[J_B]

As a whole certain ethnic groups do tend to act in certain ways. This is where stereotypes are derived from.

For instance, I used to live in a hispanic neighborhood. I got along well with them. Great people. But, the stereotypes were true, the polka type music, tequila, 4 families in a house, disappearing to Mexico a week here and a week there.

Another group is Indians (not native americans.) Their homes do tend to smell of curry. Why? Because as a group they tend to use more curry in cooking than any other group.

So, my point is that it is these types of things where prejudices are derived from. We use our previous experiences to try and help us make decisions about people and areas. We are always on the defense. This is due to the utmost rule of self preservation before all else.

Examples of this can be a fear of heights because you fell when you were young or maybe a fear of water because you almost drowned and so on.

Things (and people) that are different are unknown. This invokes our defense mechanisms.

Also, fwiw, on the whole, the most racist group of people I have known was NOT the whites. I refrain from saying which group in a public forum.

Much of our attention and general distaste as of late has been directed towards people of middle eastern and Indian descent.

After all, if you got on a plane, who do you want filling the rest of the seats? The blacks(1), whites(2), Indians, or mid easterns?

(1) I state blacks here because just as not all hispanics are Mexican, not all blacks are from Africa.

(2) I state whites because not all whites are of european descent.