Expert: Michael Troy - 9/23/2003

Question
Good day,
My name is Selina and I am working on a project for my Information Technology class.  I was hoping that you might help me.  My research question is: Why do you think people judge people by the color of there skin? Part of my research involves finding experts on the Internet.  I would really appreciate you answering a few questions for me.  I will take the information you provide me, compare it with what others have said and with other research findings, make some conclusions about my question, and then create a Web site.  
You need to be aware that I may be using any information you provide me on my Web site, but that I will keep your name confidential.  My Web site should be published by the middle of June and will be available on our school Web site (www.cmsweb.ca).
Here are my questions:
Why do you think people judge people by the color of there skin?
What do you think makes people dislike other people because there skin color is different?
My email address is 20126@courtmid.sd71.bc.ca Thank you so much for taking the time to help me with my research.
Selina

A note from my teacher:
Please know that by helping this student you will be helping with research and not doing the student's homework for him or her.  I have structured this project to include research by emailing experts.  If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at Luxenburg@sd71.bc.ca
Avi Luxenburg


Answer
Hi Selina,

There is a difference between discrimination based on skin color and discrimination based on race or ethnicity.  For example, if a person of northern European descent spends a lot of time getting a tan, he may have the same color as a hispanic person from Mexico.  But that skin color is not going to cause people who dislike Mexicans to dislike him simply because his skin is the same color as a Mexican.

Racial discrimination is usually based on a prejudice (which means a pre-judgement or judging without first having all the facts).  The prejudice is based on ancestry, i.e. whether the person's anscestors came from Africa, Europe, Asia, etc.  Some people associate anscestroy with behavior.  For example, because African Americans happen to disproportionately commit more crimes than other groups, people might be more suspicious of all African Americans, even though the vast majority are just as honest as anyone else.  In other words, they see a few examples and then assume those traits are present in anyone from that group.

Usually people who dislike other groups based on race do so out of ignorance or fear.  They do not understand the great diversity of ideas and behavior within racial and ethnic groups, they are uncomforatable with cultural affinities common in other groups, or they fear that members of those groups mere presence is more likely to do something bad, such as raise crime rates, lower housing values, etc.  Some people also have the idea that racial groups need to remain pure and that relationships between races takes away from the purity of a race.  These people may want to stay away from other groups just so that their children don't form relationships with other ethnic groups.  

I hope this helps!
- Mike