How Do You Act Around A Racist?

Recently, I was at a friend's house because he was having a little get-together. My friend's brother was there, who I'll call Bill. I had only met Bill once before and hadn't said much to him that time, so we didn't know each other well. At some point, Bill was talking to another guest when I walked nearby. I sort of joined the conversation, not really saying anything, just listening. Then, Bill starts saying some crazy shit. He says that blacks are incapable of getting ahead in life, of bettering themselves. It's genetic, he says, and they cannot overcome their inferior genes. Also, according to him, the Jews are hypocritical and horrible.

I didn't know what to do, so I just stayed quiet and didn't agree or disagree. Normally, I would try to talk to the person, but this was my friend's brother. I didn't want to get into a huge argument with him (that certainly wouldn't have changed his mind at all) at his brother's party. While I didn't know him well, I did know that he had a temper and wasn't the sort of person that would stop talking or steer the conversation elsewhere. He'd argue his point until he was blue in the face, never yielding. So, I said nothing, and I felt bad about that. But what else could I have done?

What would you do, if someone said something racist or prejudice around you? Would you react differently depending on the person? Like, if it was your boss or a family member, would you keep quiet when you'd normally say something, or would it be the opposite for you, speaking up only if it was a family member or someone close?

What would you say to someone saying racist or prejudice things, if you decided to say anything at all? Would you try to use logic, providing examples of how their prejudice views are wrong? Would you make it personal and say that you had a friend of a certain race or color, or ask, "Would you hate me if I was [whatever]?" Would you be calm? Would you be angry?

Is there any right way to act around a bigot?

I can't say I'm racist but when I hear other people talk the way "Bill" does, there's not much you can say to change their minds, so often I just ignore it.

Just laugh it off, skinheads aren't pleasant to chat because they can go on and on for hours!!!! And you still wont get whats the point in what they are saying!!!!

If you want to talk to a racist about being racist, never say THEY ARE RACIST. This will and can 1) set them off and 2) deflect from the issue at hand. When someone says something racist, tell them: WHAT YOU SAID WAS RACIST or WHAT YOU DID WAS RACIST. Never directly accuse someone of it.

Also, this "Blacks are inferior because of DNA" is just laughable. Black American success is abundant by the simple fact that there are HBCUs, businesses, our CURRENT PRESIDENT, CEOs, scientists, etc. Anyone can move ahead if they have the determination, know how to access resources and connections.

Stay positive! You're (sadly) going to meet more idiots in your lifetime but change and understanding start with you! :)

I have had a ton of racist friends. Like, a ridiculous amount. I used to hang around with the skinheads in high school. Honestly, their way of thinking is a little backwards, but I'm going to let them believe what they want to. So long as they aren't trying to force their ways of thinking onto me, I could really care less. Sure, it's wrong, but do you really think anything I could say could change their minds after years of thinking that way?

"How do (I) act?"
I am disgusted by honestly racist people, the ignorance and blatancy just tear at me. I don't "act", I directly confront them about their beliefs, and break things down from there.

"How should (I) act?"
As a "tolerant individual", I (should) believe that these people are entitled to their (assed backwards) "opinion."
Be "civil" and get the fuck out of there.

When arguing with a racist, your goal isn't to change their minds. That really doesn't work. It may have worked in the mid 1900's, when general ignorance was the cause of some racism, but not today.

Your goal is to make them look stupid. If they actually lose their temper, that's bonus points.

However, if you lose your temper yourself, or the type to get tongue-tied, just ignore them.

As other people have said, you really can't change their minds. It'd be like arguing with a hardcore Christian who thinks anyone who doesn't believe that Jesus Christ is their savior is going straight to hell; they will continue to try and prove their point and think you're flawed. Plus, they just become angry.

But most of the time I just tell them they're an ignorant idiot and go on with my business.

I really can't understand how people think that way.

^In a nutshell.

Most of my family is biased against anything outside their rather small worldview, so I have a bit of experience with the "Smile and nod until they go away" stratagem.

I act the same way I do with anybody whose opinions I don't agree with. I question them and indirectly make them justify their views with logic and statistics.

They claim black people can't be successful because they have inferior genetics.

I ask them "who did the study? Is there a place I can review it?" or I counter with

"So I assume you also believe Hispanics are genetically predisposed to play baseball and box".

Racists, like everybody else is guilty of the same blind faith to their views and beliefs. The way to change their minds is make them question their stances through properly phrased questions. Remember that not everybody can be saved. The trick is to make them question the very foundation of why they think the way they do. Eventually you break the chains that bind them to their ignorance.

You are rarely going to change a bigots mind, so unless you really care about the person making the comment, then just ignore them as anything else usually is a waste of breath.

While sober, if I think someone's serious, I normally go for a stony-faced, sarcastic laugh; fob it off and have them continue if they make anything of it, though. Voicing opinion without fronting a pointless argument.

Seeing has how my step-dad is one, I'd have to say I act very distant and hostile towards racist.

Generally when people are bigoted around me I give them the "You're a fucking idiot" look until they shut up. It tends to work well as they can't tell me to shut up or try to argue their point as I'm not actually saying anything. Considering their reactions I'm fairly sure they knew that I was calling them an idiot and that they were too dumb to figure out a way to do anything about it.

Id probably ask him why most athletes are Black.

Then he'd probably go into a huff because im a "race traitor" for speaking up.

Then ill go back into the room with my real friend and continue playing MW2!
(No point in arguing with a racist)

Just keep laughing at him till he shuts his trap. That or introduce Lady Possington Meat Cleaver to Mr. Carotid Artery.

Explaining things like that to people like skinheads is ridiculous.
Just try to tell a cow how quantom physics work. You will have the same result: "Mou!"

The problem is the stubbornness of such people. I have the same problem. If i was totally positive about my point of view i won't be convinced that easily.