This may be the most controversial article you’ve ever read. At the same time, controversial conversations can alter your perspective of reality. Altered perspectives can usher in new actions.

I wish this were an easy conversation. It’s not. It really is analogous to telling the scientific world that the earth is not the center of the universe. Copernicus was ostracized for that. Therefore, there is a social risk to say everything I am about to say.

To start, mindset is key. The mindset you have is a reflection of the reality you were given. The only reality you can have is the one your environment gave you. If you were told the earth was the center of the universe, that is your reality, even if it is not a fact. That is an example of how one’s environment has blind spots.

One of the biggest problems with the reality you were given is you believe it is right. And you will do anything to defend it. That has been part of the reason for wars and all kinds of disputes. People would rather be right about the belief system their environment gave them. That’s the stuff religious dogma is made of.

To set the stage, you have been taught white supremacy. That’s an oxymoron. Those two words cannot go together as long as you – black people – exist anywhere in the universe. Whites have known this for decades. I’m aware that in the 1950s hospitals started testing infants immediately after birth. They tested a black and white baby side by side. The black child always clearly demonstrated superior and advanced brain function and motor skills. The fact black Americans complain about white supremacy is an example of how you promote things that don’t exist. In fact, every time you talk about it you speak it into existence.

In 1994, racism died. Black Americans were embraced in the business and political world in a way that had not happened, in what is called the United States of America. The fact it died is the reason the stage was set for Barak Obama to win the presidential campaign. Before Obama, you had the first black governor in the US: Doug Wilder in Virginia – 1990-1994. Also, David Dinkins as mayor of NYC 1990-1993. Whether people liked Wilder or Dinkins was irrelevant. Both men proved it was possible for a black person to run for office, win and serve their term. Doors opened after this. For example, the first black person to become CEO of a major publicly traded company was Robert “Bob” Holland. He became CEO of Ben & Jerry’s in 1995.

Many black Americans missed the open door. Instead of walking through it, they complained. If they would have trained and developed themselves for the opportunities on the other side of the door, they would have exploited the marketplace and hired one another, once inside. This could have happened if you were an employee or entrepreneur. By the way, college degree does not prepare you for the opportunities on the other side of the door. Constant training and development has to happen. Professional athletes understand that. That is why a person like Usain Bolt is able to break his own world records. It is also the reason people like Steve Jobs can attain his level of success after completing only one semester of college.

Part of what black Americans complained about was the result of interracial fighting. Black men and women were engaged in a battle of the sexes. That was and has always been a distraction. Now that the black family structure has been decimated, black Americans are waking up. However, you are waking up to the aftermath of war. And it is still happening with black men shooting one another. Too many boys grew up without a father. Too many women said they didn’t need a man. While it is true that white women put bait out for black women with the feminist movement, they did not have to take it. When you take bait from someone, you allow them to shape your environment and create your reality. Now you’re in an ugly hole and have no idea how you got there. If you look back, there has been one distraction after another. Now poverty has increased in the black community compared to 1965 when over 70% of black households had both biological parents. Incarceration also increased while the percentage of black businesses has decreased.

Stop taking the bait! If it is not about economic power in the black community, it’s a distraction. That includes protesting, fighting and complaining. You cannot protest your way to success. You have to build. Going forward the choice is yours. Take the bait or create.

What do you think? I would love to hear your feedback. And I’m open to ideas. Or if you want to write me about a specific topic, connect through my blog www.turnaroundip.blogspot.com.

Right around the age of 10, there is a marked shift in a child’s perspective. The world is no longer simply a wonderland of curiosities, but a popularity contest. Girls begin to wear makeup and form cliques, and boys become showmen, proving themselves with their fists. Think of Mean Girls or The Outsiders. In Lacan’s terms, once we identify ourselves as “other” in the mirror stage, the beasts of jealousy and self-consciousness arise. This is a time in psychological terms in which children, going through their first major identity crisis, often begin to designate others into two categories: the ingroup and the outgroup.

