What is the payoff for a stance of racism? Why does racism exist? What can be done to stop racism? Is it the same as decrying another culture?

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Humans will always find reasons to hate each other, based on differences: race, religion, nationality, political allegiance, ethnic heritage, economic status, age, gender, sexual preferences, etc. I don't think that will ever change. If there were to be only two people left on Earth, they would probably end up hating each other.

From what I've seen, most of the payoff is percieved rather than actual. Racism of some sort will exist, imo, as long as some people perceive themselves to be superior to anyone else, and I think that is the root of racism. To me, this goes against spirituality, too, though a racist can CALL themselves Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, or whatever...it does not make them any of those things, and all major religions (and most that aren't mainstream) teach love, not intolerance and hate.

Racism can take many forms. It could be against a culture, a language, a skin color, a style of dress, a religious belief, or anything else where one person can look at another and say, "They are different than me."

During the year 1992 I posted for the first time on a public electronic discussion area (not the internet, but something that was available at the time) and the very first topic I got into an argument about was racism. In Baha'i writings, racism is called "the most challenging issue" for America.

Racism is not natural. It is learned. It can be unlearned. But if unacknowledged it cannot be undone. It hurts both "sides".

It is supposed to be pride but sometimes it never pays off.
Stop analyzing "color".
No, it is ignoring the fact that there are more compelling similarities between humans than trying to predict the differences.

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"There is one thing that organized religion is not qualified to teach and that is an individual's purpose."-GOD

Although I don't think anyone is born a neo-nazi, I think the precursors for racial hatred are somewhat hardwired into humans. From an evolutionary perspective it makes quite a deal of sense.

We as social animals care a great deal about family, and I imagine at some point in our development extended family tribes were about as large as human groups would reach. In pursuit of our survival and that of our family we would likely have been in competition with nearby groups for resources and space; fear of and aggression toward 'outsiders' would be a suitable response in such a situation. A sense of 'us' and 'them' although reprehensible now would have been a huge advantage to the closeness of a group and ability to compete.

In this sense, yes, I think nature played its part.

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-Scott

It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true. -- Bertrand Russell

I think one of the great challenges for humanity today is recognizing the oneness of humanity and this is becoming more crucial than ever since our world is "shrinking" due to economics and technology. There are also genetic studies today that confirm the oneness of the human race and Guy Merchie wrote that we have say a fiftieth degree of cousinship with every other person on the planet..

Racism occurs in my view because as above it is learned in say a school or social situation where an "us" verses "them" developes. Lately I've noticed reports about violence in schools between races and of course prisons also have racism among the inmates.

But racism can also be unlearned as well through education and more appropriate social experiences between peoples of many races.

Until the disparity of race and class prejudice is eliminated we cannot as one people progress to the next level which is uniting the planet.

- Art

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"it benefits us to be thoughtful, not of the glory of our minds, but rather, above all else, of the glory of God."
- Johannes Kepler

Wonderful post, Art. I have noticed small children. They do not recognize color differences.

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Understanding that differences can be and often are observed is one thing. Promoting and advocating for disagreements based on these observed differences leads to most "isms." Some on this planet celebrate and honor the differences. Some still see the disagreements as division, and so believe it is "only right" to protect the self from those who appear on the "other side" of the dividing line.

Er...children are rather gifted at appreciating colour variations.

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-Scott

It is undesirable to believe a proposition when there is no ground whatever for supposing it true. -- Bertrand Russell