Racism - Learned Behavior Or Inherent Behavior?
Human Nature?
Racism, Is it a learned behavior? Or is it something that is an inherent part of human nature?
What exactly is racism?
Wikipedia's gives this definition,
"Racism is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and those racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.[1] In the case of institutional racism, certain racial groups may be denied rights or benefits, or get preferential treatment, while Reverse discrimination favors members of a historically disadvantaged group at the expense of those of a historically advantaged group."
http://www.answers.com/topic/racism gave the following definition,
"According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the term describes ‘the theory that distinctive human characteristics and abilities are determined by race'."
Racism is quite a hot topic, and isn't likely to go away anytime soon.
The following is a true story:
A white young boy, John, of about five years old came in and told his mother, "I don't like black people."
The mother was somewhat surprised as her best friend, Sarah, was a black lady and her son, Todd, played together all the time.
The mother asked John, "what about Todd?" John's friend.
John didn't say anything - remember; he's five (5).
The mother asked John, "what about Ms. Sarah?"
John thought for a moment and he didn't say anything. (He's 5 years old) It was as though he was thinking about his friend and his friend's mother without realizing that their skin color was different from his.
Upon further investigation, John told his mother that he'd heard the people next door say bad things about black people.
Now what does that tell you!!
Taught through a learned behavior?
Or
Inherent behavior?
Where does racism come from?l
© 2009 BJC