# Is it racist to prefer certain populations or places due to cultural differences? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 30, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770 "2009-01-30T19:48:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/1 "2009-01-30T19:48:15Z")
Or perceived/assumed cultural differences, I should say (couldn’t fit it in title). Let’s say a person really likes certain towns or areas and really dislikes others. Over time, he or she begins to notice a correlation between these towns, their “vibes”, and the skin colors of their populations. Let’s say, further, that competing factors like income, weather, etc. are ruled out as much as possible. Would this person be racist? I realize that stereotypes and generalizations aren’t always true, but on the other hand, it seems foolhardy to deny at least a slight link between these factors – at least in the parts of the world that I’ve seen, especially in certain parts of America where multiple cultures seem to blend together on the surface only to coagulate into rather distinct racial groups upon further inspection. Thoughts? ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/2 "2009-01-30T20:38:27Z")
No, it’s not racist. Racism is based off of an irrelevant cultural factor, IE skin color. Having cultural preferences is not racist. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/3 "2009-01-30T20:47:46Z")
Yes, it is racist. No, I don’t think it (by itself) is particularly wrong. This is my mom’s brand of racism: “I’m not racist. I’ve had black friends and would love being neighbors with the Huxtables. I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah…” In other words, she doesn’t hate black people, just black culture. In fact, just this _particular_ black culture. I heartily disagree with her, but I can’t say she’s morally wrong. She takes the time to know people as individuals and doesn’t dismiss them preemptively because of their skin color. But she sure as hell isn’t going to move to East St. Louis any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/4 "2009-01-30T20:56:18Z")
It all depends what you mean by “racist”. A technical definition would have it simply meaning, based on race. But it is almost impossible to strip the word of it’s distasteful connotations. Especially when so many people like to use it as a cudgel to punish those who they disagree with on a subject where race may be at play. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/5 "2009-01-30T20:56:24Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Yes, it is racist. No, I don’t think it (by itself) is particularly wrong. > > This is my mom’s brand of racism: "I’m not racist. […] I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah… I like none of these things, either. How would that makes me a racist? Somehow, one has to equally appreciate everything, including obnoxious behaviour, in order not to be a racist? ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/6 "2009-01-30T21:21:47Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > I like none of these things, either. How would that makes me a racist? Somehow, one has to equally appreciate everything, including obnoxious behaviour, in order not to be a racist? Well, for one thing, the things I listed were only my mom’s stereotypical interpretation of what black culture is. But in general, yes; if you dislike black culture as a whole, and not just specific elements of it, I would consider that _technically_ racist. It isn’t racist like Jim Crow, but still racist. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/7 "2009-01-30T21:23:10Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Yes, it is racist. No, I don’t think it (by itself) is particularly wrong. > > This is my mom’s brand of racism: “I’m not racist. I’ve had black friends and would love being neighbors with the Huxtables. I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah…” I’m black, and I can’t stand black music or sagging jeans, and I think gold teeth sharply reduce a woman’s attractiveness. Am I racist? ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/8 "2009-01-30T21:28:56Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > Yes, it is racist. No, I don’t think it (by itself) is particularly wrong. > > This is my mom’s brand of racism: “I’m not racist. I’ve had black friends and would love being neighbors with the Huxtables. I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah…” > > In other words, she doesn’t hate black people, just black culture. In fact, just this _particular_ black culture. I heartily disagree with her, but I can’t say she’s morally wrong. She takes the time to know people as individuals and doesn’t dismiss them preemptively because of their skin color. But she sure as hell isn’t going to move to East St. Louis any time soon. I think ethnocentric is really more the word you are looking for here, and ethnocentrism isn’t the same as racism. Like racism ethnocentrism can be both bad and dangerous, but also like racism everyone’s a little bit ethnocentric and we really shouldn’t worry too too much about minor instances. It souds like the OP is talking about ethnocentrism as well, but it’s not quite clear. But I would say no, the hypothetical in the OP is not racist. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/9 "2009-01-30T21:29:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m black, and I can’t stand black music or sagging jeans, and I think gold teeth sharply reduce a woman’s attractiveness. Am I racist? Yes, and of the worst kind! You deny your true inner blackness. Btw, have you read Thomas Sowell? ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/10 "2009-01-30T21:29:55Z")