Meet Tom and Scout. They are characters in this very stage and life, and while at times they are carefree, rambunctious troublemakers, at others, they are young adults faced with a daunting world distinctly divided across racial lines. Tom Sawyer is a mischievous urchin, stealing from jam jars and tricking other boys into doing work for him. However, his blithe antics turn for the worst when he stumbles into a graveyard. He witnesses Injun Joe murder a man, and life is no longer a piece of jam pie.

Although Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer does not directly address issues of race, as does his epic masterpiece, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the character of Injun Joe depicts racial stereotypes in a more subtle way. Let’s not ignore the fact that Joe is a cruel murderer. Who hasn’t had nightmares of the giant killer hunting down Tom and Becky in the cave? However, he represents a term that will most likely appear on the AP Psychology Exam: the self-fulfilling prophecy. He is treated like a savage by the rest of the town, and not accepted into the community because of his Native American roots. When a person is relentlessly treated in a certain way, it is difficult not to live up to this characterization. Individuals view those in the ingroup as more or less diverse, whereas they view those in the outgroup as a single stereotype. Joe is a victim of the latter. More than that, Joe’s indiscretions are acts of revenge; while on the surface, he may seem like a one-dimensional character, whose terrible acts simply stem from greed, his motives are much more complex. Colonists horrifically displaced Native Americans from their land, and he is in part avenging the wrongs that they have suffered.

Tom Sawyer is also a mixed bag of tricks. He is a sly rascal who even when he takes the blame for Becky, or saves a man’s life by exposing the murderer, is by no means humble, and basks in the rewards of attention and praise. This really stems from the insecurity that unavoidably comes with being an adolescent. His unstable identity suggests that he is at a stage when prejudice and stereotypes can easily take hold; while it seems he is rebelling against adults, he is paradoxically deeply influenced by their attitudes and actions. In the end, there is no clear resolution to Tom’s identity crisis or the town’s prejudice, just as there is no immediate cure for adolescent angst, or deeply sewn racism.

To an even larger extent, Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird is faced with the confusion of adult prejudice. Her father is defending a black man who was wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Their family becomes outcasts in a racist town, and Scout, on top of trying to deal with normal adolescent confusion, struggles with the town’s hatred towards her father. When she asks him why they are ostracized, Atticus responds, “Nigger-lover is just one of those terms that don’t mean anything – like snot-nose. It’s hard to explain – ignorant, trashy people use it when they think somebody’s favoring Negroes over and above themselves. It’s slipped into usage with some people like ourselves, when they want a common, ugly term to label somebody.” This To Kill a Mockingbird quote explicates that racism is much like adolescent bullying and name-calling; kids are by definition ignorant, and therefore often come in conflict with one another out of identity confusion. Atticus is therefore in a sense saying these adults have never grown up; their insecurity and ignorance perpetuates racism.

It is easy to view these novels as works of anti-discrimination in a post civil rights society, but are they really? Do you think Mark Twain is exposing the injustice of prejudice and stereotypes, or buying into them? Injun Joe is portrayed in an extremely negative light. Even though To Kill a Mockingbird clearly advocates against racism, the novel still negatively stereotypes African Americans as helpless human beings who need to be protected by white people. Though both books are now recommended to AP US History students, they have been banned in schools for their own problematic interpretations of race. This ambiguity demonstrates that stereotypes are difficult to avoid; it requires a conscious effort not to see the world in in group-out group terms. Often as wayward adolescents we embrace stereotypes in order to make sense of the world, and it is our job as adults to break these categories down in order to reveal the truth.

From a medical point of view, racism doesn’t exist.

How can this be? There can be no racism if there are no races. Scientifically speaking, there is only one human race.

When we speak of the various human races, what we are referring to is a set of outward appearances (the phenotypical expression of the genotype). These traits have accumulated within certain niches of the population as people mate with each other.

Skin color is the easiest to understand. The more melanin in the skin, the darker the color. Discriminating on skin color is as silly as discrimination based on hair color. In certain populations other physical traits cluster with skin color: shape of the nose or eyes, hair color or texture, height, weight, body shape, muscle mass, etc. People tend to favor the physical appearance with which they are most familiar or comfortable, an emotional response.

