Prejudice-what one should do about it
 

After the virtual racial riot we had last week, lol, I think this is an appropiate time to discuss this.

So, someone makes a rude remark or treat someone bad because they are of
different race, class, sexual orientation, size, political party, etc. The offended
party pulls out the "you're prejudiced!" card and they go on about how ignorant,
hateful, etc. the perpetrator is and how they should get a life or get with the times.

There is something that I noticed in these types of situations or discussions---I
notice that the offended party seldom offers "advice" on what the perpetrator
should do in order to lessen the prejudice, just more personal attacks instead.

If someone IS indeed prejudiced, what should they about it? Especially the
prejudices that DO NOT stem from a lack of exposure or not knowing better, but
rather from anger, bad experiences, or peer pressure.

I think we've all been guilty of it at one time or another.

The underlying problem is that many of us don't always practice the best confrontational styles. We're more concerned with saying what is on our mind than getting any kind of point accross.

Sometimes that's a legitimate communication goal.

On subjects like this and in this particular forum it would be great if people were just a little less aggressive in expressing themselves (trying to humiliate the other party) and a little more assertive (trying to reach a common ground or common understanding).

Again, I'll say that I think *EVERYONE* including myself has been guilty of being a little overagressive with my opinions from time to time.

i agree..

To me, you cannot change prejudice. . .but you can change stereotypes and discrimination.

Prejudice is deep-rooted and why argue with someone when you know that they won't change.

However, I catch myself being discriminative at times. . .especially against Arabs(finally, someone else to take the heat off of black people). I make really discriminative remarks but then, I right the situation. Take this weekend. My friends and I went to this popular club and there just happen to be some Arab people(the guys were hot though and dressed nice) just standing around looking. . .suspicious. My friends were just as skeptical as I was. . .and I said, 'They're probably all packing explosives.' My friends laughed and then, I realized. . .you know, you just sounded like a typical 'white' person when they remark about black people who dress like thugs. So, immediately, I told my friends that we should get them to dance. Who would have known. . .these guys are friggin' awesome! They all had medical degrees and they had just finished some classes at the university so that they could practice medicine in the U.S. And they were only 22. They bought all of our drinks and turned out to be regular guys(who speak FRENCH, YUM!!!!). When we talked to them later at Waffle House, we found out that they were all really shy because America is totally different from what they thought. And apparently, girls treat guys like shit(total rumor).

So, it just takes a person realizing that they don't have to wait until the situation arises again. They can change in a moment. Of course, unless you're a minority. . .you don't think it's that easy but it is.

i agree with this statement, but i don't do it from time to time, i've been told i do it all the time. and sometimes not just a little.

I think it's a good idea in theory, but that quote from Malcolm X keeps replaying in my mind: the one where he says it's not his job to educate white people on racism, that it's up to them to learn what it means and how to eradicate it.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that I believe that, and I certainly won't put all of the blame on white people, but people have to be open to suggestions. It's hard to be open to suggestions when you're on the defensive, and that happens a lot -- on all sides -- in these discussions.

I'm not only talking about white people. Prejudice goes far beyond white on black and race period.

Which is why I said I wouldn't place the blame only on white people, and why I said defensiveness happens on all sides.

I guess education is the key. For example, I go to a black college and in order to learn about Black History, you have to take the class. A lot of people are at the scool because they do not like White people. Yeah, they did some jacked up stuff back then but so many helped so much. Once these students learned that not all white people are/were bad they have a different perspective.
The media is to blame for a lot of the racism.Portraying black guys in baggy clothes or w/tatoos as thugs, Arabs are all suicide bombers, and white kids who wear all black and or/trench coats are serial killers are all things that the media boosts. It is true of some but by no means all.Some people have a hard time distinguishing between what is real and what is media.

Education is the biggest way to deter ignorance.