Personal experiences color (pun intended) one’s perspective on race. I see this all the time on FR (especially when talking with Southern Californians) and, well, in myself.
Very true.However,it is not a very scientific way to come to a rational conclusion.
Yet emotions,not logic,seems to be the determining factor for people whenever they make judgements or come to their own point of view.
I grew up in an all white enviroment and saw my share of ugly,cruel people.Yet I also saw my share of brilliant and very warm hearted kind people as well.My first exposure to blacks was in college and I got to know many very intelligent and goal oreinted people who treated me with openess and caring.They gave me an initial positive feeling about that ethnic group as a whole.
Later on,I encountered many of the ghetto underclass who were like KKK generated stereotypes.Those folks SCARED me.Just like the white trash who threatened and intimidated me as a child scared me.The irony is that the so called militant Afrocentric blacks who dominated the scene when I was in college are almost all very middle class and economically prosperous today.The youngsters I encounter in the high schools nowadays haven’t the slightest interest in their grandparent’s struggles.They will tell you straight up,”n****,I just want to get paid”
I liked the older generation better.