Is prejudice against your own race a sin?

[catholicguy25]

Hi.

My family and I were born in a south American nation however we live in the U.S… And for as long as I can remember my family has always been prejudiced against Hispanics and against any non white people. It’s ridiculous! for instance I have a sister who only dates white men… at one time she was married to a white man and then she got a divorce and then she married another white man… Either way, what makes me sad is that the new generations of my family are being exposed to such self hatred…I have a brother whose wife gave birth to a baby with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes… and many family members are in love with that baby…and at the same time they ignore the other children who look “Hispanic”…

Is being prejudiced against your own race a sin? I’m guessing that being prejudiced against other races is a sin… but I wonder if the matter isn’t as serious when the hatred is directed towards your own race.

Thank you

 

[BlueEyedLady]

Of course! The problem isn’t treating “other people” as second class people, it’s treating anyone as a second class person. Would me poking a blue-eyed woman in the face for her eye color be any less wrong that poking a green-eyed girl?

I went on two dates with a Latino man my first year of college and stopped seeing him the minute I found out he was a white supremacist. He wasn’t a member of a formal group, but he wanted to be. I was like, “Uh…dude, you know they don’t want you on their team, right?” Yes, that guy was wrong, but there are people like that out there.

 

[Sarcelle]

Maybe they are just picking up on the general cultural attitude. I have seen telenovelas and all of the actors and actresses look pure European. I have also heard that in Latin America, the indigenous people are at the bottom of society. The more the European ancestry, the higher up in society one is. At the top are the pure Europeans. Is this true?

 

[bitterhope]

Maybe they are just picking up on the general cultural attitude. I have seen telenovelas and all of the actors and actresses look pure European. I have also heard that in Latin America, the indigenous people are at the bottom of society. The more the European ancestry, the higher up in society one is. At the top are the pure Europeans. Is this true?

So very true. And many of the top ranks have non hispanic last names even. Several German names and other non Hispanic last names on tv, doctors, accountants, or any profession in Latin America. The indigenous are looked down upon and not given opportunities to advance in society.

 

[twf]

Maybe they are just picking up on the general cultural attitude. I have seen telenovelas and all of the actors and actresses look pure European. I have also heard that in Latin America, the indigenous people are at the bottom of society. The more the European ancestry, the higher up in society one is. At the top are the pure Europeans. Is this true?

Yes. It isn’t as rigid or as pronounced as in times past, but skin colour definitely still factors into class (or at least perception of class) in Latin American societies. My Dominican wife isn’t racist per se, but she seemed quite eager that our son would NOT inherit the “curly” black hair indicative of African ancestry. “I’m white” in a Latin American context can mean “I’m educated and upper class”…people they classify as white may not be classified as white in North America. Race is a social construct pure and simple…genetically there is way too much overlap to classify actual biological races. Most Dominicans have a mixture of African and European ancestry regardless of how they look. Many Central and South Americans are a mixture of indigenous and European… how that manifests in phenotypes is all over the map.

 

[catholicguy25]

Thank you guys for your responses.

Sarcelle you’re right, in several Latin American nations , the indigenous people are in the bottom of society… However my family and I don’t live anymore in Latin America so I don’t understand why they behave like that! we have been living in the U.S. for several years.

 

[Sarcelle]

Thank you guys for your responses.

Sarcelle you’re right, in several Latin American nations , the indigenous people are in the bottom of society… However my family and I don’t live anymore in Latin America so I don’t understand why they behave like that! we have been living in the U.S. for several years.

Sometimes it’s very hard to overcome cultural conditioning.

Maybe time will make the old “programming” less pronounced.

Maybe you can tell them that God is especially close to the poor and oppressed and who are we to look down on them.

 

[PhiloMed]

Hi.

My family and I were born in a south American nation however we live in the U.S… And for as long as I can remember my family has always been prejudiced against Hispanics and against any non white people. It’s ridiculous! for instance I have a sister who only dates white men… at one time she was married to a white man and then she got a divorce and then she married another white man… Either way, what makes me sad is that the new generations of my family are being exposed to such self hatred…I have a brother whose wife gave birth to a baby with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes… and many family members are in love with that baby…and at the same time they ignore the other children who look “Hispanic”…

Is being prejudiced against your own race a sin? I’m guessing that being prejudiced against other races is a sin… but I wonder if the matter isn’t as serious when the hatred is directed towards your own race.

Thank you

When I first read your post I thought, “How is this even possible?”

And then I thought of my husband.

