Racism is something that has infested the thinking of people of all colors. There are black racists just as there are white racists. But I believe that all of them, regardless of their skin color, use the exact same patterns of thinking. In fact, if I could reduce what I consider the definition of racism down to one simple formula, I would describe it as follows.

Racism is a state of thinking in which life and most things in it are defined by the never-ending struggle of "us" versus "them," in which "us" and "them" are defined by racial and ethnic boundaries. People who view members of their own racial or ethnic group as "us" and see their side as pitched in a lifetime struggle against members of another racial or ethnic group, "them," are people who tend to be racist in their thinking. The only difference between white racists and black racists is their respective definitions of "us" and "them."

Racists tend to believe that whenever enough of "them" get together and have the opportunity, they will naturally stick it to "us." That's what most of "them" really want to do to "us." That's the reason why you can't ever really let your guard down around "them."

They think that most of "them" are fundamentally unlike most of "us." They think that after God made the animals that live in the water and the animals that live on the ground, that He then made "us" and then made "them." They're not sure why God made "them" to be so different from "us" but they know that they'd rather keep their distance from "them" and spend as much time as possible around our own kind. Besides, they think, what could most of us have in common with "them?"

Racists don't necessarily hate "them." Sometimes, in fact, they might really like some of "them." They recognize that some of "them" - the good ones - aren't like the majority of "them." Now, of course, most of "them" are up to no good, but a few of "them" are all right.

And they might even acknowledge that some of "us" are no better than some of "them." There are some of "us" who act just like "them." They must have been raised around "them" or have spent too much time with "them." They think that some of "us" are confused about who they are and must think deep down that they're one of "them." Those of "us" who are like that - the traitors - aren't to be trusted any more than one of "them."

Racists are generally pretty convinced that they have a pretty good knowledge of "them." Maybe they're pretty sure that most of "them" are violent. Or most of "them" hate most of "us." That most of "them" are rich. Most of "them" aren't patriotic. Most of "them" are stupid or, on the other hand, that most of "them" look down on "us." The racists know perhaps that there are some among "them" aren't like that. But they're positive without a doubt that most of "them" are.

Racists think that the only way to stand a chance against "them" is for most of "us" to stick together. Those of "us" who haven't been tricked by "them" need to band together before all of "them" do what they've always wanted to do to the rest of "us." They ridicule some of "us" who tell them that they're wrong to think the way that they do. "Just wait," they tell us. "You don't know 'them' the way I do. Someday, you'll see what they really think of 'us.' And then come back and tell me that I'm wrong."

Most people, both black and white, who get locked in this way of thinking end up spending the rest of their lives that way.  Being people who are too foolish to realize that they're being foolish. Being, figuratively speaking, like the folks who think they've seen the whole world but who have never stepped foot outside their hometown.

But some people do eventually emerge from their ignorance. Some get to know enough of "them," talking and developing relationships with "them" that they start to realize that they have more in common with some of "them" than they thought they did. Maybe, they think to themselves, there are a lot more of "them" who are like "us" than they originally thought. Through developing relationships, these people can get to the point at which they realize that maybe racial and ethnic boundaries aren't the right way to define "us" and "them." After all, they learn, there are quite a few of "them" that believe the same thing as "us." And there are a lot of "us" who don't act like "us." Eventually, these people find friends and allies in places they never expected. Mainly because they opened their eyes and looked for them.

And the point of all of this - and the way out of "us vs. them" thinking - is to realize that you can't look at a person and tell whether or not they're one of "us" or one of "them." You can't determine this by the color of their skin, by their age, by the part of the country they come from or by whether or not you think they talk with an accent. You can't tell this by the way they dress, by how much money they make or how much education they have. In fact, the only way to determine whether someone is one of "us" or one of "them" is to know what's in their heart. And the only way to do that is to get to know them as an individual. And the more people do this, the more they'll realize that there are a whole lot more of "us" in the world than there are of "them."