The differences between racism and ignorance

A few weeks back John "the douchebag" Mayer made some comments. He compared his "dick" to David Duke, and he disgustingly pervetedly talked about how one black actress was hot. He also was talking about how he could never truly have a "nigger" pass because he was white.

Basically he was blasted for being a little to blunt, to the point of insulting and degrading. This is probably expected since he has been labeled as having douchebag status in the last year.

From the moment Mayer came on the scene, I didn't like him. He is ugly and his music sucks. I felt there was something not right about him at all. And now I know I was right.

But were his comments racist or just flat out ignorant? I would say they were stupid and ignorant more than they were racist.

What is the difference some would ask. Well its ignorant when the person fails to understand the reason behind why something being said or done is wrong.

Its like when some fail to understand why there is a black history month.

A racist knows what they are thinking is wrong and unacceptable, but they continue to believe it. Someone ignorant chooses not to know what they are thinking is wrong and chooses not to be educated on it...and once you deny to be educated about it, its only a few more steps before you become a bonafide racist.

Look at the Miley Cyrus incident....racist would have been making fun of how Asians speak. But ignorance is making fun Asian eyes in what is supposed to be good jest.

The ignorance behind it is that she doesn't understand the internal issues some asians have had with having slanted eyes, nor does she understand the treatment they have had in America for looking different.

Is Miley racist? Probably not, at least not conciously. But she is ignorant.

Likewise with Mayer. He probably isn't racist against blacks, he is just flat out ignorant (in more ways than possible besides race). I think the worst thing in his comment that probably rubbed people the wrong way would be his comparing his "dick" to a known racist, I mean thats just gross and creepy.