have put “Yes,” because sometimes I think white people are kinda stupid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-racist/797966.md?page=3)