"Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn't matter what color does the hating. It's just plain wrong." -Muhammad Ali

Racism: The belief that all members of each race possess characteristics or abilities specific to that race, especially so as to distinguish it as inferior or superior to another race or races.

Most people hold the belief that only white people can be racist. This belief is quite hostile, and comes off as, well, racist to onlookers of said race. If people were asked how they would feel if they were thought of in a negative manner just because of the color of their skin, all people would respond in the same way; that they would be offended. Why? Because regardless of skin color, it hurts to be categorized; to be seen as just the color of your skin and to be judged solely based on that attribute. Why then is it okay for people of other races to continuously group the white race together for having this mentality? Especially when there are many people, many white people, who speak out against the injustices done against people of all colors?

From what I see, it must feel really good to be able to victimize oneself. It takes the weight off of that person's shoulders, and places the responsibility in someone else's hands to take care of. Complaining is easy. Particularly when a large group of people feel the same way about something, regardless of the reasoning behind it. It brings the wanted attention to a subject which is then magnified and blown out of proportion, which then captures the attention of the media to further exploit the issue. Complaining and posting a tweet with "#insert-issue-here" is a never ending cycle; mainly amongst millennials who think they are advocates and activists on so called issues that they are less than knowledgeable about. What is failed to be recognized is the damage that is done when people engage in this kind of behavior, and how many people are turned away from helping any sort of related cause in the future.

What would make a person want to extend a helping hand or advocate for something if they have been shut out or told that they do not understand or care to understand? (Despite showing that they are clearly sympathetic beings). What would make a person even want to understand such an issue after being berated constantly by their peers? There is such a double standard when it comes to race that it leaves some very important people out of the discussion. It is often said by minorities that there cannot be a conversation about race without white people, yet minorities are the very ones that work so hard to leave white people out. I have seen many instances where there was a person who is not a minority wanting to share their feelings about an incident involving racism that they may have seen, only to be torn down by people of another race. What happens next? That person never joins in on a conversation like that again. They feel afraid to voice their opinion. They feel unwelcome, and as though their thoughts do not matter.

As I sit here writing this, I know people will say, "Well that's because they don't understand. How could they? They're white". And that is exactly why I am writing this. There is no race that is immune to the feelings that come with hateful statements, and the statement before this shows that there is no race that is immune to racist statements that are made against them. It is just about what society and the media deem acceptable for people to say about one another publicly or even privately, and what is thought to be politically correct versus politically incorrect.

Racism does exist, but what we need to realize is that all people can hold racist views. Racist views do no discriminate against anyone's skin color, and can enter the minds of all people of all races. In order to continue any progress that is made, it is important to acknowledge this, and just as important to allow people of all backgrounds join discussions regarding race. Everyone can bring valid and useful viewpoints to the table that will only help all of us grow closer to each other and develop more tolerance for one another. If not, then people will grow to resist any movements or causes that claim to alleviate racial tensions between people. Fighting racism with more racism just leaves us right back where we started.

The only way to make a change is to let all people contribute to the cause equally. The only real race that exists is the human race, and everyone of all races must evenly contribute to the alleviation of racism in order for it to cease.