Why would a racist person get defensive and say they are not racist?

Insecurity. Most people with hateful views hold them because they're insecure about some aspect of themselves.

They feel that their heinous thinking is justified.

I don’t know. Maybe they *don’t feel like they are.

Can I ask you a question?. Why does it matter so much? Who cares if they are.

Sometimes racism isn't really racism. People overreact

Because some of them will admit racism is wrong, but only recognize the most obvious forms. They don't think they are being racist, they think they are just telling it like it is.

Such people may not necessarily think their beliefs [b]are[/b] racist. They may also realize racism is [b]not[/b] a positive trait, but feel the way they feel and make excuses for it.

They dont like being questioned