Does the NAACP really think this is realistic???

[Dark Jaguar]

Racism is hating people, yes, but by definition there's a bit more to it than that. Racism is any judgement call about a person someone makes based solely on race. In almost all cases, it's completely illegitimate. There are a few exceptions (black people are, as a matter of fact, less likely to get sun burned, and white people, as a matter of fact, probably get less rickets in far northern climates), but those aren't the assumptions.

Yes yes, "if you met a group of black people wearing colors in the middle of the ghetto would you be afraid", well, you've just asked a loaded question. The important information isn't "black people" but "wearing colors in the middle of the ghetto". That's more of a class assumption than anything, and while it still could be off the mark, there's at least some decent reason for concern, white, black or whatever. A group of black people in business suits outside Wall street are a better example, in which case anyone who's afraid of them is, by definition, making a completely untenable racist assumption. Certain care should be taken with these things. Making a racist joke to expose the insanity of racism can be funny, but a lot of people making those jokes "mean them" more than they let on. The problem is that someone who is in the majority "only" has to deal with the issue of racism "when they feel like it", when they want to talk about it, when they want to debate it, and then they can get back to their completely unhindered (by race) lifestyle at their choosing. Being able to "walk away" from race is an example of privilege. Don't misunderstand. It's a "privilege" everyone would ideally have, but right now it's not the one most people live. To someone who's in a minority, their race is constantly being shoved back in their face from the moment they leave their house to the moment they get back home. There are exceptions, and yes that's a bit of an exaggeration to make a point, but that's the general idea to get across here. So, around someone in that situation, making a "racist joke" just for fun is a bit more hurting than it should be. Think of it like this. Most of us here are nerds. In school, you may have noticed that on average no one really "cared" about whatever annoyances you were dealing with until someone decided to "take up the cause" and bravely be friends with a dork. Suddenly all these smiling faces like they're dragging you out of the mud surround you. What's their game? Most of the time no one cared at all whether you lived or died, but today suddenly they care? One awkward confrontation (aided by your own poor social skills) later, everything's back to normal for you, but come to find out later those people who "tried to help" are convinced they did something that "changed your life", a great favor, completely unaware that for you, it's all the same.

Let's be clear, being a nerd in school isn't nearly on the same scale. The other way, issues of race are FAR better than they were decades ago. No one can argue that things aren't much improved from the days of protesters being hosed down and thrown out of places back in the 50's. That said, it's still there. It's still uncomfortable for those involved, and it's hard to say exactly how to deal with it. One thing's for sure, walking up to someone and telling them not to get mad when you make a racist joke around them isn't helping.

Darunia, selection bias is certainly something to consider in this. Here's the thing. There's been polls that try to eliminate selection bias by interviewing large numbers. There's still a statistically significant number of racists in these groups.