Get over it.

What do you mean "Native?" Native American?

there are two types of racists, the fearing and the hating. its the same for any other misconception aspece of a person. for example, you could fear gays or women, or you just hate them or consider them less of standard. either way, you are sexist or homophobic/anti-homosexual. really the only way to open up your mind is to get to know the people as persons and human beings. if someone feared you because you were white, and a white women had beaten them as a child. wouldn't you want them to know that you aren't like that? just try to step into their shoes and see if that can open you up to them.

No, based on what you said you are not racist because you fear. Now, you could head that way if you are not careful. However, if you were truly racist you would not give your Native friend a chance. Why are you afraid of homeless people? Are they behaving criminally? I can see being afraid of drunks because they often behave criminally. Your fear is based upon actions and, unfortunately, these actions are performed by Natives in some areas (obviously yours). I, myself, have lived in areas where the Native Americans are NOT like that. I am guessing, please correct me if I am wrong, that you are living near an economically depressed Native population, possibly a bad reservation. There are plenty of non-Native drunks and homeless people. I would suggest that you examine each Native as him or herself. Your friend is an exception to the negative generalization of Natives as negative. There are many, many, MANY other exceptions to this generalization. You might want to look up successful Natives in politics, music, science, and more. Look up a guy name Leonard Peltier, R. Carlos Nakai, John Trudell, Dennis Banks... the list is endless. Look up an organization called AIM (American Indian Movement). Look up the Iroquois Confederacy. I am haphazardly guessing that you are Canadian because you call them "Natives" but, even if you are, these folks and this organization can really help you see folks fighting for their rights today. There are plenty of Natives (American and not) from the past worthy of great respect. I would suggest looking up some of the ones who are still with us and making a difference. I could rattle off names of Native Americans who are making tremendous strides and making immense differences for all of us but that would be a long list.

It sounds to me like you had one bad incident when you were younger. Why would you hate Native Americans, Homeless people and drunks, instead of women, since your mom is the one who abandoned you? If anything wouldnt you be happy that he at least took care enough of you, till you got help? It wasnt his responsibility, but rather your Mothers.

No, I wouldn't say you are a racist. A racist separates people into groups because of their color, ethnicity, etc., and then hates the whole group because of their 'difference'.