Re-thinking racism
Featured opinion
Zachariah Wiedeman
Issue date: 12/1/08 Section: Opinions
Recently, many people have been discussing the possibility of the "beginning of the end of racism." Often this conversation is lumped with a discussion about the origins of racism. The most common explanation I hear is of innocent children being indoctrinated by closed-minded adults to think certain minorities are inferior for one reason or another.
I have begun to question the common assumption that because racist people "learn" how to be racist from other racists that if we can break that cycle, a new generation of open-minded non-racists will emerge. Earlier this year, I discovered a different cause of racism and it had profound implications on how I live my life.
While cycling the streets of Chicago this year, I have already had three near accidents. I quickly noticed that all three of the drivers who nearly hit me were women. After the third close call, I couldn't help but think, "Women really are bad drivers!" and was careful to notice the gender of motorists ever since.
This is a stereotype I had rejected for years. What could logically explain women being worse drivers than men? I could think of nothing. However, once my life was on the line, it was suddenly natural to form a stereotype that I could never "rationally" believe before.
You see, humans have a natural instinct to seek and recognize patterns everywhere. This trait helped our ancestors survive and has thus been passed down to us as a useful tool. This instinct is inescapable and it is exactly why we don't need anyone to teach us to be racist. If we can identify groups, we can teach ourselves to stereotype.
Because stereotyping is part of our survival instinct, it naturally links with fear which paves the way for prejudice. While stereotyping isn't actually racism, it is its natural manure. Therefore, racist behavior can easily grow out of a few bad experiences and never have been directly taught to us. In other words, racism will always be hiding just around the corner.
I have begun to question the common assumption that because racist people "learn" how to be racist from other racists that if we can break that cycle, a new generation of open-minded non-racists will emerge. Earlier this year, I discovered a different cause of racism and it had profound implications on how I live my life.
While cycling the streets of Chicago this year, I have already had three near accidents. I quickly noticed that all three of the drivers who nearly hit me were women. After the third close call, I couldn't help but think, "Women really are bad drivers!" and was careful to notice the gender of motorists ever since.
This is a stereotype I had rejected for years. What could logically explain women being worse drivers than men? I could think of nothing. However, once my life was on the line, it was suddenly natural to form a stereotype that I could never "rationally" believe before.
You see, humans have a natural instinct to seek and recognize patterns everywhere. This trait helped our ancestors survive and has thus been passed down to us as a useful tool. This instinct is inescapable and it is exactly why we don't need anyone to teach us to be racist. If we can identify groups, we can teach ourselves to stereotype.
Because stereotyping is part of our survival instinct, it naturally links with fear which paves the way for prejudice. While stereotyping isn't actually racism, it is its natural manure. Therefore, racist behavior can easily grow out of a few bad experiences and never have been directly taught to us. In other words, racism will always be hiding just around the corner.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 4
Kelley Denman
posted 12/01/08 @ 12:35 PM CST
I think it is interesting that you are using Evolution to comment on racism and stereotyping. I find your comments hilarious because Hitler used Darwinism to suggest that some races are superior to other races, do you agree with that? If you want to put a starting point to racism and hate that is a good place to start. (Continued…)
Whitney-Paige
posted 12/01/08 @ 3:42 PM CST
I appreciate your considerations here, and I think you make a very good point about the dangerous combination of fear and stereotypes. Of course, there is a difference between sociological 'truths' and mere 'racist' or 'sexist' stereotypes. (Continued…)
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