Similarly, some people like dachsunds, others favor poodles. In many ways the physical differences in humans are analogous to the differences in dogs. If dachsunds are bred to dachsunds, their offspring will generally have short legs and long bodies. If dachsunds are bred to poodles, a variety of body types will result, yet they will certainly all be dogs.

Genetically speaking, medium skin color in humans should be the most common. Very light skin or very dark skin would be equally rare in a genetically mixed population.

The real fear on which discrimination is based is cultural. When people don’t understand each other’s language, beliefs, and traditions, fear results. That which clues us to differences between human beings begins with outward appearances and behavior.

My outward appearance would be described as Caucasian, though with brown eyes and hair, I might be presumed to have Italian ancestry – or German, or Spanish, or Eastern European, or Russian. If fact, I’m a mix (like my dogs), and therefore have no particular allegiance to a distant country of origin. However, I would be much more comfortable with peaceable citizens of darker skin than gang members of my own color.

One answer might be to homogenize the population, but this should be unnecessary. There is beauty in all varieties of the human form. What we need to do is open our eyes to the real issues of cultural misunderstanding. Though this would require overcoming barriers of language, geography, and tradition, loving our neighbor as ourselves is the ultimate solution to ending discrimination.

Copyright 2010 Cynthia J. Koelker, M.D.

Following on from the concept of ‘Ancestral baggage’, (Mckenzie-Mavinga 2009) I have introduced the concept of ‘recognition trauma’ Mckenzie-Mavinga (2005). This concept identifies the process that both black and white people go through when emerging from being silenced about racism. It describes the awakening of hurtful experiences, that sometimes evokes feelings of guilt, shame, hurt and anger. Symptoms of recognition trauma emanate in a similar way to the awakening of powerful feelings related to the impact of sexism and heterosexism. Helms (cited in Tuckwell 2002) racial identity model incorporates the people of colour ego status theory which is useful in understanding this phase. Helm’s model proposes that the white ego status goes through a period of immersion/emersion, where a search for the meaning of racism and re-definition of whiteness may occur. On the other hand the immersion/emersion ego status for people of colour may create an idealization of one’s socio-racial group and a denigration of what may be perceived as white. This multiculturalists starting point is important in that it reminds us that racism has been systematic and this is where links can be made from past to present using the concept of ancestral baggage.

I believe that it is possible to work through a phase of recognition trauma and unlock embedded feelings of the victim or oppressor. The individual comes through a process of emergence and finds their normality in relation to their racial identity the painful experiences.If the impact of racism and recognition trauma are not understood and worked through, depression or a situation of internalized oppression (A negative, usually unconscious acting out or acting towards self, in ways that can be emotionally harmful and distort identity) may occur. In its extreme this can be seen in skin bleaching and skin scraping caused by a wish to suppress identity and be white).

When traumatic experiences occur as a response to racism and prejudice it is not easy to remain aware that both oppressor and victim may be hurting. In counselling situations this awareness may support both counsellor and client. When working through my own awareness of these roles I try to remember that we cannot change the past where we may have learned the role of victim or oppressor, but we do have a choice about influencing the future.

In an interview with Ragina, Indian Hindu Female therapist she recognises the missing bits in counsellor training

“I felt that there was no didactic teaching of any theories to address the issue of diversity and difference in counseling. I was aware that our training was not readily applicable to people from my culture and therefore my work with Asian people would have to be carefully considered keeping the appropriate values in focus. We had a black support group, which was very helpful. We took our insights back to the main group. I don’t feel that I learnt a lot of theory regarding black issues when I was training”. Ragina tells how the black participants on her training program have mainly supported her experiences of working with black issues. Kareem (in Kareem and Littlewood, 1994) draws on an important parallel to this dilemma in his discussion on racism in therapy and the societal transference. He says that

‘Most black people would admit that the most traumatic feature in their personal lives is to be black in a white society’. He continues ‘I believe that it is the responsibility of the therapist, from the very outset, to facilitate the expression of any negative transference which is based on historical context, and not leave the onus on the patient’. (P12)This should also apply to training situations where students may be left to find their own methods of enlightenment on diversity issues and the impact of racism.

