Romans \'were not colour prejudiced\', research shows

[Tiberius Clodius Corvinus]

If racism is alive and well in the 21st century, I am sure its safe to assume it was alive in ancient times.There is no way we can make a blanket statement that "The Romans" were not racist. We are trying to place our modern wishes on a another society.

I'm not sure the Romans had an serious concept of connecting race invariably with certain characteristics AFAIK. Would have contradicted their idea of making the world (and its people) Roman IMO. Doesn't mean they did not act in a manner we would perceive as racist, but they considered no people minor for biologic reasons. Individuals might certainly have thought otherwise.