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"Prejudice doesn't become bigotry until you refuse to correct it."

Can we unlearn prejudice? By definition, yes! "Prejudice" is the act of pre-judging something, i.e. forming an opinion before you have information. For example, if you've really only seen African Americans in rap videos, I can't blame you much for having a low opinion of them. However, if you had met all the African American people I've met, you would realize that the rap video stereotype is ludicrous. Even kids whose sense of fashion compels them to wear hip-hop clothes are usually intelligent and interesting with a set of values and ideas as unique as the individual. After meeting enough people of different races almost everyone will reach the conclusion that you truly can't judge a book by its cover.

Having a prejudice does not make someone a bigot. While some people truly are bigoted, clinging to idiotic stereotypes in defiance of all reason, there are many good people who develop prejudices from inexperience. While taking classes in graduate school, I recall being shocked when my father in law made a comment about being nervous around people who looked Arabic. Not wanting to offend the father of the man I love, I bit back a rude retort and instead explained that as a math student, many of my classmates were Muslims from the Middle East. After I explained that to him, I realized that I had no call to judge him. He never interacts with Middle Eastern people and at the time, the news was filled with stories of terrorism. Being afraid of people he viewed as hostile was a very human response, one I might well have had if not for the fact that I shared solutions and commiserated over classes with people from all over the world.

The best way to overcome prejudice is by having patience with those who exhibit it. If you tell others they're morally deficient for thinking a certain way, they will immediately close their minds. On the other hand, if you share your knowledge of other cultures, nations, and religions, people will listen. Don't expect instant change. A lifetime of accumulated misconceptions will not be overcome with a few sentences. However, when messages of tolerance are more pervasive than messages of hate the world is enriched.

Learn more about this author, Raven Lebeau.
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