There is no denying that racism still exists in America and around the world. The argument that racism is dead is tremendously stupid and an argument that should be extinguished. To be fair, I think some people can claim ignorance on the topic. Even as an ethnic minority, I might have been blind to the fact that I was a victim of racism. I ignorantly believed that it would never happen to me or that I was somehow immune to the poison of racism. I only realized I was a victim a few years ago. It took someone I knew and respected to open up my eyes and be more aware of the venomous words and actions of racism. Racist actions probably aren’t as prominent these days which is most likely the reason some crowds assume racism is dead since acts of racism are explicit. These days we need to be much more aware of the words and propaganda of racists.
I became aware that I could be a victim of racism when someone I respected and worked with thought my level of intelligence was lower only because of my ethnicity. My friend’s family owns a business so I went in every summer to make some extra cash while school was out and to help them out. The grandpa of the family is now retired but stops in every summer to help out. The shop uses a lot of temporary workers who are often ethnic minorities. While working I heard the grandpa of the family claim that my friend, his grandson, needed to show that he is smarter and superior to the other workers since they are of lower intelligence only because of their ethnicity. He made no effort to shield his comments from the other workers and it took an open and very blunt comment from someone I respected and thought held me to the highest of standards to open my eyes. This isn’t a detailed report or meant to be a life changing article. I just think minorities of any kind can also be blamed that racism and other acts of hate exist if they are tolerant of it. I wanted to bring that thought to attention.