He’s middle eastern and basically denies it. His name sound more Greek than middle eastern and so at work and among people he doens’t know very well he just goes with the “I’m Greek” story. He even tried to pull that one with me when we started dating.

He hates everything about middle eastern culture. He refuses to speak Arabic and does not want our children to learn it. He’s glad our children are lighter skinned like me. Even dealing with his family is difficult because he pushes against their cultural quirks and norms.

It comes from a place of never feeling comfortable where he grew up and, since moving to the US and becoming American, he essentially put on a baseball cap and became as American as he possibly could. That’s what makes him happy and feel comfortable. In some ways he’s embarrassed of his cultural background and thinks it’s backwards. He doesn’t feel like he fits in and even when someone in his family says to him “That’s so Egyptian of you”, he considers it to be an actual insult.

Some people just never feel comfortable in the culture they were raised in. Maybe it has to do with stereotypes. Maybe it’s cultural issues that were always uncomfortable for them.

 

[Xantippe]

When I first read your post I thought, “How is this even possible?”

And then I thought of my husband.

He’s middle eastern and basically denies it. His name sound more Greek than middle eastern and so at work and among people he doens’t know very well he just goes with the “I’m Greek” story. He even tried to pull that one with me when we started dating.

He hates everything about middle eastern culture. He refuses to speak Arabic and does not want our children to learn it. He’s glad our children are lighter skinned like me. Even dealing with his family is difficult because he pushes against their cultural quirks and norms.

It comes from a place of never feeling comfortable where he grew up and, since moving to the US and becoming American, he essentially put on a baseball cap and became as American as he possibly could. That’s what makes him happy and feel comfortable. In some ways he’s embarrassed of his cultural background and thinks it’s backwards. He doesn’t feel like he fits in and even when someone in his family says to him “That’s so Egyptian of you”, he considers it to be an actual insult.

Some people just never feel comfortable in the culture they were raised in. Maybe it has to do with stereotypes. Maybe it’s cultural issues that were always uncomfortable for them.

There’s may be a healthy tendency toward exogamy.

If we were most attracted to people that looked exactly like us, it would be a genetic disaster.

My husband is Eastern European and finds Eastern European women unattractive. Meanwhile, a large percentage of US men is crazy about Eastern European women.

 

[CthgeDelendaEst]

“Hispanic” is not a race. It’s a PC, catchall term to describe people from certain geographical areas. You didn’t state what country you were from, but Argentina, for example, is one of the whitest countries in the world. Even in countries like Mexico and Peru, where there are a lot of brown people, the ruling class tends to look like a polo club in the Hamptons. I don’t know your racial admixture, nor is it my business. But if it is primarily European, then your relatives aren’t being prejudiced against their own race. They probably just don’t like brown people.

 

[SuperLuigi]

Hi.

My family and I were born in a south American nation however we live in the U.S… And for as long as I can remember my family has always been prejudiced against Hispanics and against any non white people. It’s ridiculous! for instance I have a sister who only dates white men… at one time she was married to a white man and then she got a divorce and then she married another white man… Either way, what makes me sad is that the new generations of my family are being exposed to such self hatred…I have a brother whose wife gave birth to a baby with white skin, blonde hair and blue eyes… and many family members are in love with that baby…and at the same time they ignore the other children who look “Hispanic”…

Is being prejudiced against your own race a sin? I’m guessing that being prejudiced against other races is a sin… but I wonder if the matter isn’t as serious when the hatred is directed towards your own race.

Thank you

I would say that if someone only dates someone of a particular race that is fine as personal preference, but maybe there’s more to it in the situation you describe. Most people as a matter of fact will date and marry within their own race.

The problem I have here is hatred. There’s no room for hate in Catholicism. It’s a very nasty thing, outward or inward.

 

[SuperLuigi]

“Hispanic” is not a race. It’s a PC, catchall term to describe people from certain geographical areas. You didn’t state what country you were from, but Argentina, for example, is one of the whitest countries in the world. Even in countries like Mexico and Peru, where there are a lot of brown people, the ruling class tends to look like a polo club in the Hamptons. I don’t know your racial admixture, nor is it my business. But if it is primarily European, then your relatives aren’t being prejudiced against their own race. They probably just don’t like brown people.

Hispanic I believe is a term from Roman times that refers to Spain/Portugal, which used to be called Hispania.

 

[catholicguy25]

Hi.

PhiloMed thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with me/us. So your children won’t have the opportunity of learning Arabic? That’s pretty sad! Arabic is an important language spoken by several nations.

