Dear college students,
We are the last babies of the 1990s; we are the college students of the 21st century. We have seen our televisions go from monster-sized boxes to flat screens. We have watched our VCRs collect dust as DVDs appeared. We were young children when 9/11 happened. We were the first generation to get iPhones, to be a part of social media networks, and to revolutionize education with technology. We may spend too much time watching Netflix and not enough of the news, but in the end, right now, I believe we have the power to change our divided and hurt country.
For the past year, this country has seen an increase in events involving racism. From the death of Michael Brown to the recent strike at the University of Missouri, there seems to be a news story every day about racism. However, I am not here to talk about these events and whether or not they should be happening or if they are right. I’m here to tell you that racism is not new. It is not something that is reappearing, but it is something that has been in our country for hundreds of years.
Right now we live in a society that involves complete integration of all students. Of course it is clear that minorities do not receive equal opportunities and equal respect; however, it is no longer accepted that students be separated based on the color of their skin. But somehow I sit here today writing an article about how racism is still alive.
Yes, racism is a part of human nature and it is hard to qualify that it will ever be completely eradicated. However, let’s talk about how I think we have the power to change and help our society.
Our voice is the most powerful capability of being a human. We have the ability to spread any message we want. We also have the technology that can express our voice in infinite ways. We, as the future, need to stop using our voice to hurt people, and instead to lift people up. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others, but instead accept the beauty of ourselves. We need to stop dividing our peers by color and look at their amazing, inner characteristics. We need to love people, and stop spreading rumors and hate threats. We need to not react with hate, but instead react with love. And most of all, we need to stop hiding behind our screens. We need to think about whether or not you would be able to say it to someone’s face before you type it and hit send. Your screen does not protect you, so remember, only post something that would be reflective of who you want to be.
Let’s agree to be role models. Let’s be the ones who will demonstrate to the younger and older generations that it is simply inhumane to discriminate someone based on the color of your skin, gender, or sexual preference. I hope that we only do this through love and acceptance, and not through violence. The best option with the best outcome in life is to accept one another and treat them the way we want to be treated. If we all do this a little more, maybe, just maybe, our society will become whole for the first time.
Let’s use the power of our voices and the positive power of our technology to help the minorities of our country and put a little more love in the United States.
Love,
A college student who #StandWithMizzou
