A Rational Approach to Race Relations: A Guide to Talking Straight About Contemporary Race Issues

For most, race is evident when we look in the mirror. We all have it.

Race is immutable, a genetic flip of a relationship coin. By itself, apart from culture and class, our race doesn't affect the things we all want in life. Yet, some choose to make their race synonymous with their identity, to see racial heritage as a personal achievement.

We develop opinions based on associations we make with race, embracing irrational beliefs from what others and the media tell us, because we want to be safe against racial violence. We generalize from a few experiences.

We talk as though race matters, though it shouldn't in a democratic, capitalistic, pluralistic society. We talk, failing to recognize common race-baiting triggers, unproductive analogies and metaphors, racial agendas, and the inflammatory language in flawed arguments that mire discussions about race in emotion and resentment.

This study dissects irrational beliefs about race. Logic errors, racial double standards, and hypocrisy are explained; bad laws that appease activist groups are deconstructed; separatist and integrationist beliefs and how they affect race perceptions are examined; and the psychology of perpetuating and sustaining racial prejudice is also reviewed.

This study also reviews deceptive strategies, many of which counter capitalistic tenets, based on the pretense that racism and discrimination exist where they don't to suppress competition and extort social or economic concessions, rewards, or long-term advantage.

Rational thinking is offered as one solution.