When did racism begin?
@lookatdesktop (27129)
Dallas, Texas
July 20, 2016 8:31am CST
I remember that movie by Stanley Kubrick that depicted an angry cave man hitting another with a big stick until he died. He was exercising territorial rights of his clan.
A tribe of Indians in America was a proud group of humans who were not only part of a clan or a race or a tribe but they were also nomadic. They moved from place to place. They did not build fences like man does today.
Today we are all territorial, like a clan or a tribe or a closely tied community who live in certain areas of a city or county, on a farm or in the suburbs.
So I would have to say, from my limited knowledge about racism, it has been with us from day one.
But for a good source of information about when racism began in a historical context you need only read the article below: Have a good day fellow myLotters.
The Historical Origins and Development of Racism by George M. Fredrickson Racism exists when one ethnic group or historical collectivity dominates, excludes, or seeks to eliminate another on the basis of differences that it believes are hereditary and unal
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5 responses
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
20 Jul 16
@lookatdesktop
Yep that is all we can is to hope.
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Jul 16
You are thinking of 2001: A Space Odyssey
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@LeaPea2417 (36451)
• Toccoa, Georgia
20 Jul 16
I liked that movie and I read the book.
1 person likes this
@clrumfelt (5490)
• United States
20 Jul 16
I agree racism has been with us from day one. It is a part of our baser human nature of pride to think that we and those who are like us are the best of the human race to the exclusion of others who are different, meaning we will value them less and treat them with less respect than our own group.
2 people like this
@JohnRoberts (109857)
• Los Angeles, California
20 Jul 16
You hit the nail on the head. Racism, prejudice, whatever you want to label it will never go away.
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@LeaPea2417 (36451)
• Toccoa, Georgia
20 Jul 16
I think racism started right after the Fall of Adam and Eve when sin came into the world.
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@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Jul 16
That is still quite a long time ago.
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@msiduri (5687)
• United States
20 Jul 16
I think the writer is ignoring a lot of human history. Granted, in a short piece like this, he has to pick and choose. It seems that we've always competed for resources and mates with blood. Any differing trait that could identify an enemy would make it easier to do so. If the Jones had nice land and wore their hair in a certain way, they'd be an easier target for the Smiths when they wanted their land—when push came to shove.
The insidious thing about racism based on skin color is that one can't change the color of the skin. A culture is reinforced and develops along alongside another. Those who cross the line are penalized. (i.e., in the old days, a Jew and a Christian marrying or up until quite recently, a black and a white person marrying). It is sad because no one—quite rightfully—wants to deny their identity. Yet a simple thing resect for people as individuals would, I think, go a long way.
Just my humble opinion.
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@lookatdesktop (27129)
• Dallas, Texas
20 Jul 16
This writer is not ignoring what you just said: you make good sense.
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