I have a very succinct definition of racist: Anyone who fears the color/religion/anything else of his or her grandchildren will be different.

This is to be defined as an emotional reaction, not a reasoned and dispassionate logical explanation. I've seen a quite reasonable person shudder with rage, for example, when I've told them their black co-worker has a cute blond wife.

He was raised by Southern folks who were unappologetically racist, but he's getting better. I think.