I see it all over the place - racism being equated to ignorance. People expressing disbelief about how so-and-so can be educated and seemingly intelligent and yet still harbour such 'ignorant' views about race.
Well, it makes a whole lot more sense if you accept that racism is not actually the same thing as ignorance at all. It's a distinction that people aren't making, and that's really starting to piss me off.
When people equate racism to ignorance, it gives racists a pass, as if somehow we're supposed to feel sorry for them because 'they don't know any better'.
Bullshit.
Oh, I'm quite certain there are quite a lot of racists out there who are ignorant. But ignorant of what, exactly? The equality of human beings? So go ahead then. Educate them. Go on. See what they do with that new information you so painstakingly gave to them.
This is probably going to send me up in flames, but I don't care. I'm frankly dismayed by how people feel racial issues should be addressed. I'm not trying to undermine the importance of education. Education is important. But the problem is, racism is not, I repeat, NOT AN INTELLECTUAL ISSUE. And it can't really be addressed in an intellectual matter.
Racism comes from the same place that religion does. Or any belief system, to be fair. They're all ways in which we deal with the world around us - a world that can very easily make us small and unimportant. They're ways to make sense of an often nonsensical existence.
Some people deal by turning to God and faith and family. Some people deal by getting involved in their communities and doing something that hopefully makes a difference in the world. And some people rely upon the comfort provided by the unshakable belief that no matter how miserable their lives are, they will always be better than people who don't share the same colour of skin.
Racism is a such a pervasive force because it holds such a strong appeal. I mean, let's really look at what being a racist offers: it requires very little effort and even less thought, demands zero personal accountability, and tends to create a sense of community amongst like-minded people.
No need to try to understand your fellow human being because you already know everything you need to know about them. No need to compromise what you want because what other people want is evil and inferior. No need to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong in your life because, hell, it's all the fault of the _____, right?
It certainly makes life so much easier. Believe one thing and everything else makes perfect sense.
That's what we're fighting against. Not ignorance, but faith. Faith borne out of fear, suspicion, pride, and - above all - insecurity.
So please, please stop calling racists 'ignorant'. Because it's not like these people don't know or can't understand the concept of human equality.
They just don't believe in it.