No one is born a racist, but we are born with innate, natural fears. These innate fears are what kept our ancestors alive for eons. Fear of starvation was a prime motivator behind the development of agriculture and the rise of civilizations. The fear of dangerous animals, venomous serpents, great white sharks and natural disasters is normal, healthy and lifesaving.

To live without these natural fears would not only be impossible, but it would lead to the extinction of the human species. We call such fears “rational.” Rational fears can be our best companions in times of danger. N...