I feel like a broken record every time I talk about the issue of race. However, I still feel that it is important to address it in the best way I can. I’ve heard that friendships were being broken up over #BlackLivesMatter, police brutality, and politics. Everyone seems to be on separate sides and going to war with each other on social media. So with that being said, I want to talk about white people. Trust me, this article won’t be about throwing shade at them, but there is something that I wanted to address. A while ago, there was an article in which a high school teacher said that ‘to be white is to be racist’, after discussing about a topic on imperialism with his students.
Apparently, the teacher wanted to make a point, but he went the wrong way about it. In my opinion, I think he wanted to make a statement that imperialism was fueled partly by prejudicial beliefs and because of that, many people suffered. I don’t want you to think I’m defending him my dear reader. This guy clearly had it all wrong when making that statement. I stand by the firm belief, that one aren’t born racist or prejudice. Racism is taught, built upon the structure of fear and anger, leaving a trail that many white people themselves would like to forget.
Today, things are changing. I see interracial couples on a day-to-day basis, white and black people shooting the breeze and becoming good friends. Some of my best friends are white, and they’ve never shown any discontent towards me being black. Honestly, I’m glad that I wasn’t in the same era as my grandparents. As I said before, racism is taught and influenced. There could be someone out there who was raised by prejudice family members, but still could believe that everyone should be treated equal.
It is true that we are taught many things from our parents, but when we get older, our actions determine our consequences. We are suddenly in control of what to do with our lives. For example, I was raised under a roof that taught me the history of African-Americans. I wasn’t spared any detail of their struggles, sacrifices, and demons. Does that mean I go around angrily staring at white people? Of course not. What I learned growing up was important, yet I never planned to be prejudice or have an unrighteous sense of racial superiority.
While it is true, that many white people today have shown that racism hasn’t died out, it is also important to know that there are others who actually believe in true equality. To be white isn’t to be racist, and if you my dear reader believe in that, then I hope that you find it in your heart to reconsider your believe. Do not let your hearts become misguided by discrimination, but to learn from our history and have a better understanding of both sides. Remember, to be white isn’t to be racist.
