Why are humans racist?

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Yesterday a friend of mine showed me this video and news report about a white transexual woman who was beaten up by two black girls in a McDonalds resturaunt while the manager (who was also black) did nothing to help the white person and the two girls were told by the person making the video to leave before the police arrive. This person was beaten so bad that he/she had a seizure and almost died.

But that's not the thing that's bothering me today, what's really bothering me is the comments I read on this video. People posting all kinds of racist crap like saying all black people are Ghetto N****** and deserve to get burned alive, or saying the white person in the video deserved to get beaten up (which actually wasn't as common as the previous statement).

I decided to post my own comment on the video of how I really felt about the situation. I said what was really sad about the video is that it only takes one incident like this to bring out the racism and cruelty in everybody. Because of the actions of a few amoral individuals people are labeling an entire race as "evil", and that kind of thinking is what always leads to genocide.

I thought I made a really good point and was proud of what I posted, but then some guy flames me calling me a N***** (even though I tried explaining to him I'm not black) and saying all kinds of crap about how racist people are honest and I must not be an "honest person" because I claim to be against it, and of course saying all black people are like the ones in the video. No matter how I tried to explain why what they were saying was wrong he and everybody else refused to listen to me.

It's enough to make me want to throw in the towel and become a hermit isolated from the world. I mean seriously, I was raised by my teachers and parents to think all humans are created equal and we should have respect for each other's differences, but these days I feel like the only person who still believes that. I mean sure there are times I tend to favor my own race, but I would never wish harm on any person and treat them as sub-human just because of the actions of a few individuals in their race or culture. That seems to be what everybody else does though. Maybe it's the trashy cynicism of American culture? Or maybe all humans are really a bunch of narcissistic sociopaths and I'm in the minority of freaks who genuinely have compassion for other people?

Whatever the case I'm just fed up with humanity. I try to be optimistic and say maybe the world isn't really so bad and everybody has some good in them and regrets the cruel things they do to each other every day. However I'm starting to doubt myself on that.

Yes racism has no base in logic. It's probably rooted in our pack instincts and our tendencies to put things in mental boxes.
Maybe some of these people live in areas with racial tensions and have experienced conflicts, creating a negative feedback loop that can last for centuries and beyond.
The fact is the human mind isn't perfect. We are animals ruled by instinct, and while we are capable of recognizing our instincts for what they are a large amount of us don't.

Racism happens all the time, and in every part of our lives. The essence of racism is not how we usually associate with it. That is, I hate someone else due to his colour of skin. People can be racist to people of their own race too. It's usually shown in the way of prejudice. To see no good in an individual or group - is in fact racism. No group or person is perfect, but for that person(s) to possess absolutely no redeeming features or plus points is impossible. When people are on the lookout only for faults in a person(s), and do not acknowledge any good features purposefully, it is indeed racism.

And of course the biggest form of racism is induced when people are programmed to hate other people based on one or two incidents of negative behaviour. The media can be blamed for this, as well as a lot of people with certain agendas to fulfill.

I'm glad you stood up and said what you believe. To judge everyone of a race on something like that, shows ignorance and prejudice. Usually people can't wait for such incidents so they can take out their already waiting knives on everyone of that denomination . You did the right thing, but you shouldn't feel upset when you're feelings are shown to be in the minority. Sometimes I feel that way too. People can be so cruel and intolerant, it makes one just wanna escape some where. But you shouldn't. The world needs more people like you in it. : )

I come from a very racist society, who tend see only fault in the black population too. I'm not black myself, but I had plenty of black friends when i was in school, and so i was fortunate enough to see with my own eyes that every person(s) are capable of positive and outstanding behaviour. Don't feel disheartened by the behaviour of, as it turns out, a minority anyway.

I guess maybe I'm a sheltered individual who hasn't experienced the worst that the world has to offer, which is why things like this upsets me so much. I guess I still have that niave fantasy that one day the world will be a better place and all humans will learn to get along, but I guess that might never happen and I just need to learn to accept that. That still doesn't mean I should give up my morals and give into the amoral corruption that has taken hold of the world. I should just try to live my life the best I can and try to set a good example for those around me.

I just hope I never live to see the day when a genocide war erupts here in the US and you have people of all the differences races in this country singeling one race out and trying to kill them all off. If genocide can happen anywhere else in the world then it can happen here too some day, and that really scares me.

I know one person can't save the world, and maybe the world isn't even worth saving, but for my life I will always try to remember to do the best I can for myself and the people I care about.

I've never understood racism. The world would be a much better place, if everybody could just get along.

Racism isn't only just about the American culture.

The racism in my country is far more shameful:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko2vjU97Dtk&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Very unacceptable.

It is ironic that the worst of humanity is more shown in how people respond to an event than the event itself. This isn't the first time I've seen people respond to a story with such apathy for the victim.

On the "national identity" and "ethnicity" categories on the UK census I answered "human". Everyone needs to start thinking like that.

The same reason you, with your "he/she", are transphobic.

its just another way for aholes to play power games.

That's awful.

People are always going to do crap. Yes, you were raised to treat people well, but other people weren't. You never know the backstory. It is always going to be wrong to physically hurt someone. ALWAYS (aside from self-defense), but how do you know if those people weren't beaten as children or crap like that. I am on this moral teeter-totter of, their history and the general rule of good and bad.

But, to adress your original question, why are people racist?
Change.
Everyone is afraid of difference, and difference implies change.
Maybe they don't what black people to come into power.
I don't understand it, they are people to, and they aren't going to try and change the color of their skin.
But it is different, and what if it feels different.
That is all I know.

Honestly, I think the only reason that someone should be even treated differently, if it is something they can change, and if it is something bad. Other people may feel that a different color of skin is bad (but I don't, we need diversity, the only thing I don't like is reverse racism.....you know like where people of other races get scholarships and college acceptances, where I am at an 3.9 G.P.A over my entire high school career (4.0 every year aside for 9th grade) and I can't get into BYU because I have nothing standout about me, but that is a rant that I will save for another time) you can't change your skin color, and it is not bad (until reverse racism).
Now if it were something that you can change, like if you are gay or straight....I think they should be encouraged to do the right thing because the change that decision could enact is bad and not a positive thing for the world.

But, after all this, ranting and raving, blah, blah, blah.....it is all about how you act.
Unless you are in the situation, you can't change whether those people on the news did crap. ESPECIALLY on youtube (the WORST comment place in the world), you aren't going to change their mind (because they aren't going to want to have a sincere discussion about it, HA!) You can only change the way you act, and the way you leave an impact on the world.