There is an underlying problem that is promoting racism. It is the fact that a lot of people believe, and try to make themselves believe, that racism no longer exists. Many people today live their lives oblivious to what is happening in the world around them, often trying to convince themselves that racism is not a problem in their world. Others know all about the problem, but don't really realise that they themselves could possibly be adding to the problem by discriminating against someone else's human rights, and at the same time going around saying how open-minded they are.

One of the main problems of racism is that many people live in racist conditions, without even seeing it. Often it’s in their school, workplace, community, or even in their own homes. People often tell jokes with racist slurs, and while we know not to laugh at ones about blacks, it seems that one’s about other races like Chinese and Hispanic are okay. We tell ourselves that they are just jokes, but not to those who they are ridiculing. We are all perpetrators of this and we usually feel that these types of jokes are harmless. They can be harmless and maybe at times we even think they are funny, but they are also hurtful and degrading. Some of the biggest racists are those who don't even know that they are, and even say that they aren't. These people are racist because they cannot comprehend what is happening and do not realise what they are saying is racist. Until they come to grips with this