Racism
 
 The problem with racism is that many people don't think it
is. Many live their lives not even realizing what is
happening the world around them. "Racism, here, nah."
Others know all about it, but they don't realize that they
themselves, yes, themselves, are racists. "Huh, I'm not
racist. What do you mean? I'm more open minded than that.
Give me some credit." Then they turn around and
discriminate against someone else's human rights. Not
racist, yah right. 

What is one of the main problems with racism? It's that
many people live in racist conditions, without even seeing
it. It flies right over their heads. Schools, the
workplace, our community, our friends house, even our
homes. We hear a racial slur, oh well, it's just a joke.
Hardly. If you think racist joke are harmless than you
should take a reality check. Racist jokes are just the
start of it. Many people think the jokes are funny. Maybe
they are, but they still hurt the people the jokes are
about. 

Some of the worst racists are the ones who think that they
are not racist and really are. They really have to come to
grips with reality. Why are they some the worst racists?
They are, because they can't comprehend what is happening.
They don't realize what they are saying and doing are
racist. Until they come to grips with it there is no
problem. No problem, in their minds. They say that they
aren't racist, even when they don't hire the East Indian
employee who was the most qualified of the candidates. Even
when the basketball team that they coach is all white. And
even the time when they moved from their seat at the movie
theater because of the black person next to them. Well,
gee, they could have been a criminal. A robber from "the
hood." After all, isn't that what most of "them" are. No
one deserves to be prejudged like that. The prejudice of
people in the world is disgusting. The worst part of it all
is that they don't even know that they are doing it. They
think it's j! ust no rmal behavior. It doesn't even phase
them when they do it. 

Then there are those who are completely unaware of racism
in the world. They walk down the streets, through the
stores and working at their job, completely oblivious.
They're so blind! Why can't they see what is happening
around them? Have they really lived such sheltered lives?
Or do they just not want to believe it is happening? If you
take someone and put them in the heart of a racist area,
they still won't notice the problems. They will see it with
their own eyes, but it won't register in their mind. If
these people don't open their eyes, they will never see
what is happening. What is going to happen to the world if
people don't start realizing what is happening? Will we be
plunged into a time where racial tension is everywhere?
Will we soon start having racial wars? Will racial violence
be a normal every day occurrence? I don't know. No one
could know. Unless we start taking action and helping
people come to grips with the way they are we can't combat
racism. 

People who don't see that racism is a problem are almost as
bad as the racists themselves. Now, don't take that comment
in the wrong way, but as long as they are unaware, racism
won't stop. I am aware of racism. I am also not a racist
myself. I have lived in a racist community for most of my
life, thank god I haven't turned out like the rest of them.
There is hope for everybody.