In summary it is important that therapists and trainers enter the cultural and historical frameworks of individual’s lives to assist their process through recognition trauma.

When we think about racism in schools we are always drawn back to the idea of separate bathrooms, sitting at the back of the bus, and derogatory comments made to students of some ethnic or religious minority. However, a bigger problem it today’s school is the idea of institutional racism, one that is not as easily seen, but the effects are the same. In May 1998 a teacher named Evelyn Hanssen wrote a piece entitled, A White Teacher Reflects on Institutional Racism, in this piece she goes on to site multiple occurrences of institutional racism that she felt had a profound effect on both the students and the faculty, even though most of the time they might not have even been aware of it. It is these ideas that we will be looking at in regard to a chapter in Malcolm X’s autobiography to illustrate and give examples from a famous case in American history.

Institutional Racism: Discussion based on Hanssen and Malcolm X

Most of the time, when a teacher first enters the workforce, he or she envisions themselves as some that is going to make a positive influence in their student’s lives, that they will be free from prejudice and labeling and that they will give every student an equal chance at learning. This is exactly what Evelyn Hanssen wanted, as she stated in her piece on institutional racism. What she found however, was that not all things work out in real life like we would ideally have them to be. It was amazing to her that even thought her colleagues, supposedly educated people, were making racial biases that even thought they might not have been conscious of, were still occurring. In one instance, she sat in on an English department meeting in order to decide the new curriculum for the students. She was surprised to find that many African-American works were rejected, even though they were a better fit for the classes on the basis that they were to, sexually explicit (Hanssen 1998). She also was stunned to see an obviously qualified African-American teaching candidate overlooked for an inferior white person for a job opening in her school. When questioning the administrator about the hiring, she was told that while it is important to hire minorities it was hard to find suitable candidates. When Hanssen reminded the person about the overlooked candidate, she was treated to an example of circular logic that never quite did explain why the African-American candidate was not hired. This idea is the basis for her entire paper that people, although they may not be aware of it, do hold some racism ideas, and this can affect minority students in a profound way, as is exhibited in Malcolm X’s autobiography.

In Malcolm X’s autobiography there is a chapter entitled, Mascot, where he goes on to describe his experiences in school that lead to him to become what he was. In the chapter he discusses many examples of institutional racism, the fact that he was the only black student in his class and although many of the instances that people today would have been seen as horrible examples of racism were simply what was acceptable during the time he grew up. The overuse of the word, nigger, while definitely something that is meant to separate Malcolm from the other students did not seem to be as harmful, but as he puts it, he was something of an oddity, kind of like a pink poodle, and even though he was not supposed to talk to the white girls or exhibit any kind of ethic pride, he was seen as a mascot of sorts, something different that people somehow gravitated to based only on one aspect of his character, his skin. (Malcolm X, 1964)

Being a mascot may of seemed like something that was a good thing in some aspects, but when Malcolm realized that even though he was somewhat accepted, there were some things that today would be classified as institutional racism. He gives an example of when he is attending a class taught by what he thought as an excellent teacher who always helped him along, but at the same time when Malcolm expressed the desire to become a lawyer, the teacher basically laughed at him and told him that he needs to see the real picture, and that as an African-American, he would never be a lawyer and that it would be better for him to be a carpenter instead. This is very much an instance of institutional racism, for even thought the teacher thinks that he is helping Malcolm by telling him how he perceives how the world works, in fact he in hampering Malcolm’s ability to be who he wants to be. What happens in this instance is the same thing that happens way to often, and after that, that teacher was no longer a favorite of Malcolm’s, and he dreaded going to the man’s class, thinking differently now about the teacher than before the racist comments were made.

