The notion that racial inequality was invented on American soil can easily be rebuted by the evidence of the manner in which Africans were brought to the New World. Also, even if the Brits institutionalized racism in the south as a ‘divide and conquer’ method of squashing rebellion, there were countless other reasons that racism was a key element of economic and political activity. So these reasons, along with the jump from 1676 Virginia to the Jim Crow laws of the late 19th to mid-20th centuries, indicates to me that this is a selective and limited explanation of cause and effect.

Interesting find, though. It certainly is provocative.

Fact is, we all tend to be somewhat tribal in the core of the brain: we like those just like us, and distrust (or worse) those who are different. Of course you are going to notice if someone is male or female, white asian or black, short or tall: what matters is how our higher level mental processes deal with this.

Of course, popular culture plays a major role in what we think right or wrong: growing up with gollywogs, black and white minstrels et al. makes me feel uneasy about my childhood at times.

The 2 things that will work to end racial mistrust are education and conversation.  Well educated people of any color seem to have no problems getting along. And talking with people, one on one will often lead to better trust and understanding.

Why do you hate the menage-a-trois so Gloveshot?

Education, conversation (and empathy) are all higher level functions—absolutely these are the parts of the brain we need to learn to exercise more.