What is Racism?

[Yonny Costopoulis]

I'm usually comfortable with a person of another race, but not with a large group or community of another race. Big difference.

Sorry not see difference. Not fault of yours. Is just I love to travel and experience community of other race and ethnics. I see variety as most wonderful part of life.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Sorry not see difference. Not fault of yours. Is just I love to travel and experience community of other race and ethnics. I see variety as most wonderful part of life.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."

 

[Yonny Costopoulis]

Have you ever heard the saying, "Nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to live there."

No but meaning clear. Thank you for telling me this. I will remember for future.

 

[Douglas Hendrickson]

Thinking an individual is better or worse than you simply because of their skin pigmentation, and hating them for that. Anyone can be racist, regardless of their own social status or wealth. Those who claim that only white people of privilege can be racist are some of the biggest racists themselves.

It is natural to notice (big) differences of skin color, but nothing should ever be made of it. It itself makes no difference, but is socially constructed (as many have noticed) to mean much more than it ever should.

Being color blind in the sense of trying always NOT to make anything of it is the way to go, imho.

Anyone who always sees things in terms of skin color, sees themselves as of a certain "people,"(race), as opposed to other people of other "races," is probably not only a most blatant racist, but one of the worst kinds of offender to all humanity!

 

[Audacious]

It is natural to notice (big) differences of skin color, but nothing should ever be made of it. It itself makes no difference, but is socially constructed (as many have noticed) to mean much more than it ever should.

Being color blind in the sense of trying always NOT to make anything of it is the way to go, imho.

Anyone who always sees things in terms of skin color, sees themselves as of a certain "people,"(race), as opposed to other people of other "races," is probably not only a most blatant racist, but one of the worst kinds of offender to all humanity!

So the real problem with racism isn't stuff like people with black sounding names being less likely to be hired for jobs, but people identifying as black?

 

[Douglas Hendrickson]

So the real problem with racism isn't stuff like people with black sounding names being less likely to be hired for jobs, but people identifying as black?

Yes, anyone identifying and acting and thinking in color terms is the real problem.

What you point to is a symptom arising from the basic racist thinking.

 

[DogmaHunter]

It's become something of a catch-all term that is used to describe all kinds of behavior and ideology. And it's one of the most serious charges that can be leveled against an individual in today's climate.

But is it a meaningful term?

Please offer a definition for "racism".

The practice of thinking of and/or acting negatively against any ethnic group of people with as only underpinnings their particular genetic makeup.

 

[Douglas Hendrickson]

The practice of thinking of and/or acting negatively against any ethnic group of people with as only underpinnings their particular genetic makeup.

Probably triggered by something one or a bunch of them said/did.

Is that relevant?

Seems they get lumped into a group even if they don't want to?

 

[Zed Aliz Zed]

Racism. definition.
rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/Submit
noun
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

example. all white people are racist.
example. all black people love watermelon.
example. all Asians eat dogs.

all three of those are racist things.

however what is not racist is to state that each race is inherently different biologically wise. with different bone structure differences and different aptitude to things based on adaptation. that's why sports like NBA NFL Olympic marathon runners. the majority of them tend to be of African descent.

it is also not racist to state that on average specific nationalities and groups of people have higher base intelligence or IQ than other groups. if you look at intelligence and area's with the highest of it you end up with majority Asia. like Japan/Korea/China etc. and a higher base IQ. this could be environmental but the environment plays a key role in a race as well and our base programming since we are little computers that collect outside data and apply it to ourselves.

or in the words of Charles ZI Britannia, “All men are not created equal. Some are born swifter of foot, some with greater beauty. Some are born into poverty and others born sick and feeble. Both in birth and in upbringing in sheer scope of ability, every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and the unfaltering march of progress."

No one is inherently superior to everyone else. however, some are superior in different aspects. due to genetics. adaption. upbringing and environment,

people. inherently the weak. dislike that truth. they dislike the natural law that governs the animal kingdom. and so they fight against it. ultimately perpetuating it further. those are the people who throw around the term Racist to anything that offends them whether true or otherwise.

and it is such people who will be crushed under the heel of progress. and become the foundation and stepping stone for their betters.

 

[DogmaHunter]

Probably triggered by something one or a bunch of them said/did.

Not necessarily.

 

[Douglas Hendrickson]

Not necessarily.

Same difference.

"Probably" includes the idea of "not necessarily."

 

[Ken-1122]

Racism. definition.
rac·ism
ˈrāˌsizəm/Submit
noun
prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior.

example. all white people are racist.
example. all black people love watermelon.
example. all Asians eat dogs.

all three of those are racist things.

however what is not racist is to state that each race is inherently different biologically wise. with different bone structure differences and different aptitude to things based on adaptation. that's why sports like NBA NFL Olympic marathon runners. the majority of them tend to be of African descent.

it is also not racist to state that on average specific nationalities and groups of people have higher base intelligence or IQ than other groups. if you look at intelligence and area's with the highest of it you end up with majority Asia. like Japan/Korea/China etc. and a higher base IQ. this could be environmental but the environment plays a key role in a race as well and our base programming since we are little computers that collect outside data and apply it to ourselves.

or in the words of Charles ZI Britannia, “All men are not created equal. Some are born swifter of foot, some with greater beauty. Some are born into poverty and others born sick and feeble. Both in birth and in upbringing in sheer scope of ability, every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition, and the unfaltering march of progress."

