When the world says your judgmental, prejudice and racist

What nobody tells you about

Recently I was discussing income disparity and politics with my step-son when he said something that stunned me. First, he stated “Black people can’t be racist” this was soon followed up by “All white people are racist.”

As I thought about this, I realized that his understanding of racism was wrong.

Racism — The belief that different races possess distinct characteristics, abilities, or qualities, especially so as to distinguish them as inferior or superior to one another.

“Black people can’t be racist”

OK, I’ll admit it. I simply do not understand this statement at all. I’m Latino. I look like your average white middle-aged man. I have honestly no idea where this statement comes from.

I am looking for enlightenment. I want to understand. Where this thought would come from. Think about it. If black people cannot be racist then black people have some characteristic or quality that distinguishes them as to make them superior to other races?

Would not believing this statement then make you a racist?

“All white people are racist”

I can’t agree with this statement. I think I understand where it comes from. I think that the thought behind it is “All people are prejudiced.

I am prejudiced. You are prejudiced. We are all prejudiced. Everybody, when they see another human being, makes a certain set of assumptions.

Being prejudices is NOT the problem.

Prejudice — Preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

The problem is when you act on your prejudice.

Is discrimination wrong when it benefits you?

I mentioned earlier I am Latino. Three quarters of me can be traced directly back to El Salvador. I look however like a generic white guy.

In college I marked the Latino box. I believe it gave me an edge it getting loans and financial assistance. I believe it was discriminatory, but in my favor.

Discrimination — The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of ethnicity, age, sex, or disability.

I write this piece inviting comments. Let me know what you think.