> [@Reply](#): > > Or perceived/assumed cultural differences, I should say (couldn’t fit it in title). Let’s say a person really likes certain towns or areas and really dislikes others. Over time, he or she begins to notice a correlation between these towns, their “vibes”, and the skin colors of their populations. As long as Ms. Hypothetical has no problem with otherly-skinned people in the cultures she does like, this does not make her racist. > [@](#): > > Let’s say, further, that competing factors like income, weather, etc. are ruled out as much as possible. > > Would this person be racist? I realize that stereotypes and generalizations aren’t always true, but on the other hand, it seems foolhardy to deny at least a slight link between these factors – at least in the parts of the world that I’ve seen, especially in certain parts of America where multiple cultures seem to blend together on the surface only to coagulate into rather distinct racial groups upon further inspection. > > Thoughts? Someone who dislikes “black” culture may well be racist, many racists do dislike it. It is not the only possibility however. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/11 "2009-01-30T21:30:03Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m black, and I can’t stand black music or sagging jeans, and I think gold teeth sharply reduce a woman’s attractiveness. Am I racist? You must be a self-hating negro! Don’t you know? Nothing expresses blackness like gold teeth with some kind of inscription in them. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/12 "2009-01-30T21:44:13Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I think ethnocentric is really more the word you are looking for here, and ethnocentrism isn’t the same as racism. > > Like racism ethnocentrism can be both bad and dangerous, but also like racism everyone’s a little bit ethnocentric and we really shouldn’t worry too too much about minor instances. It sounds like the OP is talking about ethnocentrism as well, but it’s not quite clear. > > But I would say no, the hypothetical in the OP is not racist. Yeah, you’re right. “Ethnocentrism” is the word I meant. Black culture is so tied up with race that it is easy to be confused there. Ethnocentrism isn’t racist. It isn’t even _technically_ racist. I apologize if I offended anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/13 "2009-01-30T21:53:32Z")
[QUOTE=a careless idiot] I’m black, and I can’t stand \*\*black \*\*music or sagging jeans, and I think gold teeth sharply reduce a woman’s attractiveness. Am I racist? [/QUOTE] :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: :smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack::smack: :smack: That’s supposed to be RAP music! RAP!!! I’m listening to Al Green right now, and soon will listen to Anita Baker. Nothing wrong with BLACK music, as long as there’s a melody. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9fc348/32.png) [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Flying_Dutchman)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/14 "2009-01-30T22:20:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > I’m black, and I can’t stand black music or sagging jeans, and I think gold teeth sharply reduce a woman’s attractiveness. Am I racist? Would you be upset if your child wanted to marry such a person as you’ve described. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/15 "2009-01-30T23:19:51Z")
> [@The\_Flying\_Dutchman](#): > > Would you be upset if your child wanted to marry such a person as you’ve described. As long as they don’t force me to listen to…um…okay, I can’t actually name any current rappers. But as long as I don’t have to constantly listen to hip-hop, I can’t see why I’d care. ---
**Author:** ![Jolly\_Roger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/91b2a8/32.png) [@Jolly\_Roger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jolly_Roger)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/16 "2009-01-30T23:30:24Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > This is my mom’s brand of racism: “I’m not racist. I’ve had black friends and would love being neighbors with the Huxtables. I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah…” > > . I am black and I hate those things too. Am I racist? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/17 "2009-01-30T23:47:23Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > This is my mom’s brand of racism: “I’m not racist. I’ve had black friends and would love being neighbors with the Huxtables. I just hate rap music and sagging jeans and gold teeth and slang I can’t understand and big gawdy cars rattling my windows with their stero and blah blah blah…” I hate the same things your mom hates, plus I hate some of the types of religiosity and homophobia common in the black community. But I can give you a list just as long, of things in white culture(s) that I dislike. Hell, I was raised Jewish, and there are a whole lot of things in Jewish culture that I hate. But I know I tend to be somewhat ethnocentric. My favorite travel destinations are either in the U.S./Canada, Australia or, especially, Europe (mostly Western Europe). With the exception of Egypt and a safari, I have no desire to visit Africa. And with the exception of ancient ruins, I have no desire to visit Latin America. And with a few exceptions, I have no desire to visit most of Asia. And I really don’t care for much ethnic or non-Western art or music. (The big exception is food; I love all cuisines.) So does that make me somewhat ethnocentric, or racist? ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2009, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/18 "2009-01-30T23:53:25Z")
No, it’s not racist. ---
**Author:** ![brazil84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8491ac/32.png) [@brazil84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brazil84)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/19 "2009-01-31T00:01:47Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > It all depends what you mean by “racist”. A technical definition would have it simply meaning, based on race. But it is almost impossible to strip the word of it’s distasteful connotations I agree. It’s all a question of semantics. Perhaps a better question would be “Generally speaking, is it morally wrong to prefer certain populations or places due to cultural differences?” ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2009, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770/20 "2009-01-31T00:10:11Z")
I’m white, but I hate golf, televangelists, McDonald’s, and the Osmonds. Am I racist? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-racist-to-prefer-certain-populations-or-places-due-to-cultural-differences/483770.md?page=2)