Interracial relationships, the acid test of racism?

[Sistermadly]

I don't think it's as cut and dried as James makes it out to be. At some point, people need to understand that every time someone expresses a preference for something that it doesn't automatically mean that everything else is somehow "less than".

I prefer to drive compact cars over a huge SUV. Does that mean I hate SUVs? No, it simply means that it doesn't fit in with my lifestyle, and my self-perception. More power to anyone who does drive one in the face of soaring gas prices.

In many ways, the issues brought up in the film Something New (which I haven't seen) cross over into greek life as well, but that's probably a topic for a thread of its own.

I think there's a world of difference between saying "I prefer to date black men because we share similar cultural experiences and the way we look at the world," versus saying "I prefer to date black men because I don't like/don't trust white people." I don't think it makes you racist to say that you would prefer to date members of your own race. Furthermore, I don't think you really even need to qualify why you've made that choice unless you fear being misunderstood, and you think it's important for people to know that your preference isn't based on xenophobia or hatred.

Preference does not equal prejudice in every situation.