Does it make me racist if...?

Here's a thread where we discuss race.
First impressions.
Observations when people watching.
Acknowledged preconceptions.
Or just to ask others about something specifically or loosely racial.

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This story has been going around recently.
Girl, 2, defends her choice of doll to cashier - CNN.com

Does questioning the girl about wanting another doll make the cashier racist?

Does the fact that the girl doesn't notice the race make a difference?

Do you find this story inspiring in any way?

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Here is another story that has been making the rounds.
A little boy wanted a hair cut like his best friend, so his teacher won't be able to tell them apart.
White boy asks for same haircut as black friend 'to confuse his pre-school teacher'


How does this story make you feel? Does it seem cute to you?

When this news story broke, a friend (white, middle class, woman) went on a long rant about how the white boy's parents are negligent in not introducing their son to the concept of race. She felt that a child this age should already be aware of the inequalities that his best friend is likely to face in his lifetime. She urged her white friends to introduce their children to the concept of white privilege.

In all honesty, my friend's words fell on deaf ears with me. I would have a difficult time having that conversation with my daughters, and won't specifically address the issue of race inequality with them until they are at least 10... I just make sure they have a group of diverse friends to play with.

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And now an example from my own life...

Does it make me racist or just biased to assume we're going to be friends with our new neighbor because he's Filipino?

I just met him today, he just closed on the house.

He looks and speaks so much like one of our best friends from undergrad! Geeky grin, California accent and all! I am just so excited!

 

To answer that question I guess I'd have a question.

What does the Fillipino part have to do with your impression?

What would be different if he were of some other descent?

 

I think it has more to do with his resemblance to a good friend.

 

Then it's probably fair to say that race is only a secondary/minor factor imo.

I really like where I think you intend this conversation to go. But I don't think the specific example given has a ton to do with race. If he resembled a different friend, of a totally different ethnicity, you might feel the same feeling.

But I do think it is interesting to think about where stereotypes and racial bias (both positive and negative) begin and end in our immediate impressions of people. It's just a conversation most people aren't willing to have without over reacting in one direction or the other.

 

@Borla, thanks for pointing out that this wasn't a strong intro. I went ahead and added a couple of race-related stories from the relatively recent news.

 

Will comment more later when I'm not limited to phone access, but I absolutely loved the haircut story you posted. It was all over Reddit when it came out, and I thought it was hilarious and adorable.

 

I admit I'm as racist as a normal person is. What does that mean?

Statistics bear out what it means.

 

Relevant:

O's Jones faced racist taunts; Sox apologize

Boston was a good example IMO. Incredible number of colleges and universities, largely liberal, pretty cosmopolitan city. But it is one of the least integrated cities I've ever been to.