What’s Wrong with Being Racist?

What did you just say?

Racism is wrong, obviously. We know this. It divides, harms, and fuels injustice. But what if we’re missing a bigger issue by focusing solely on stamping it out? What if the real danger isn’t just racism, but the dishonesty that hides it?

Society teaches us to avoid racism, to be “not racist,” or even anti-racist. These are noble goals, but they often overlook a hard truth: people don’t change their deepest biases just because they’re told to.

If someone’s racist, they’re likely to stay that way until they decide, on their own, to rethink their views. Forcing them to hide their feelings doesn’t fix the problem—it buries it, and it lets it grow and amplify in silence. That’s where things get messy.

When someone’s openly racist, it’s painful, sure. But it’s also clear. You know where they stand. If they say, “I don’t like you because of your race,” you’re not left guessing. That honesty, as ugly as it is, sets the terms of your relationship—whether it’s a conversation, a business deal, or a passing interaction. You can respond, avoid, or protect yourself accordingly. No pretense, no surprises.

Now compare that to someone who smiles to your face but harbors prejudice. They’re polite, maybe even charming, but behind closed doors, they undermine you, exclude you, or worse.

This hidden racism is far more dangerous. It breeds mistrust, wastes time, and erodes relationships because you’re left navigating a lie. You can’t address what you don’t see.

Instead of obsessing over suppressing racism, what if we aimed for a world of radical honesty?

Not to excuse prejudice, but to expose it. Imagine a society where people feel safe to say, “I don’t like you,” or “I don’t want to work with you,” without malice, just truth. Not everyone has to love everyone else—that’s unrealistic. But knowing who’s who lets us move forward with clarity. It’s like a roadmap for human interactions: you know where the rough patches are, so you can navigate them.

Encouraging truthfulness doesn’t mean endorsing hate. It means trusting people to handle reality. If someone’s biases are out in the open, we can have real conversations, set boundaries, or choose to walk away. Hiding those feelings only delays the inevitable, often with worse outcomes.

So, what’s wrong with being racist? It’s harmful, no question. But pretending you’re not when you are? That’s a betrayal. Not only betrayal of others, but also betrayal of one self. A world where people speak their truth, even the ugly kind, might be uncomfortable, but it’s clear and honest. And honesty, not forced politeness, is what builds a clearer, stronger society because it’s based on a strong individual character.

Maybe it’s time we stop chasing the impossible dream of erasing every bias and start valuing the truth, however messy it gets.

—Kirill.

p.s. This is totally not prompted by the lies I see every day on social media.

p.p.s. If you want to read about AI, I made some previous paid posts public, check out the The Novice Archive for something you might like.