Harry Potter And Racism In The United States | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics

Harry Potter And Racism In The United States

It's important to approach our world the same way we approached the world of our favorite childhood book series, Harry Potter.

353
Harry Potter And Racism In The United States
Wizards and What Not

I grew up on Harry Potter. Actually, I think it's safe to assume that we all did. One thing I love about my generation is how seriously we take our Hogwarts houses. It's something that we can all identify with - sitting down as third graders and reading or watching the Harry Potter series. So, I think I speak for all of us when I say that the series played an integral part of our childhoods. Yet, I still come across the most infuriating posts and statuses on social media about the state of our nation. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone has to agree with me on politics, but I feel like we should all have human decency and comfort ourselves with empathy and compassion.

It has been nearly impossible to escape politics (not that I mind, but that is beside the point), so I'm sure we've all heard about Trump's executive order on immigration. This has been a bit a hot topic lately. Regardless of the way you feel about immigration, I feel like there are some obvious parallels between what we are living and what we read in our favorite young adult novels. NOW, I'M NOT SAYING LORD VOLDEMORT IS PRESIDENT TRUMP, and I want to make that clear, but I want to point out some things that I think some of us might be overlooking.

I've noticed that, somehow, some can understand why the Muggle Born Registry and the Ministry of Magic taking people’s wands away was wrong, but can't seem to apply those same concepts to reality. In the name of national security, a Muslim Registry and detaining legal visa holders and children as young as 5 years old may not seem so outrageous, but this is essentially the same thing.

We live in a time where it's so easy to disconnect from society and become desensitized to all the racism, sexism, and craziness that is going on right now. So, we can't let our government and mindset embody the same ideals and practices we saw and greatly opposed in the Harry Potter series.

We live in a really weird time - a time in our society where racism is consciously unacceptable to the point where it’s the worst possible insult, allowing all but the most horrific acts of racism to not actually count as racism. At times, pointing out racism is considered more offensive than racism itself because it’s so bad that anything less than the most extreme case minimizes the horror of “real” racism. Racism isn't just presented in lynching or consciously feeling superior to an entire other race, but also through acts such as supporting not allowing refugees entry into our country because it "compromises" national security.

Our favorite works of young adult fiction have always alluded to history. If we can scrape up empathy for our favorite characters in those books, I fail to understand why you are unable to translate that same rationale to reality.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

146319
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

36102
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less
Health and Wellness

10 Hygiene Tips For All College Athletes

College athletes, it's time we talk about sports hygiene.

32015
Woman doing pull-ups on bars with sun shining behind her.

I got a request to talk about college athletes hygiene so here it is.

College athletes, I get it, you are busy! From class, to morning workouts, to study table, to practice, and more. But that does not excuse the fact that your hygiene comes first! Here are some tips when it comes to taking care of your self.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments