The persistence of racism even among the well-intentioned

[Lithos]

Negative stereotypes about Blacks in the U.S. have declined dramatically since the 1930s -- practically no White person to will say that Blacks are lazy, or superstitious, or many other stereotypes, when these views were common 80 years ago.

Yet huge racial disparities still exist infant mortality, unemployment, and poverty are found more than twice as often among Blacks than Whites, and these numbers haven't changed since the 1960s.

In John Dovidio's talk, "Racism Among the Well-Intentioned, he argued that most Whites who say they're not biased, believe they are not biased. Yet at the same time, they do develop negative feelings towards Blacks and other people of color.

-- More --

This applies to all sorts of "-ism's" and probably shares some of the same psychological basis as Silent Racism.

L-

[Captain Hilts]

1. Studies of mortgage rates, salaries, car repair bills show there is a black tax and a female one.

Women pay more than men for cars, and blacks more than whites.

Same with mortgages, etc.

But nooooooooo, there's no racism or sexism in our country.

And taller people get paid more than shorter people.

Overweight people are assumed to be stupid.

We've got a lot of 'ism's in our society.

[papau]

5. LESS smart, hard working, less ability to manage TALL gets about 10% more than better short/fat, the

female discount for white females is actually more than the discount for male AA's, and if you are female, black, short, fat but have talent you had better go into business for yourself - but you will still get screwed more by suppliers and paid less by buyers than your male competitors and those taller, slimmer, and whiter than you.

As my Dad said - no one said life is fair, and for the vast majority just about no one was even trying to make the society that vast majority lived in fairer.

I have 3 profession occupation daughters - and each has had a career where less talented males moved ahead - and then tossed females below them so as to be more comfortable in an all male reporting to them situation.

A black president will be a good change - but a female president would have been a real change. And now the word is that Obama will not offer Hillary the VP because he wants a male VP. Some things are harder to change than others.

[BlooInBloo]

2. "... practically no White person will say..." - HAHAHAHAA!!!!

EDIT: Deleted wrong word from the quote.

[iamjoy]

3. I'm Even Less Optimistic

Well I think that most racism in this country is from well intentioned people who believe they are not biased, this really falls into multiple categories - and there may be overlap.

First, there are the kind souls who cross the street or clutch their valuables closer to them when seeing an African American stranger on the street. Other than that though, there is no indication of racism.

Then, there are the people who simply care less when it is an African American suffering than a white person. Young attractive blonde women who go missing get more attention from the media than unattractive women or African American women.

There are also people who "blame" the African Americans for their own hard lot in life. They looked at pictures of Katrina, and some of them wondered why "those people" didn't do more to help themselves. They are quick to point out how people in other areas (which happen to be mostly Caucasian) dealt better with natural disasters. They are also quick to assume if there are disproportionate numbers of African Americans who are in prison, or can't read that there is something "wrong" with the group. They point out other ethnic groups who came to this country and found success. But they won't admit that they think African Americans are inferior.

And let's not forget the stereotype of the welfare mother - out to take public assistance for all she can get. She's African American in many people's minds.

I don't think the KKK considers themselves racist, they see the hatred and poison they spew as truth.

[angrycarpenter]

4. just got back from a trip to alabama

I heard some truly ignorant things. Racism is alive and well in America. There may be less organized racist activity but the sentiment is still there, I think even stronger than ever. Although I think muslims have replaced blacks as the most hated ethnic group.

[silverojo]

6. Muslims aren't an "ethnic group"

They're a religious organization, much like Christians. And the behavior of both religious groups convinced me to renounce my involvement with ANY organized religion, and just pray at home.