Xantippe… Thank you for sharing your thoughts… I don’t understand why you claim that “If we were most attracted to people that looked exactly like us, it would be a genetic disaster.”? so what about nations with homogenous populations such as Hungary or China? do you consider those nations to be a genetic disaster? I wasn’t familiarized with the term “exogamy” so I looked it up in the dictionary and to me it sounds like exogamy is a bad thing! I mean, consider a Hispanic marrying a Chinese person… do you think the Chinese person will convert to Catholicism? I rarely hear of Chinese Catholics. Now, my sister has married two white men (as it is know, a great percentage of the white population in the U.S. is protestant…) , both men very polite and nice… however her first husband was pretty much a protestant who didn’t take his faith seriously… now her new husband is catholic but he doesn’t seem to take his faith seriously as a result they rarely attend mass… so my sister’s children aren’t being raised in the catholic faith (but at least they have already received some sacraments)

CthgeDelendaEst you’re right, “Hispanic” is not a race, that’s why I quoted that word in my original post, however in the U.S. , some people think that “Hispanic” is a race… I don’t really know about my family’s race, but I don’t think we are white since none of us has blonde hair or blue /green eyes.

SuperLuigi, thank you for sharing your thoughts… as I said my family is only prejudiced but they don’t act upon those hateful prejudice thoughts , is this a sin? would it be a mortal or a venial sin?

 

[Lea101]

Fr Mike Schmitz (I’m not sure I spelled that correctly) said that when you know what God wants you to do, and you do something else, you committed a sin.

Do you think God wants a person to be prejudiced against your own race/see a certain race as “better/worse”? Of course not
It’s a very simple answer.

I pray for the day when white people are not seen as superior to POC. I have friends that behave like that. They even want to leave my country and live in the US so that they can find a white man to marry. We are all great darn it!

 

[Sarcelle]

Hi.

PhiloMed thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with me/us. So your children won’t have the opportunity of learning Arabic? That’s pretty sad! Arabic is an important language spoken by several nations.

Xantippe… Thank you for sharing your thoughts… I don’t understand why you claim that “If we were most attracted to people that looked exactly like us, it would be a genetic disaster.”? so what about nations with homogenous populations such as Hungary or China? do you consider those nations to be a genetic disaster? I wasn’t familiarized with the term “exogamy” so I looked it up in the dictionary and to me it sounds like exogamy is a bad thing! I mean, consider a Hispanic marrying a Chinese person… do you think the Chinese person will convert to Catholicism? I rarely hear of Chinese Catholics. Now, my sister has married two white men (as it is know, a great percentage of the white population in the U.S. is protestant…) , both men very polite and nice… however her first husband was pretty much a protestant who didn’t take his faith seriously… now her new husband is catholic but he doesn’t seem to take his faith seriously as a result they rarely attend mass… so my sister’s children aren’t being raised in the catholic faith (but at least they have already received some sacraments)

CthgeDelendaEst you’re right, “Hispanic” is not a race, that’s why I quoted that word in my original post, however in the U.S. , some people think that “Hispanic” is a race… I don’t really know about my family’s race, but I don’t think we are white since none of us has blonde hair or blue /green eyes.

SuperLuigi, thank you for sharing your thoughts… as I said my family is only prejudiced but they don’t act upon those hateful prejudice thoughts , is this a sin? would it be a mortal or a venial sin?

Anyone can have hateful thoughts but it is what you choose to do with it is what counts. If you choose to acknowledge these thoughts as hateful and decide by an effort of will to treat others as you would like to be treated, than it is not sin.

By the way, not all white people have blond hair. In fact, only a minority of white people have blond hair and it is especially rare among white people who are adults. I am talking about natural blonds, not the bottle blonds.

 

[Lea101]

Hi.

PhiloMed thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts with me/us. So your children won’t have the opportunity of learning Arabic? That’s pretty sad! Arabic is an important language spoken by several nations.

Xantippe… Thank you for sharing your thoughts… I don’t understand why you claim that “If we were most attracted to people that looked exactly like us, it would be a genetic disaster.”? so what about nations with homogenous populations such as Hungary or China? do you consider those nations to be a genetic disaster? I wasn’t familiarized with the term “exogamy” so I looked it up in the dictionary and to me it sounds like exogamy is a bad thing! I mean, consider a Hispanic marrying a Chinese person… do you think the Chinese person will convert to Catholicism? I rarely hear of Chinese Catholics. Now, my sister has married two white men (as it is know, a great percentage of the white population in the U.S. is protestant…) , both men very polite and nice… however her first husband was pretty much a protestant who didn’t take his faith seriously… now her new husband is catholic but he doesn’t seem to take his faith seriously as a result they rarely attend mass… so my sister’s children aren’t being raised in the catholic faith (but at least they have already received some sacraments)

CthgeDelendaEst you’re right, “Hispanic” is not a race, that’s why I quoted that word in my original post, however in the U.S. , some people think that “Hispanic” is a race… I don’t really know about my family’s race, but I don’t think we are white since none of us has blonde hair or blue /green eyes.

