A Lockean Perspective on Racism

I recently looked back at some of my past writing and found this paragraph I wrote for my Humanities class:

“The concept of Nature vs. Nurture has always been debated. While some believe that human behavior is shaped by Nature (Biological Factors), others believe that humans learn from experience and the environment (Nurture). John Locke introduced this concept in 1689 in his book An Essay Concerning Human Understanding, in which he argued for the tabula rasa, or “blank slate,” meaning that knowledge and behavior are not innate but developed through experience. Concepts from John Locke have been used in various fields; they helped shape the government known today by supporting the idea of self- governance and social learning theory in psychology.”

The concept of nature vs. nurture can also be connected to racism. Many people argue that racism is taught—a belief learned through family, culture, and other societal influences. This argument aligns with John Locke’s idea of the blank slate. However, I believe racism is more complex than that. While I do believe racism is taught, I also believe that emotions often associated with racism, such as jealousy, fear, anger, and groupthink—or the belief that one’s own group is superior to others—are natural human responses rather than learned behaviors. These emotions alone do not make someone racist, but they can be reinforced by our environment and develop into prejudice.

An example of this would be the concept of “white guilt.” After learning about historical and present-day racial injustices, some people develop feelings of guilt and responsibility. I do not believe these emotions are simply taught. Rather, I believe they can develop naturally as individuals reflect on issues of fairness, morality, and empathy. While the way people understand and respond to these feelings may be influenced by their environment, I believe the emotions themselves can arise naturally through personal reflection.