Racism

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Racism

Racism is a specific kind of prejudice . It is based on the belief that there are differences among the human races and that some are superior or inferior to others . Traditionally , races have been defined as distinct populations with specific physical traits based on their geographic or ancestral origins . Racists believe that race determines a person 's appearance as well as his or her character , intelligence , and behavior . Racism is one element in a wide range of prejudices that exist

br among different ethnic groups . Ethnic groups are people of similar backgrounds , including race , nationality , religion , language , and cultural heritage . People who believe that their ethnic group is superior to others are called ethnocentric , or bigoted

Racism is an extreme form of ethnocentrism , or bigotry . Racists think that they can judge a person based on his or her racial origins . They are inclined to make false assumptions about an individual based on racial or ethnic stereotypes . Stereotypes attempt to define entire groups of people according to a narrow and usually limentary set of characteristics . Racism often leads to discrimination (Derald 45-57 ) Discrimination is prejudice in action . For example , an employer might be prejudiced against a job applicant simply because that person has a different skin color . The prejudice becomes discrimination when the employer refuses to hire the applicant for that reason , even though the candidate might otherwise be qualified

Sociologists are scientists who study social behavior . They agree that racism is likely to flare up where two or more racial groups are forced to compete for what they perceive as limited resources or opportunities Under such circumstances members of the stronger group , typically the majority group might exclude other races to preserve their position of strength . They then justify their actions by stereotyping the less powerful group as naturally inferior

Racist messages can be communicated among individuals in a society . They can also be conveyed through literature , television , music , newss and other media . Sometimes the messages are obvious and hateful . But often they are subtle and hard to detect . These false beliefs become rooted in people 's minds . They are passed down from generation to generation . In this way they become accepted as truth and are increasingly hard to overcome (George , 102-107 ) Some racists believe that their race is superior to others . But there is no scientific evidence to support such theories . Physical differences among groups do exist . However , one group cannot be said to be genetically superior or inferior to another . In fact , the question of whether or not different races actually exist is under serious debate . This is especially true in modern society , where the intermingling of the world 's populations has become commonplace

Racism has been the root of some of the greatest injustices against humanity . In its most extreme form , racism has led to slavery . It has even led to genocide . Genocide is the deliberate extermination of a targeted group of people . Slavery is a system in which...