Can a black person be racist? Can an African-American be racist? Some of my good friends contend that one has to be powerful to be racist. On the other hand, I believe that being a racist or racismis a state of mind and has nothing to do with one's ability to act on that belief or state of mind. But I'd like to hear from you!

-- Alton E. Paris (alparis@gte.net), April 06, 1998

Answers

If any black person believe that because someone is of a certain ethnicity that he or she is somehow not worth of the rights of all human beings-life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness ect., then I would contend that that black person is indeed racist. Racism does not come in any color, it comes in humanity.

-- Kami M. McDonald (KamiMcDonald@hotmail.com), February 09, 2001.

Those who say only the majority people in power can be racist, basically changed the definition of racism to define what they want it to. It does not take money or power to be a racist according to all of my dictionaries. I have met racist among all racial groups. So instead of changing the definition of a word to suit their agenda, maybe they should come up with a new word that defines those who use their power in the deployment of their racism.

Eddie Hicks http://www.youpeople.net

-- Eddie Hicks (hicks@youpeople.net), February 10, 2001.

racism is not a person who prefers to marry or date within ones own language,cultural,religious,or racial group---this is simply peference which is OK and right when done to preserve and protect ones unique identity.However, when it is done and it is stated that other groups are inferior and would do irreparable harm because those groups are not equal and never can be,that is an expression of racial superiority and that is racism--the belief that others outside your group are less and they need to be kept out at all costs from diluting the culture,religion,etc.Those who hold such convictions and are in positions of power like congress,police,the courts and DA keep the groups they don't want under control by laws,rulings,public policy a type of apartheid.This is institutional racism.By these two definitions anyone can be a racist.

-- fred wilkins (boloulu@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.

I think black people can be rascist, unfortunatly, like any other human being, Ignorance is the key to a lot of rascism I think. "White people" are judged by "blacks," also by the colour of the skin, stereo typed just like they are, becoming what you hate the most? I am white but also my ancestors where fighting the English for their home 100's of years before the first African slaves arrived in America, & also before the English landed & began persecution of native Australians. Anyone seen the end of the movie starring Steven Segal called Exit Wounds? after the end of the movie there is a small skit, One white guy & one black so to speak in a talk show kind of setting they deal with the issue quite nicely.

-- Lon Suder (lonsuder77@hotmail.com), August 18, 2001.