Racism.
 

Does society have any hope of getting past racism, if they don't even know what it is?

No. No.

Everybody's racist. Anyone who claims they aren't is a lying racist.

I don't think it matters.

What's worse is somebody who is saying they are not a racist, but everybody else (of a certain race) is racist (because of their race).

I never said anyone of a certain race is racist.

I said two overencompassing ideas on the board:
1--white people will never know what it is like to be a minority (and the inverse is implied)
2--White privilege pertains to all white people, as shown in my article in IotD.

Quote me where I said

hmm, not up on all the controversy, but I will say this:

does society have any hope of overcoming racism? My opinion, assuming we are talking "western" society--yes. Yes, because there's always hope; yes, because we have made progress; and yes, because, well--there's that hope thing again. (I'm only talking western society, because that's the one I live in and am most familiar with.)

I acknowledge that it is a human trait, not exclusive to any one race, to hate and fear the different. Individuals can rise above that, and I believe individual societies can, too, if the right factors, such as prosperity and education, are present.

It is implied in the links you have provided defining "white privilege".

Opening line from one of your links on page 2 of this thread:
"I was taught to see racism only in individual acts of meanness, not in invisible systems conferring dominance on my group"

and another:
Many, perhaps most, of our white students in the United States think that racism doesn't affect them because they are not people of color; they do not see "whiteness" as a racial identity.

Comments such as these hint to it. The tactic among those who do not believe that non-whites are or can be racist is to redefine the issue as "white privilege". That is a fantasy definition which places all the blame for todays current situation on one group all the while attempting to relieve anyone else of responsiblity for their current situation in life.

"1--white people will never know what it is like to be a minority (and the inverse is implied)"

Maybe not "technically", but everyday "white" people are passed up for jobs because of "EEO". Employers are "extremely encouraged" to employ a minority for work. Two can apply and have the same qualifications, but if a minority applies - they will be hired. Not in all cases will this happen, but I would say well over 50% of the time it will.

I disagree. I do agree, however, that everyone has prejudices.

Uuuuuunless they live and work in an area where they are a minority. I'm sorry you're pissed off at the racial diversity of Illinois, fresh, but it's not like that everywhere. I was a minority all the way until high school, at which point we were split into even thirds; Hispanic, black, and white.

ALL asians are racists. duh.

Sorry fresh- after reading this post I actually decided to vote.....

I was a minority when I lived in Britain as a kid. It wasn't a very remarkable experience. For a while I was called a name, treated differently by teachers and administrators, didn't understand key cultural things, etc.

It's a harder experience than, say, having bad acne. Easier than having your leg amputated.

The minority experience is hard but not uncommon... in fact I would say a majority of people have experienced it. Clod, as a woman in hands-on technology fields and gaming, you've been a minority most of your adult life, eh?

When ANYBODY assumes something about another person, based on their racial heritage. - Should this have included something negative or is there positive racism too? I voted, but I really didn't like the three choices.

Racism will continue to be a problem as long as we continue to focus on it. This isn't the 1940's. We know that skin color doesn't define abilities. The racism debate and all that goes along with it only continues to serve as a means of dividing us. As long as there is an "us vs. them" mentality of any type then it will continue to be a problem. Yes, that means that people who believe "white people don't understand" are adding to the problem. I don't have to be run over by a bus to know that it is not a good thing. I don't have to smoke crack to know that it is not good for me. I don't have to possess an official minority membership card to know that racism hurts.