You Might be a Bigot

How can you know? Here’s a checklist

Image generated by the Author via MidJourney

Bigotry is repugnant and reprehensible. And no one, certainly not in 2024, should want to be a bigot. I hope we can all agree on this.

Likewise, I hope everyone will consider the possibility — however slight — that they might sometimes find themselves in the Bigot camp.

Wait! I’m not a bigot!

Well, not so fast. You see, a lot of people end up holding bigoted views and prejudices even if they deny being one. If we never look in the mirror, we can end up hurting people — thinking we’re in the right, when the reverse is painfully true.

Improvement isn’t possible without honest reflection and a raw self-assessment.

So, how can you know if you’re closer to the Bigot camp than the camp known for humility, mutual caring, and ethical conduct?

Since I’m a fan of comedian Jeff Foxworthy, I decided to offer this checklist in the spirit of “If you [insert belief or behavior]…you might be a redneck.”

Here is our checklist:

• If you despise people because they are gay, you’re a bigot.
• If you look down upon others simply because of the color of their skin, you’re a bigot.