No one is inherently superior to everyone else. however, some are superior in different aspects. due to genetics. adaption. upbringing and environment,

people. inherently the weak. dislike that truth. they dislike the natural law that governs the animal kingdom. and so they fight against it. ultimately perpetuating it further. those are the people who throw around the term Racist to anything that offends them whether true or otherwise.

and it is such people who will be crushed under the heel of progress. and become the foundation and stepping stone for their betters.

As far as your claim that some races are more intelligent, some better runners, etc. how do you know this isn't the result of culture? In the U.S., African Americans are some of the least educated as a group in the country. But when you look at Nigerian immigrants, they are the most educated group in the USA with 17% having a Masters Degree.

Data show Nigerians the most educated in the U.S.

This is higher than even any of the Asian immigrants, yet they are of the same race as African Americans with just different cultures. Perhaps these differences we see are culture related rather than race related.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

As far as your claim that some races are more intelligent, some better runners, etc. how do you know this isn't the result of culture? In the U.S., African Americans are some of the least educated as a group in the country. But when you look at Nigerian immigrants, they are the most educated group in the USA with 17% having a Masters Degree.

Data show Nigerians the most educated in the U.S.

This is higher than even any of the Asian immigrants, yet they are of the same race as African Americans with just different cultures. Perhaps these differences we see are culture related rather than race related.

Intelligence and education aren't the same thing. My sister (rest her soul) was well educated, but sadly, not very smart.

 

[Ken-1122]

it is also not racist to state that on average specific nationalities and groups of people have higher base intelligence or IQ than other groups. if you look at intelligence and area's with the highest of it you end up with majority Asia. like Japan/Korea/China etc. and a higher base IQ. this could be environmental but the environment plays a key role in a race as well and our base programming since we are little computers that collect outside data and apply it to ourselves.

Does modern science conclude that Asians are more intelligent than all other races?

K

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Does modern science conclude that Asians are more intelligent than all other races?

K

Intelligence tests rely on acquired knowledge. Based on that those with a good memory should score higher whether or not they are actually smarter than others. Asians are pretty dedicated learners so it's no surprise that they demonstrate high intelligence levels.

 

[Ken-1122]

Intelligence tests rely on acquired knowledge.

Before you pointed out that there is a difference between intelligence and education. Isn’t education acquired knowledge?

Based on that those with a good memory should score higher whether or not they are actually smarter than others. Asians are pretty dedicated learners so it's no surprise that they demonstrate high intelligence levels.

If Asians are more dedicated as learners, doesn't that sound more like a culture issue than a genetic one? IOW, if Asians were intellectually superior than other races, that would mean even if they weren’t more dedicated learners, they would still reign supreme.

Again; does science back this up?

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Before you pointed out that there is a difference between intelligence and education. Isn’t education acquired knowledge?

One student might pass a test by rote memory, another by actual understanding, but they get the same grade.

If Asians are more dedicated as learners, doesn't that sound more like a culture issue than a genetic one? IOW, if Asians were intellectually superior than other races, that would mean even if they weren’t more dedicated learners, they would still reign supreme.

Definitely culture. Asian students are generally highly motivated, much more so than their western counterparts. This can contribute to higher IQ scores.

I don't know how science views this.

 

[Gene2memE]

Definitely culture. Asian students are generally highly motivated, much more so than their western counterparts.

I've taught in Japan (public and private schools), South Korea (a public school), the US (private and public schools) and Australia (a private school).

In my personal experience as an educator, Asian students when taught in Asia are not any more highly motivated than students in the West. In fact, I'd say the Japanese and Korean systems work by promoting less effort overall, but making sure that effort is more narrowly focused (thinking of mathematics, history and social studies here in particularly) and directly relevant to what will be on the final centralised exams.

Also in my personal experience some Asian students, when in Western nations, are pushed harder by their parents to be academically successful. This is not the same as Asian students being more highly motivated in general. I'd say there is a greater proportional pool of highly performing Asian students, but that number of poorly performing students in Western schools is roughly representative. It's in the middle of curve where Asian students are absent.

Speaking generally about the Japanese and South Korean education systems. From kindergarden all the way through to the end of high school, these place an emphasis on teacher-led rote learning, in-class repetition, high volume of work in certain subjects and collective responsibility (teachers and student body) for poor results.

The US and Australian education systems are quite different. They initially emphasise rote learning, but increasingly move towards more critical thinking skills, particularly in the final two years of schooling. They also embrace wider learning, including non-academic skill sets (clubs, sports, hobbies, arts and cultural groups) that are typically viewed as a 'waste of time' beyond about middle school in Asia.

Australian schools (I don't have too much US schools experience beyond middle school)place an emphasis on individual academic accomplishment and merit and while volume of work is very high, it's generally spread over more subject areas and is wider within the subject area itself.

Since I taught in Japan in 2004/2005, I know that the curriculum has been broadened somewhat, particularly in modern history courses - which has been somewhat controversial with Japanese right wingers and traditionalists.

 

[saffron park]

Slate Star Codex had a post on this question, opening with some hypothetical questions. It's really good food for thought, which is typical for SSC

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Racism is whatever the loudest group says (screams) that it is.