by Michael Davis

Created on: July 06, 2008

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Was the chicken merely the egg's idea for getting more eggs? Can you have one without the other? Well, in the distant past there was an original and then from there the paradox grew. Racism has grown our from a self-preservation mechanism coded within our DNA (An instinct) into a terrible monster that has risen from the ignorance of those who have not LEARNED for themselves, but merely blindly accepted the TEACHINGS from a long line of ignorant influences.

Racism is actually born from a very similar premise as the chicken and the egg. Long ago, as a survival mechanism, our ancient ancestors developed a "tribal instinct". They tended to stay with and socialize with those who were similar in appearance. As we developed, appearance was no longer the only factor. Soon, regional customs, social status, and religions became factors in the early forms of racism and prejudice.
If everyone is truly honest with themselves, then you surely realize that on an unconscious level we all have some degree of racism. If I, a caucasian, walked into a strange place with half of the people being caucasian and the other half being asian, my NATURAL tendency would be to initially gravitate toward the caucasian crowd. On a fundamental level, this is racism, neither learned nor taught, but rather instinctual. Now, this form of racism is not the form that tends to lead to violence and irrational discrimination.
For the more common view of racism, we get into whether or not it is learned or taught. Well, it is BOTH. However, it is more correct to say that racism is taught because learning is not limited to teaching, it also takes into account experience and study. I take you back to that strange place with a split population. If I, on my own, mingle with the asians and develop friendships, then all is fine and racism becomes nonexistent within me. However, if during my initial mingling with the more comfortable caucasians, I am told that the asians are evil and not to be trusted, then I may never even deal with the asians, or any dealings I do have will be entered into with that apprehension and distrust. I have condemned an entire group of people based on hearsay without actually learning for myself. I would then be a racist.
That brings us to the crux of racism as we view it today. That is to say ignorance is what breeds the most intense and violent forms of racism. Ignorance is an absence of LEARNING or EXPERIENCE, which, of course are the

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