Question

Suzie is white, but grew up with a few black friends and considers herself unprejudiced. She recently left for college, where she happens to sit with mainly white students for lunch, and while practicing their school spirit for an upcoming game, they worked together on a “Kill Those Indians!” sign (referring to Saturday’s opposing team mascot). Compare and contrast the concepts of prejudice and racism by applying them to this example.

Answer 1

Racism and prejudice are two separate constructs. Prejudice implies that holds stereotypical thoughts and assumptions about a certain group of individuals. If Suzie claims to be unprejudiced, it would imply that she takes time to form judgements and opinions about others, and does not base her judgments on arbitrary social contracts. Furthermore, prejudice is not only confined to race. However, racism involves belief structures such as races being more than arbitrary social constructs, the existence of superior and inferior races, support for extra rights and privileges for certain races. By creating a sign called ‘Kill Those Indians’ Suzie is expressing racist views.