Why do we hate?

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. - Galatians 3:28, NRSV

"O Mankind, we created you from a single pair of a male and a female, and made you in to tribes and nations so that you may know each other (not that you despise each other). Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is he who is most righteous of you." (Al-Quran, Chapter 49, Verse 13)

"And amongst his signs is the creation of heaven and the earth, and variation in your language and colours; Verily, in there are signs for those who know" (Al-Quran, Chapter 30, Verse 22)

It's pretty clear to me that God considers racial discrimination to be forbidden. I originally wanted to say racial prejudice, but I have stated before that we are all racists, or racists in recovery. So, if you're in recovery from racism, God is happy.

However, not all people realize that they need to start a recovery program. Why do we hate people of other races?

In social psychology, the realistic group conflict theory states that when resources are limited (or perceived to be so), groups that are competing for that limited resource will come into conflict, which will breed prejudice and discrimination. In America today, undocumented immigrants are perceived to be taking American jobs and driving down American wages. In Vincent Chin's time, Japanese automakers were perceived as taking market share from American companies, and thus placing American jobs at risk.

In social psychology, the prescription to prevent or heal conflict is to get both groups to work cooperatively, towards a common goal, as equals. In real life, these solutions can be hard to come by. However, I believe that integrating the American armed forces was one such situation. Once they stopped forming all-Black units, White and African-Americans had to fight against a common enemy. In Vietnam, racial hatred was transferred to the Vietnamese, but attitudes within the Army did improve, relative to the past.

As to the immigration situation, I have said several times before that all those who are not full-blood Native Americans (ie, almost everyone in America) are immigrants, or descended from immigrants. Immigrants have given this country a vibrant culture. Chinese immigrants built the railroads. Japanese cars are made in America by Americans(not to mention that some of the Big 3 American automakers outsource to Mexico). Mexican and other Latino immigrants have, like the other immigrant groups, contributed in their own myriad ways ... one particular person who springs to mind is Edward James Olmos, an accomplished actor (currently starring as William Adama on Battlestar Galactica), and activist on behalf of the Latino community (among other things, he got arrested during protests in Puerto Rico over the US Navy using the island of Vieques as a bombing range).