This is my opinion. It is not meant to offend, or disrespect anyone.
I'm still in my twenties, yet I am tired. I am tired in the deepest marrow of my bones. As I type this, I find myself taking long pauses between sentences. It is like my mind and body knows my intent to use expressive vocabulary, will still fall short of the actual circumstances of which I write.
Many of us, at least on the outside, believe that racism is wrong. Many of us, at least in the face of others, shake our heads at it. I'm not talking about the racism that causes physical pain for others, but the racism that is perpetuated in a cycle far too wide, and deep for me to put one name to it.
Casually Used Racism.
Casually Used Racism, is the racism that we see and use every day. It may not even come to our attention that, that is what we're doing. For a fictitious example, "Harold George, a black astronaut from Ohio, will begin teaching Aerodynamics at the local university".
Reader, you may ask me what is wrong with the sentence written above. That's where the "casual" of this problem shows its head. That sentence is an example of sentences we run into every day. That sentence represents how we communicate to one another. That sentence is racist. It is a needless part of such a sentence to have it mention "a black...". If one were to take out that description the sentence becomes, "Harold George, an astronaut from Ohio, will begin teaching Aerodynamics at the local university".
The change in this sentence still gives the reader the information they need.
You see, we are programmed to think of black people as, "less than," due to the perceived difference in educational prospects. The quality and quantity of education was less than other's education, but that doesn't mean the black people's intelligence was. Therefore, An astronaut who is black, will have their race mentioned regardless of the importance of such a fact. Now lets switch things, "Harold George, a white astronaut from Ohio, will be teaching Aerodynamics at the local university". Doesn't that sound a bit ridiculous?
Doesn't that sound unnecessary to described the race of the person ?
We individuals perpetuate this problem by not recognizing,(or not trying) the fact that we have the power to change this level of racism. As each person chooses to see others as not particularly special, because of their accomplishments while being chained to their race, but rather they're special because of their accomplishments, period.
Next Parts of the article to be written...
Faux Positive Racism (Asians are smart. Black people can dance. white people are more peaceful than others)
Inactive Racism(Listen I didn't make the rules. It is what it is. What can I do? [housing market])
Deflected Racism(Well that's them over there, not me. I don't think like that)
I'm still in my twenties, yet I am tired. I am tired in the deepest marrow of my bones. As I type this, I find myself taking long pauses between sentences. It is like my mind and body knows my intent to use expressive vocabulary, will still fall short of the actual circumstances of which I write.
Many of us, at least on the outside, believe that racism is wrong. Many of us, at least in the face of others, shake our heads at it. I'm not talking about the racism that causes physical pain for others, but the racism that is perpetuated in a cycle far too wide, and deep for me to put one name to it.
Casually Used Racism.
Casually Used Racism, is the racism that we see and use every day. It may not even come to our attention that, that is what we're doing. For a fictitious example, "Harold George, a black astronaut from Ohio, will begin teaching Aerodynamics at the local university".
Reader, you may ask me what is wrong with the sentence written above. That's where the "casual" of this problem shows its head. That sentence is an example of sentences we run into every day. That sentence represents how we communicate to one another. That sentence is racist. It is a needless part of such a sentence to have it mention "a black...". If one were to take out that description the sentence becomes, "Harold George, an astronaut from Ohio, will begin teaching Aerodynamics at the local university".
The change in this sentence still gives the reader the information they need.
You see, we are programmed to think of black people as, "less than," due to the perceived difference in educational prospects. The quality and quantity of education was less than other's education, but that doesn't mean the black people's intelligence was. Therefore, An astronaut who is black, will have their race mentioned regardless of the importance of such a fact. Now lets switch things, "Harold George, a white astronaut from Ohio, will be teaching Aerodynamics at the local university". Doesn't that sound a bit ridiculous?
Doesn't that sound unnecessary to described the race of the person ?
We individuals perpetuate this problem by not recognizing,(or not trying) the fact that we have the power to change this level of racism. As each person chooses to see others as not particularly special, because of their accomplishments while being chained to their race, but rather they're special because of their accomplishments, period.
Next Parts of the article to be written...
Faux Positive Racism (Asians are smart. Black people can dance. white people are more peaceful than others)
Inactive Racism(Listen I didn't make the rules. It is what it is. What can I do? [housing market])
Deflected Racism(Well that's them over there, not me. I don't think like that)
Last summer I went to Los Angeles to stay with my cousin for a few weeks.One afternoon we were having lunch in a nice restaurant in the centre of the town when my cousin got a call on her mobile phone and went outside to talk.While she was speaking to her friend,I suddenly noticed a man in a black hat who was sitting at the next table.It was the actor Johnny Depp!He was alone,and I decided to take my chance.So I got up and went to his table:'Excuse me,could I have my photo taken with you?'I asked.He said yes,so I stopped a waitress who was passing by and gave her my camera.She took the photo of me and Johnny,I thanked them both,and then I returned to my table.When my cousin came back,I smiled.'Why are you looking so pleased with yourself?'she asked.
'I had my photo taken with Johnny Depp.'
'Johnny Depp?Where is he?'
'He's sitting over there.Look!'
She turned around to look and then started to laugh.
'That's not Johnny Depp!'I looked at the man in the black hat-he was laughing too.
'I had my photo taken with Johnny Depp.'
'Johnny Depp?Where is he?'
'He's sitting over there.Look!'
She turned around to look and then started to laugh.
'That's not Johnny Depp!'I looked at the man in the black hat-he was laughing too.
You held up your pumpkin spice finger,
With a playful wink,
Your sweetness saved me several times,
When I was on the brink,
The warmth within your spritely smile,
Allowed me to be real,
Your cinnamon and sugar hugs
They taught me how to feel.
I'd run down to the coffee shop,
So I could see your face.
You've seen me at my happiest,
You've seen me in disgrace.
And though you're always beaming,
Still I feel the need to say,
It's okay if you have some days,
Where your spice fades away.
With a playful wink,
Your sweetness saved me several times,
When I was on the brink,
The warmth within your spritely smile,
Allowed me to be real,
Your cinnamon and sugar hugs
They taught me how to feel.
I'd run down to the coffee shop,
So I could see your face.
You've seen me at my happiest,
You've seen me in disgrace.
And though you're always beaming,
Still I feel the need to say,
It's okay if you have some days,
Where your spice fades away.
