The purpose of this study was to examine factors related to the formation of negative racial attitudes, and to assess differences in racial attitudes between hate members and non-hate members. Racial opinions and beliefs held by hate members were compared with those held by individuals of the same race who were not hate members. Qualitative data about racial opinions was collected from online thread postings and quantitative data was gathered using an Internet questionnaire on racial attitudes. Multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the relationship between the participants' attitudes toward Blacks/Whites, interracial dating, and marriage and the independent variables of social and educational contact and racial identity. Control variables included race, age, and gender. Favorable contact with the out-group was positively correlated with positive racial attitudes for hate group members, but that the reverse relation was not true for non-members. This partially supports both contact and cultural theories. A MANOVA and t tests indicated there were significant differences between hate group members and nonmembers of hate groups on key variables (EMS total, IMS total, educational contact, attitudes toward other race, attitudes toward interracial dating, social contact, and racial identity). The main research limitation was limited geographical sample location for non-hate members; further observation of the attitudes of people outside hate groups is recommended. The social implications of this study suggest that creating positive outlets of communication between races is one way to promote positive social change.