SuperLuigi, thank you for sharing your thoughts… as I said my family is only prejudiced but they don’t act upon those hateful prejudice thoughts , is this a sin? would it be a mortal or a venial sin?

There’s a lot of chinese catholics in my country! And race is a funny thing. If you’re in my country, hispanic would most be likely your race. It’s different from the white/black/asian-type race people seem to think about

 

[Maximilan_Kolbe]

There’s may be a healthy tendency toward exogamy.

If we were most attracted to people that looked exactly like us, it would be a genetic disaster.

My husband is Eastern European and finds Eastern European women unattractive. Meanwhile, a large percentage of US men is crazy about Eastern European women.

And a small percentage is crazy about Eastern European men. Eeek.

 

[bitterhope]

My husband is Mexican indigenous. His family doesn’t even speak Spanish at home or have a Spanish last name. Their last name is Mayan. There are no real opportunities in Mexico for them and being called Indio is a huge insult. He was surprised at how different it is in the US and that many white people will claim to be American Indian and see it as a good thing. it is very different there. He looks very much like my family (we are mostly Sioux) and often gets asked which tribe he belongs to. He doesn’t look lije most people in the US picture Mexicans. His features are different because he has no European blood. My mom is half Irish so he’s more native than me. It’s now something he’s proud of but growing up it was different. When he married me, his mom was at first really mad that if he were going to the US and get married, why would he marry another Indio and not a blond haired blue eyed lady. She would remind him he could have married somebody there if that’s what he wanted. She was so hopeful one of her grandkids would be blond and fair skinned. Now she’s good with it but it was disappointing to her at first. So I do think it’s quite cultural. They see fair skin and light hair as a ticket to a better life. It’s not necessarily that they “hate” their own race it’s more they want the best for the next generation. Unfortunately that seems to mean that güeros have it easier with better opportunities. Thankfully things are changing some in Mexico. Hopefully soon it will be different.

A friend of mine is Mexican American (from Texas) and she has two daughters. One looks Mexican and the other is blond hair, blue eyed. She definetely favors the blond. To me it’s sad but her whole family does. Even the other daughter.

 

[Sarcelle]

My husband is Mexican indigenous. His family doesn’t even speak Spanish at home or have a Spanish last name. Their last name is Mayan. There are no real opportunities in Mexico for them and being called Indio is a huge insult. He was surprised at how different it is in the US and that many white people will claim to be American Indian and see it as a good thing. it is very different there. He looks very much like my family (we are mostly Sioux) and often gets asked which tribe he belongs to. He doesn’t look lije most people in the US picture Mexicans. His features are different because he has no European blood. My mom is half Irish so he’s more native than me. It’s now something he’s proud of but growing up it was different. When he married me, his mom was at first really mad that if he were going to the US and get married, why would he marry another Indio and not a blond haired blue eyed lady. She would remind him he could have married somebody there if that’s what he wanted. She was so hopeful one of her grandkids would be blond and fair skinned. Now she’s good with it but it was disappointing to her at first. So I do think it’s quite cultural. They see fair skin and light hair as a ticket to a better life. It’s not necessarily that they “hate” their own race it’s more they want the best for the next generation. Unfortunately that seems to mean that güeros have it easier with better opportunities. Thankfully things are changing some in Mexico. Hopefully soon it will be different.

A friend of mine is Mexican American (from Texas) and she has two daughters. One looks Mexican and the other is blond hair, blue eyed. She definetely favors the blond. To me it’s sad but her whole family does. Even the other daughter.

So in the end it is not about hating your own race but knowing how one’s race is looked down in society and not wanting the same hardships for your kids that you endured.

 

[bitterhope]

So in the end it is not about hating your own race but knowing how one’s race is looked down in society and not wanting the same hardships for your kids that you endured.

At least some of the time. There are probably times it does come down to hatred but it isn’t always. No matter what it isn’t right even though I do understand the wanting better opportunity for your kids.