As Americans, we live in a country where change is what we're founded on. Our founding fathers created a place where people could live in harmony, so that someday, everyone could be accepted. However, we as people are living in the twenty-first century and that idea of acceptance is nowhere to be found. Members of the LGBT community are slowly getting their acceptance with the slow process of legalizing gay marriage, but why are people so caught up in this new problem when we have ancient, old problems that haven't even been fixed yet? It's great and all that they're finally getting recognized, but why should I be happy about them when racism hasn't been conquered and defeated yet?
I am an eighteen year old Hispanic (Puerto Rican) girl. I come not straight off the boat, but from the suburbs outside of Philly. I've lived a middle class, normal life. My parents have good jobs, so they make good money to support me and my older sister. We do not live the stereotypical Hispanic lifestyle of living in some ghetto neighborhood with thugs and a mafia. Some people might, but that's not my specific life story. Nonetheless, no matter what my background is, whether it's some hell hole in some horrible neighborhood, or a normal, stable home, or even in an upper class mansion, I should be treated with respect.
I shouldn't be struggling to make friends in college because people are taking one good look at me and acting like i'm a parasite. I'm a nice, friendly person, so I didn't understand why certain people didn't want to be my friend until some girl said it right in front of my face thinking I wouldn't notice or hear her. She said to her friend in a disgusted voice, "Why do we have to sit next to these people?" Not referencing that me and my friends are freshmen in college and that she was older, but the fact that me and my friends weren't the same race as her and her friends. And this isn't the first incident. People have this entirely different outlook on me once they find out I'm not white.
I understand fully that people of different races and religions may have a harder time being accepted like I do; however, I want to spark a fire in people to stand up to their oppressors. Now, I'm not saying we attack the white man, or do anything violent of that nature. I want people to spread this message and know that racism is still alive in the world today. That we as people need to stick up for one another and not let things like this keep happening.
Look at the 2016 election, for example. Trump once said that he would build a wall to keep the Mexicans out, or even deport anyone that isn't what he considers to be an American. He may have changed his words further in the race (just to get more voters), but that doesn't change what's already been said. Trump is promoting a racist thought process, and even a racist world. After all these years of fighting between individuals of varying cultures, races, and religions, we don't need a relapse of our past horrors. We definitely do not need more Donald Trumps in this world. We need more open minded and accepting people.
The world is full of enough horror stories, so why continue to make this saga of racism relevant. Put an end to racism and make the world a better and safer place. You may not love your neighbor, like Jesus once said to do; however, he or she needs to be treated with respect and dignity. So don't be that racist old man down the block, stand together for a change and a better tomorrow because we the oppressed can't take it anymore.
