There are many reasons to be legitimately scared about what the United States would be like with Donald Trump as president. It was even hard to type that out as a possibility. However, one of the most frightening things about his candidacy is already happening. That is the reappearance of rampant racism.
I am not naive. I am aware that racism has never left the United States. It is something that thousands of people face daily. However, it has not been as mainstream and out in the open as it has in the last few months. It seems that Trump's running has lifted the white sheet these people were hiding behind and made it acceptable for them to be open with their feelings.
This was never something that was okay, but it is extra not okay in 2016 America. This is a country that has lived through slavery, a civil war, and a civil rights movement. This is a country that is meant to be progressive, modern, and educated. But it's actions of late have shown it to be anything but.
People openly and proudly speak about not wanting people of color around. A memorial sign for Emmett Till was recently shot 30 times while there are flowers blooming at the sign marking his killer's home. People being attacked at different political rallies because they look a certain way. College girls think it's funny to pose in blackface, tweet racist things about their roommates, and where clothing boasting racial slurs. It needs to stop.
What I wonder is why is it still around? I have three theories as to why:
Theory #1: Fear of what's different
Most people have a fear of what is different from their norm. This can even be as simple as being nervous on your first day of a new job. It's a normal feeling. What is not normal is to act out against it in a violent and negative means. People are people. Instead of focusing on someone looking different than you because of their skin, think about the things you have that are similar. As people, our basic needs and wants are the same. Everyone is just trying to be happy and get by.
Theory #2: Ingrained beliefs
Our earliest educators are our family members and those closest to us. They are the ones telling us what is good and bad, and guiding us in some of our most impressionable years. If the people responsible for teaching you have ingrained beliefs in racism, this is how they are going to teach you to be.
Theory #3: The media
A lot of people will believe whatever they see on the news or on the internet, without doing research into whether or not the source it is coming from is viable, and without considering how the message may be advertised. For example, I could tell you about a car accident I was in where the other car was the offender and completely guilty. That same story told from the other driver could come across totally differently, where I was the offender.
The Remedy:
Education and open mindedness. The more someone reads and educates themselves on different cultures and people, the better able they are to understand those people. And by simply being open to accepting new ideas and ways of life, you will become accepting of people's differences.
By the way, differences are something to celebrate ;)
