system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
What is the difference between generalizations, stereotypes, and racist statements? What, exactly, makes a statement racist?

Is a racist statement a particular type of untrue generalization based on physical characteristics?
gpt
- **generalization**: you assume that all black men like hiphop, or that all Asians are good at math, that all Christians are fundamentalists, or that all gay men speak with an effeminate accent. [you subconsciously ascribe a certain trait to a whole group of people]
 
- **stereotype**: You subconsciously create a composite image, (or a group of traits) to a group of people. For example: The rich, Hassidic jew with the big nose and Jewish accent. The fat Southern American who votes republican and "what would jesus do?" bumper sticker. 
 
- **Prejudice**: conscious feelings of distrust, antipathy or loathing towards a person, based on stereotypes and generalizations of the group that person belongs to. For example: you see a guy with visible tattoos on the street, and you think he's probably violent, a gang member or an ex-con. Note that at this "stage", you don't act on those feelings yet. You just *feel* them.
 
- **Discrimination**: When you act on your generalization, and commit an act or enforce an (unfair) rule aimed at a specific group. For example: Refusing to shake hands with a black person, yelling racist slurs when a Mexican cuts you off in traffic, or the laws that prevent gays from serving in the military.
 
So basically, racism is a process that starts out as a subconscious idea in your head, and *may or may not* lead to overt, conscious racist behaviour. Most countries (with anti hate crime legislation) draw the line at overt discrimination.