Have you ever been a bigot without knowing it?

Of course, you have to really know to truly be one. But I, for one, have been in the situation where I realized I could be perceived as one without intending it. For years, I freely tossed around the word “gyp” saying “You got gypped” and such other phrases. A while ago I actually saw the word written out. I had always pictured it as “jip.” I asked a friend “Wait, is that a derogatory term related to GYPSIES!?” and was told yes. When I asked why he never said anything, he told me that he knew I didn’t mean anything by it.

But what about someone who didn’t know me? I was wondering if anyone had any similar situations, how they discovered what they were doing, and whether and how they think someone should have told them sooner.