Are we racist?

Race is an issue that many of us find hard to talk about. Talking about racism is taboo, and as a society we don’t seem to want to break it because we feel it is a problem that perhaps doesn’t affect us anymore. I mean, wasn’t it over when the bill of rights came about and colored people were given equal rights? Well, I am afraid it was not and it still haunts us today. We see it through depictions in the media, through segregation within our communities and more often than not through the way our politics are defined. I mean, if there has been such equality in our society since the 14th Amendment was passed in 1968, then how come it is not until 2008 that we are seeing a colored man run for president? And if there is such equality, as people think, then why were people at awe when Obama announced he was running for presidency? and even more at awe when rumors of what his religious preferences may be were exposed? I can’t help but wonder if people would have been just as concerned those religious rumors were those of McCain?

I think this is a very good time to discuss the race issue due to the fact that for once it is a topic discussed within the political sector. Racial equality is an issue almost omitted through out the media and from our daily conversations; perhaps we see the issue from the eyes of black as white and white as black but is this really the way all people think? In such places as California most people see race as just another matter on the platter but in places like Mississippi, were racial equality is hardly existent, the race issue comes greatly into play. Many people who belong to states where racism is still very prominent, which is not a secret to any which states those are, determine whether a candidate is qualified to run for president depending on the color of the skin. This is a huge concern of mine and it should certainly be one of yours. If we are a country that proclaims freedom and equality from the top of our lungs, then why don’t we take action in trying to protect those rights that we are so proud of? We should not only protect them but also actually try to inculcate them in our children and future generations so that perhaps one day we can see our nation as one-big California.

Although some parents are very good at educating their children against racism, I wonder if all parents take that interest? We have to remember that racism is not something that is inculcated to children at their homes, or at least one would hope so, but rather something children learn or pick up from their surroundings, such as school. Therefore, children are prompt to becoming racist without even knowing it and unless their parents take an interest to talk to them about their perceptions of race, they might never know that what they have learned is perhaps very negative. Our surroundings are full of prejudice and unless we un-due in our children those negative connotations of race that they might of picked up from their friends or the media, we will never get rid of racism.

“I was five years old when my older sister and I started saying, ‘Eeny meanie miny moe. Catch a nigger by his toe. If he hollers let him go. Eeny meanie miny moe.’ We didn't know what "nigger" meant. As far as we knew, the word was just a small part of a rhyme that we heard other kids saying.” This personal story really illustrates how racism can be manifested in someone’s life and it can become part of his or her development in an unconscious manner. Many people don’t even realize that they are racist or prejudice. If you think you are one of those please take this survey
where you will find out if you have any prejudices or not. This is the kind of thing that we have to watch out for. If the race issue has been ignored for so long it’s only because people are not talking about it. Let’s take the opportunity that this competitive presidential election has provided us with to start the race conversation that is so needed. If we talk about it, just like our
presidential candidates do,or at least one of them, perhaps we can one day really get rid of the problem rather than just buried as if was only part of our past.

If you wish to take the first step take part of the conversation by checking out what some influential peoplehave been saying about the only presidential speech that has raised the race issue.