The Difference Between Racism And Prejudice

The term "racism" and "racist" gets thrown around as an umbrella-term for anything negative regarding racial issues. This should not be.

racism
a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human racial groups determine cultural or individual achievement, usually involving the idea that one's own race is superior and has the right to dominate others or that a particular racial group is inferior to the other
The second half of that definition is the key. Racism is the belief that a race is superior or inferior to another.

Then there is

prejudice
1. an unfavorable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason.

2. any preconceived opinion or feeling, either favorable or unfavorable.

3. unreasonable feelings, opinions, or attitudes, especially of a hostile nature, regarding an ethnic, racial, social, or religious group.
That second definition is important. Prejudice can be favorable or unfavorable.

You can be prejudiced without being racist. You can believe in stereotypes about races without actually thinking any race is inferior to another. You just believe and assume certain things based on outer appearances, but you do not assign any value to those assumptions. Those beliefs and assumptions, to you, do not make a race inferior or superior to another.

On the other hand, you can be completely unprejudiced, and not know of or believe in any stereotypes, but be completely racist. You just think and believe that a race is just inferior or superior to another, and you believe it matter-of-factly. Some racist people don't have any emotion toward this subject; it's just a cold truth to them that there are inferior and superior races.

Let us be more careful when using our words. Also, let us not jump into depression because of a prejudiced person. He or she may be completely unracist, and is just like a curious child asking questions without judgment. Let us understand the intent, and not let it offend us. Be strong.

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