| Racism is pernicious, particularly hurtful to those | | | | not see anything wrong with our actions because |
| on the receiving end, and is little understood. Its | | | | those acts would be validated by everyone else |
| causes are not just social, neither can they be | | | | like us. The only change will come through |
| remedied in an instant. Racism goes much deeper | | | | education and awareness of why those actions |
| than simple social factors and it stems, primarily, | | | | might not be appropriate, the consequences they |
| from the following four causes: | | | | carry for others as well as the alternatives that |
| 1. Instinctive reaction for species protection: It is | | | | are available. Until people who know no better |
| the most natural thing in the world to gravitate | | | | undergo an educative process around racism, |
| towards our own kind, to recruit in our own | | | | ignorance will always keep racism thriving, |
| image and likeness and to feel comfortable with | | | | especially among those who have no desire to act |
| people who outwardly look like us, reflect who we | | | | differently. |
| are and behave like us. We are all ingrained with a | | | | 4. Lack of self love, feeling of unworthiness and |
| sense of self protection, especially of our culture, | | | | desire to feel superior: The most racist people in |
| territory, family, the things we cherish and which | | | | our world tend to be the least confident, lacking in |
| form our identity. Racism comes out of a desire | | | | self esteem and, most of all, lacking in self love. |
| to protect all of that, as well as our roots and our | | | | They project all their negative feelings outward |
| species. Anything which isn't like us immediately | | | | unto others, especially on to the most week and |
| becomes threatening and, where it is also | | | | vulnerable. When we truly love ourself and |
| perceived to be inferior, the prejudice towards it | | | | appreciate who we are, we can appreciate how |
| in order to protect our own becomes even more | | | | others feel and accommodate them more. We |
| lethal and menacing. | | | | also have better understanding of others because |
| 2. Fear of loss and displacement: Seeking to | | | | we appreciate where we are coming from. |
| protect our own kind means we fear any loss of | | | | Racism comes through a feeling of unworthiness, |
| what we already have and what makes us who | | | | of being 'victimised', of lacking the opportunities |
| we are: whether it's our jobs, our status, | | | | others have, and of being a failure. Someone has |
| territory, possessions, personal significance and | | | | to pay for such low feelings and self-perception. |
| even our being. We fear being replaced by others, | | | | This means a need for scapegoats in order to |
| especially in a relationship, by anyone perceived to | | | | feel superior and to exercise personal power over |
| be much more appealing and desirable than we | | | | others. Racist people tend to feel insignificant, |
| are. When that person is from another race, it | | | | isolated, wronged and unloved and they remedy |
| simply confirms our unworthiness and adds insult | | | | that feeling of exclusion by blaming someone else |
| to injury. Fear is the biggest cause of racism in | | | | for it instead and seeking opportunities to |
| our world, especially irrational fear of difference | | | | exercise that prejudice and resentment. |
| and loss, which tends to see any difference as | | | | That is why racism will always be difficult to |
| both threatening and undeserving of what we | | | | eradicate because it is not a social act. It's an |
| regard as our right. | | | | individual one. The causes of racism begin with the |
| 3. Ignorance: When we know better we can act | | | | individual and can only be resolved by addressing |
| better, especially if we have the confidence to | | | | the actions of individuals. It's individual people who |
| put that knowledge into action. But what keeps | | | | behave in a racist manner which is then enhanced |
| racism going in a vicious circle is ignorance of the | | | | by the group and validated by institutions. That is |
| worst kind. If we grow up doing a particular thing, | | | | why institutions often remain racist and |
| and everyone else around us does it too, we | | | | discriminatory in approach for a long time unless |
| come to believe it is right, no mater how morally | | | | the individuals within them are encouraged to act |
| reprehensible it could be to another person who | | | | otherwise. |
| does not share our culture and outlook. We will | | | | |