What do you feel about racism and discrimination ?

Question

This issue has been on my mind lately and I wish it didn't exist but that's like wishing that Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny were REAL. I feel like a lot of different races do actually know how to get along and make a sincere effort to do this and also to learn about each others' cultures. But it's the ignorant, narrow minded people filled with intolerance and hatred that keep racism/discrimation going and going. Do you think we'll ever get to them ? Are there any previous "racists" out there who have had something in their lives change their views and feelings about other races ? Please share your experiences. Below are some of mine...

I, for one, look at the individual and don't think that ALL people of that race/color are bad just because one individual of that race does something bad to me or anyone else. If a black man rapes a white woman, I don't assume all black men do this to white women. If a white man rapes a black woman, I don't assume all white men do this. I take each person on an individual basis and I make friends with someone in the same way. I'm going to be friends with a nice black person vs. a mean white person and I'll be friends with a nice white person vs. a mean black person. I wish more people felt this way and saw it this way. I am ashamed of those white men who had slaves back in the old days. But they are not me and I should not be judged by a black person as being racist because I'm white and people of my race had slaves in the past. Also, some black people also had slaves themselves...so that's hard to explain and understand. But white people have had white slaves, too. It's all a power t

thing and it's born of evil in a man's heart. The INDIVIDUAL man. With that said...I recently worked a temp job at a historically black college and I was pretty much the only white person around most of the time. I knew that it was a black college when I accepted the position. I have black friends. I have white friends. I have hispanic friends. I like diversity and the world would be a boring place without it. I don't understand white supremacy and I'm glad I'm not like that. I'll also say this...I was treated with more politeness and respect and kindness while working there than I have been treated at many "white" operated businesses. I have been new on jobs and been treated so rudely by people of my own race and there I was at a place where it was predominantly a different race than I am...and I was treated so much better than most other places. I enjoyed my experience there and I was sad for my assignment to end. I wanted to work there permanently because of the overall professional

professionalism and kind atmosphere.
Also...recently, I was sent on a job interview in a certain part of town that was known to be a "bad area" of town. When I was offered the opportunity of interviewing per the referral of my temp agency, I asked the temp recruiter if this job was in a safe environment because I knew that part of town was in a "high crime" area. The recruiter was a black man and I'm a white girl. I asked him if there were crack dealers and prostitutes hanging out around that place of business he was about to send me to. He said that they were building this area up and I would have to just decide for myself. After I got off the phone, I wondered if I should have asked him this and I hoped it didn't offend him because I thought he may have assumed I was asking if this was a mostly black neighborhood...but I wasn't. I was just wondering if there were drug dealers, etc...and I just have to look out for myself. I

I know that white people and all other races deal drugs and are prostitutes because my own brother has been involved in that lifestyle. So I felt like I should have explained that to the recruiter but didn't want to bring it up again. I hoped he didn't think I was racist. See what a miscommunication can cause ?

The point is...I check myself because I don't want to sound racist without meaning it because I think racism is horrible. Some member of my own family have somewhat racist attitudes and I always call them on it and try to tell them how wrong they are for speaking that way. Some of them use the N-word and this is shameful but it's fact and it does exist and does happen. I was shocked to hear my grandmother use this word recently and I told her how awful it is and how I stand on this issue. I hope more people do this when a family member behaves so ignorantly. I know they were raised that way...I was around it but I somehow KNEW better and knew in my heart that racism is wrong, no matter how acceptible it was in my own family or other friends.

Answer 1

I see your trying to fight for equality and fairness within yourself, If we all were able to think out side of the box America would be further ahead instead we are slowly sliding backwards

In any event as you can see I am African American, I don't have the time, room or energy to share my experiences with you: I'm sure you can only imagine....But I will say honestly, all of my life I would try to be the fair and non biased one, but you can only play fair for so long, after a while you begin to feel like a fool.....my mother always taught me to "treat others as you would want them to treat you" I have since revised that moto......"I treat others as they treat me" what can I say, for how long do you hold on to a non biased view of life, when you are daily being shown that you are not considered an equal.....

Answer 2

I'll share this quote I just read:
We as a people are a lot like crayons: some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colours....but they all have to learn to live in the same box.

Answer 3

Its simple honey, its igorance, unedcated, uncivilsed, people who got nufin better to do, are spoilt and weak minded, NOT worth talking about them ppl.