i think there's a huge difference between having a personal prejudice and being a racist. i firmly belief in equality for all, though i can admit that, at my worst, i may harbor a personal prejudice or two. for me, that is my own personal problem and, hopefully, as i grow and evolve as a human being i will overcome them.

I think the thing that people continue to forget is human beings will always find ways to divide themselves. All ways have and always will. Even in countries where everyone is from the same race by USA definition, people still have stereotypes and divisions according to race, religion, language, area of the country etc… For more info look into India, Kenya, Spain, Canada.

I believe that it is possible to be without a little bit of prejudice and live in this country. I think the biggest problem affecting race relations in this country is the fact that people from mainstream America are very ignorant about people who do not look like them. I think that almost everyone in this country on the other hand is race conscious.

@ chic noir

True that! I'm from Québec City Canada, and belive me, between french (like me) and English people (ex.Ontario), there is no love at all!
No matter the colour!

Sometimes I find black people can be just as racist as some whites.

It is IMPOSSIBLE to be raised in this country and not pick up certain racist elements and by default add them to your character.

This doesn’t mean that you are destined or doomed to be a racist individual, but it does mean that you will haft to WORK not to become a racist or even worse a racist in denial.

The odds are against us in trying to be non racist individuals, a sordid history, horrible media, and a highly diverse yet extremely segregated society among other things often sabotage are best intentions.

It’s a difficult fight

But a good one to engage in

rac·ism
1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to rule others.
2. a policy, system of government, etc., based upon or fostering such a doctrine; discrimination.
3. hatred or intolerance of another race or other races.

Well, you know how I feel about this. I'll just add that it doesn't necessarily come out in one's actions. Look at the experiment a few weeks back with shooting times for white vs. black people with or without guns. Go to Model Minority and read all the f-ed up crap that Asian-Americans deal with. Look at how all minorities are represented in the media. Need we revisit A Girl Like Me? Even if you grow up in some artificially diverse rainbowland where everyone gets along fabulously and have managed to avoid all forms of media, you will eventually leave that bubble and soak up all that good ol fashioned American intolerance.

To explore definition #1 from the perspective of America's media…
whites - normal.
blacks - athletes, criminals, daunting, dose of sass, poor or have poverty mentality even when wealthy
Latinos (black or white) - all Mexican and undocumented; baseball players, domestics, construction workers
South East Asians - convenience store owners, all FOB
Asians - damn near non-existent, accessories for white men or alternatively, extra bitchy or "black" to "fight" that whole docile Geisha stereotype (because replacing one negative stereotype with another is great, David E Kelley)

@KiLo- I picked on up this during my visit to Montrel(sp). There is so much competition between the two languages. Even the political debates are competition of which politican can speak and articulate his/her points better in both languages.

Daria can you give me info on the black to fight asians and david kelly

Please

Sometime you never know how racist the people around you are until something directly confronts their racism. For example, a friend of mine began dating a black man in college, and was shocked when her parents massively disapproved (i.e. "We didn't raise you this way!") She claimed it took her totally off guard- there were no black people where we grew up, and her parent's attitudes never came to the surface. I had to ask my parents what they would do if I dated a black man, and they admitted they wouldn't be happy, "but we're ashamed that we feel that way." Mostly, they said, it was nothing qualitative about black people, but how hard they perceived it would be for an inter-racial couple with eventual biracial kids.

I have PLENTY of prejudices, but they are FAR more granular than at just the race level. (I would argue , as a gay man, it's more survival mechanism than anything else)

I sincerely do not believe meaningful differences exist at the biological (racial) level, except predispositions to disease, lactose intolerance, etc., but I do believe there are vast differences culturally, and I do believe certain cultures to be superior to others (either with respect to certain things, like artistry, creativity, propensity/tolerance of violence, intellectualism, etc, or altogether).

Would some classify some of my interests as racist? Sure. But I don't really care. I know I'm not racist.

I suspect most people are like me.

I'm a racist. I am very aware of my prejudices and I don't let it impact how I treat people, but at the end of the day, I do make certain assumptions about people based on their race. It's not at all intentional, it's not always "negative," and I'm certainly not proud of these assumptions. Do I believe there are genetic differences? No. A lot of the "differences" we see have far more to do with environment.

As for David E Kelley, I believe the only people of color on Ally McBeal were the bitchy Asian chick (Lucy Liu) and token, sage-like, sassy roommate/best friend.

@ daria - you're forgetting that Jesse L. Martin was one of Ally McBeal's many love interests.

Ally McBeal's roommate was a black woman.

ah, already been said. Duly noted.

shakti, who? I've watched about 6 episodes of that show and none of them included a black dude. Actually, I don't remember any males of color.

Law & Order guy? Nuh-uh! LMAO. WOW. I can't even imagine her with a man to be honest. Too Lolita and I am not complimenting her age… because she didn't look young in the face.

@daria - oh yeah! i was a fan of the show and rarely missed an episode. if i remember correctly (and i might not because it was a while ago), i think at one point their characters might have been engaged or he might have proposed to her. yeah, it was a very hot and heavy romance. i think that may have been his first big tv role.

Maybe it's good to clarify racist vs color-blind. I'd argue absolutely no-one is the latter.

Daria & shakti I remeber that blk guy. He was a cutie.

Ally McBeal's roommate was sage/sassy? I just remember her being really fine and wishing she could somehow get McBeal's job so I could enjoy my law firm surrealism with more hotness and less whiny, self-indulgence.