Although overt racist behaviour is now taboo – and racial discrimination quite illegal in many parts of the world – scientists claim that harbouring implicit racist attitudes is commonplace behaviour, wrote Australia’s Fairfax Media in its dozens of local newspapers July 7. Modern-day social pressures may have driven ''traditional'' forms of racism underground, particularly in Western nations, but that does not mean racism is dead. And, according to research, it may be because we tolerate racism more than we think.

In a 2009 study by York University in Toronto, Professor Kerry Kawakami and her team found that participants – despite believing they would be upset and speak out against racism – were likely to remain indifferent or less upset when personally witnessing racist behaviour against a black person. Moreover, they were likely to pass off the racist comments as being a joke or in good humour.

Republished courtesy of YFile – York University’s daily e-bulletin.