As teachers, we need to be aware of many different things that can hamper a child’s ability to learn. We need to be careful not to say or do things that may negatively influence a child, even though we might be thinking that it will help them. Even if you in your heart do not believe that the student can be what he/she wants to be, as a teacher you need to help them with there dream no matter what. If what Malcolm described ever happened in one of my classrooms I would be sure to step in as quickly as possible and assure the child that with hard work, honesty and integrity, they could accomplish whatever they wanted, regardless of what other people wanted. After all, if no one tried to change what was expected of them, this world would be a lot different than it is today, and we would never know of the efforts of some of the most influential people in the world.

References

Hanssen, E. (1998). A white teacher reflects on institutional racism. Phi Delta Kappan

79(9), 694-698.

X, Malcolm; with Haley, Alex (1964). Chapter 2: Mascot. In The autobiography of

Malcolm X. NY: Ballentine Books. pp. 27-44.

Othello is a black man who is introduced and referred to in the play as a derogatory name like the Moor. This reference is a person of Arabic decent living in North Africa who is of a Muslim religion and who is of an uncultured, crude, coarse, and cruel background. In other words a Moor is an unintelligible and barbaric person. But, this is where the mystery begins with this ugly word. Shakespeare expresses this man to be more than just a Moor; he is an honest, noble, and fair Moor. This terminology can easily confuse your thoughts as to determine if indeed there is racism present or not. But do not be swayed by the two because either it is there or it is not.

First of all I will say that racism immediately entered the play from the beginning. It started after Iago was passed up for a promotion in the Venetian military by his superior, Othello. After this action Iago expressed how he hated him to Roderigo for his decision. This is where the fire was fueled and the blaze became racist. Iago did not have a honest or fair reason to hate Othello so he first used Roderigo’s lust for Desdemona who has just secretly became Othello’s fair Venetian wife. This news ignited anger within Roderigo which caused the first of a series of racist remarks made throughout the play. He stated “What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe.” (Act I, Scene I, Verse 66) His indication of thick-lips obviously states to me that there was something different of them and he whom they hated. You would think it was something that was wrong and flaw filled.

Secondly, the two then go to Desdemona’s father Brabantio on that very same night to notify him of the marriage that occurred behind his back. Awaking him and asking him if everyone was in his house the two suggest that he does not know what is going on within his house and of his blood. Iago with the help of Roderigo get Brabantio in panic by saying things such as “Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. Even now, now an old black ram is tupping your white ewe.” (Act I, Scene I, Verse 87-89) To me this proclamation communicates to Brabantio that he has just lost his daughter and that Othello the black ram was taking advantage of her. Iago then submits Othello as “the Devil.” (Act I, Scene I, Verse 91) This would probably have any father thinking the worst of the man who has taking the hand of his daughter. “Your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.” (Act I, Scene I, Verse 115-116) Iago’s citation surely put across an obvious message that he hated Othello for personal political reasoning but also and maybe more strongly so because of his ethnicity. He was clearly racist and was in no doubt using his own personal racism to corrupt and manipulate the feelings of others.

Eventually, Iago influenced different characters to act on their emotions by trusting in his open love or hidden hate for the honest and noble Moor Othello. He show many faces such as hatred, jealousy, and the over bearing of the two was his racism for the fellow that many considered to be so noble. Anything to see to his demise, I believe was the true and final goal that Iago had for Othello. He hated him just for existing, in his authority, in his standing, in his country, or even in his world. This hatred so strongly that he would pretend to love him to see his termination in the place where he did not belong. The racism all the way through this play conveys that at any cost it will try to consume everything around it, and no one is excluded when this hatred such as racism takes its place in a life and tries to feed or spread and grow until everything and anything in its path is destroyed.

Shakespeare illustrates to the audience how the one theme goes through a metamorphosis in order to unveil something stronger and more dangerous is lurking in the dark hidden areas of this society. This theme follows through to the end of the play when even after the bloodshed of some of the characters Iago still would rather hold his tongue than to give justification of even soothe the curiosity of the very people who had fallen victim of his malicious and detesting acts. (Act V, Scene 2, Verse 303)

In closing, I will say that this play has shown me how resourceful hatred can be and how it will grow and consume more than it is fed. It also demonstrates how someone like a noble and honest Moor Othello could simply be prey to a falsely portrayed honest Iago with a heart that survives on jealousy, hate, and racism. Be careful about who and what you believe it very well may be the unknown battle of good versus evil. Sometimes what you see is what you get and other times it may not show up in black and white but there may always be the possibility of blood red.

