Ma’am, I can say that by simply living in the wrong state (mississippi), and being of the wrong race (white) and the wrong gender (male), I have been accused by innumerous people of being a racist. And most of those people had never met me before, or even bothered to get to know me.
I have never done a thing in my life to warrant such judgements. I’m a quiet guy who likes computers and rarely talks in public. But I’ve still been accused of it.
Whoa…that last sencence dosen’t exactly make sense…for some reason I didn’t catch it when I previewed the post…but I think you get the idea.
The OP is just too broad—too many generalizations leaping about. Why does any individual do what they do? What is a White person? Why am I so cute and my sisters so not-near as-cute? There are so many variables within any group, it’s impossible to say why. I am in a highly competative academic program. We are graded on points, not a curve. I earn my points, but there are students who feel they are somehow missing out on something if I gain more points than they do. They feel a victory if they have more points than I earned. I want to take them by the hand and say “It doesn’t matter. It can’t matter. If we all have perfect scores, we all get A’s. If we all fall below 71%, we’re all out of here.” I can talk until I’m blue and it doesn’t matter. Putting others down and rejoicing in their failures doesn’t help me. Promoting others and rejoicing in their triumphs doesn’t help me, either, but it feels nicer.
Hummm…a very intresting thread,and one I will have to reply at a later date with regads to other posters comments. I’ll only list my personal beleifs here.
I personally as a african american man (in the physcial sense) believe there is nothing “wrong” with taking pride in your particular enthic group. Actullay it dosent make sense to,since one’s enthicity is not by a personal choice (at least after birth.) But if one feels they shoud take pride in their particular cultures achivments and such,then by all means do it. Part of the reason why black men and women in America struggle is loss of self identity,and a lack of wanting to seek for it.
however, the line crosses to “hate” when you say “my culture is better than your culture or color or whatever.” It’s just like taking pride in your family and family name. YOU SHOUD…as long as you don’t put down the Jackson’s or the Hong’s or even the Smith’s and say your family is superior to theirs. Then we get into all this hate bullcrap.
I’m a guy. 
Have you been personally accused, or is it the mass accusations of idiots like Farakkhan?
Sua
I always thought that the Irish were from Ireland, the German from Germany and the Italian from Italy.
Why should anybody feel shame or pride because of a group of people they don’t even know, and whom they have no connection to other than the colour of their skin? People should be judged on their own merits or failings - the fact that Martin Luther King had dark skin does not “improve” black people any more than Albert Einstein’s lighter skin “improves” white people.
Um, I don’t quite know how to respond to this one. Somebody else want to take a shot?
Strike One for the Saint, there. 
Sir then, (:))
Personally and idiots like Farakkhan (who’s been here a few times.) It’s really stupid to be somewhere, and have a nice conversation with someone up to the point where they ask where you’re from. Mentioned Mississippi (in one example), and they quickly quit talking to me, claiming suddenly that they “Don’t talk with racists.”
Confusing. I mean, in Jackson I’m a statistical minority! What would be the point of being a racist anyway?
Cyn wrote:
I agree with this statement. IMO, there are several distinctions that need to be made here for there to be a strong discussion. For example: a clear distinction between people that are affliated with “white-pride” or “white-supremacist” groups, and the rest of the white population (whoever they might be).
I am white.
Am I a racist? no.
Am I prejudice? you bet, especially in regards to my own well-being and that of my family’s. But, I am equally as prejudice against a gang of big, fat Harley-ridin’-biker-dudes with “Skull-Crushers MC” patchs on the back of their jackets, as I am a gang of young, black gangsta boys wearing all red and sporting red bandanas.
I don’t think this makes me anymore fearful or hateful of others than any other rational human being.
I understand there’s a big difference between saying, “I hate niggers,” and “I dislike that guy, not because he’s black, but because he’s a rude asshole”.