Do u think racism is natural to some extent?
I mean if u never heard the word “racism”, would it be possible to be a racist?
Honestly!
Honestly!
it's most natural. It's pattern recognition, humans are great at it and do it unconsciously. Fighting it is difficult, even the times it should be fought and can be handled.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
Define racism.
If you mean systemic, discriminatory racist practices by those who need or want to feel superior or entitled, I believe it is largely learned. Either out of malicious, deliberate purpose for self-gain or an effort to deny both the impact of historical practices nor the unintended consequences of legislation/practices by those blind to their impact on others.
If you mean in terms of identification, and a feeling of caution/separation around people of different races/cultures, I believe there is a basic instinctual reaction in all races that can be traced back to our tribal roots.
If you mean systemic, discriminatory racist practices by those who need or want to feel superior or entitled, I believe it is largely learned. Either out of malicious, deliberate purpose for self-gain or an effort to deny both the impact of historical practices nor the unintended consequences of legislation/practices by those blind to their impact on others.
If you mean in terms of identification, and a feeling of caution/separation around people of different races/cultures, I believe there is a basic instinctual reaction in all races that can be traced back to our tribal roots.
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OluwoleFemiJacob · 26-30, M
@dancingtongue this is a question that she has that actually deserved such answers
If you are to say things the way it truly is
You have to see from that perspective
If you are to say things the way it truly is
You have to see from that perspective
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OluwoleFemiJacob · 26-30, M
First I think the term used is what really outline it in some special way
In some cases you can just decided to don't like someone a certain reason or it could be just for no course
When hate comes in the picture then you talk about racism and the fact that one
It is normal for humans to notice differences. Our brains evolved to categorize: “us vs them,” familiar vs unfamiliar. That instinct shows up as bias, caution, or preference. In that very narrow sense, bias is human.
But racism isn’t just noticing difference. Racism is:
assigning inferiority or superiority to people based on race
using that belief to justify exclusion, harm, or power imbalance
That part is not natural or inevitable—it’s learned, reinforced, and maintained by culture, fear, history, and sometimes advantage.
So here’s the clean distinction:
Bias → natural tendency
Racism → a choice + conditioning + systems
Plenty of societies trained people to fear or devalue others because it served economic, political, or social control. Once taught, it can feel “normal,” especially if everyone around you shares it—but familiar doesn’t mean right.
The hopeful part?
What’s learned can be unlearned. Exposure, relationships, self-reflection, and humility shrink racism fast. Most people who truly know someone from a different race as a human being struggle to keep racist beliefs intact.
No matter what there will also be class and creed
So it's a natural to some extent and it's also learned
In some cases you can just decided to don't like someone a certain reason or it could be just for no course
When hate comes in the picture then you talk about racism and the fact that one
It is normal for humans to notice differences. Our brains evolved to categorize: “us vs them,” familiar vs unfamiliar. That instinct shows up as bias, caution, or preference. In that very narrow sense, bias is human.
But racism isn’t just noticing difference. Racism is:
assigning inferiority or superiority to people based on race
using that belief to justify exclusion, harm, or power imbalance
That part is not natural or inevitable—it’s learned, reinforced, and maintained by culture, fear, history, and sometimes advantage.
So here’s the clean distinction:
Bias → natural tendency
Racism → a choice + conditioning + systems
Plenty of societies trained people to fear or devalue others because it served economic, political, or social control. Once taught, it can feel “normal,” especially if everyone around you shares it—but familiar doesn’t mean right.
The hopeful part?
What’s learned can be unlearned. Exposure, relationships, self-reflection, and humility shrink racism fast. Most people who truly know someone from a different race as a human being struggle to keep racist beliefs intact.
No matter what there will also be class and creed
So it's a natural to some extent and it's also learned
PatientlyWaiting25 · 46-50, F
FreeorLonely · 51-55, F
Wiseacre · F
@FreeorLonely well, we don’t know for sure
FreeorLonely · 51-55, F
@Wiseacre you’re right
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ItsMeMorgue · 46-50, F
@BohoBabe I would go as far as to say that not only was it natural, it was once vital to the survival of the human species. Humans who looked like each other would travel in groups to confuse predators. But that's no longer a thing we have to do in order to survive, and many of us have lost that tendency.
Which is why I call modern racists unevolved.
Which is why I call modern racists unevolved.
BohoBabe · M
@ItsMeMorgue Well if it's part of evolutionary biology, it's going to be with us for a much longer time. Industrialization is pretty recent in the history of the human species. But hardcore racism usually doesn't happen unless a society is both uneducated and the material needs aren't being met. Unfortunately, that's the case in most of rural America.
Wireman · 31-35, M
The word may have been learned, but the knowledge is only learned by seeing and experiencing how others behave, and what they see as normal.
Nitedoc · 51-55, M
No. It's a learned behavior or belief.
CorvusBlackthorne · 100+, M
NativePortlander1970 · 51-55
It is learned by the example from parents and community.