Racism has been around forever, it seems. It is a topic within the halls of Congress. People are always claiming that they are not racist, but racism does not go away. Why does racism continue when so many people profess to be for equal rights for all?

Colin Kaepernick tried to bring the problems to the attention of the public nearly four years ago when he took a knee during the National Anthem at a professional football game in which he was a star player. Then other players joined him. Instead of focusing on the purpose of his taking a knee, he was criticized severely for being against the flag of the United States of America and against the military. That was not the case.

He has stated in interviews that he was using the position he had to make people aware of the inequality in this country and the brutality which was often exhibited by the police against black men. He realized that he had a platform where others did not so he tried to use it to make the public aware. He didn’t do it for himself, but he was trying to make a better world for others. Instead, he was accused of being un-American and against the military. He subsequently lost his career over it and was apparently black balled in the NFL.

Growing up as a part black person with a white birth mother and a black father and having been adopted by a white family, his experiences were not entirely the same as many black people who grew up in various parts of America. Even those who have become rich and successful still felt they had to warn their black sons of the problems they could face if ever confronted by the police. Racism was not dead and could be used against them for no cause or little cause. He was doing what he did for others who could use a voice and platform.

Black professional athletes are the bread and butter for professional sports leagues. With over 70% of the players being black on most teams, professional sports would suffer without them. They are extremely important to the franchises and the owners of the teams. Yet they and their concerns over racism have not been addressed. Even when the NFL finally came out with an initial statement that they support Black Lives Matter, there was no mention of Colin Kaepernick.

Perhaps if the NFL, NBA, MLB, and others had listened four years ago, all the turmoil and chaos from George Floyd’s murder might not have happened. Indeed, maybe that untimely death would not have occurred if those issues of police brutality against black men had been rectified back then.

African Americans are not the only ones who have suffered racism. Asian Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and many others have suffered as well. Japanese Americans faced extreme racial hatred during World War II when 120,000 innocent people were forcibly removed from their west coast homes and imprisoned in American concentration camps. It was a mass incarceration through racial profiling which was a result of racism and hatred.

Yet it is unlikely that any other ethnicity has suffered such racism as some black people routinely face simply for the color of their skin. There may be people who are guilty of some crime who are harassed by the police, but there are too many unarmed and innocent black people, men particularly, who face hardship and persecution simply because of how they look.

Although most police officers are likely caring and compassionate individuals, it is a difficult job and there is still too much racism among law enforcement and the general public. It will not go away until there is more care, love, understanding, and acceptance in the world. Hate fuels racism, and it is still a huge problem.

Hopefully, the peaceful protests after the untimely death of George Floyd will result in meaningful changes coming about in the United States. It will take a lot of people changing their minds and attitudes. It is gratifying to see so many white people and others uniting with the black community in the concerns which have been raised so many times in the past.

Racism has no place in society and should be eradicated. It is time for people to do their part, to give back if possible, and to make this a better world for all people.

Racism is pernicious, particularly hurtful to those on the receiving end, and is little understood. Its causes are not just social, neither can they be remedied in an instant. Racism goes much deeper than simple social factors and it stems, primarily, from the following four causes:

1. Instinctive reaction for species protection: It is the most natural thing in the world to gravitate towards our own kind, to recruit in our own image and likeness and to feel comfortable with people who outwardly look like us, reflect who we are and behave like us. We are all ingrained with a sense of self protection, especially of our culture, territory, family, the things we cherish and which form our identity. Racism comes out of a desire to protect all of that, as well as our roots and our species. Anything which isn’t like us immediately becomes threatening and, where it is also perceived to be inferior, the prejudice towards it in order to protect our own becomes even more lethal and menacing.

2. Fear of loss and displacement: Seeking to protect our own kind means we fear any loss of what we already have and what makes us who we are: whether it’s our jobs, our status, territory, possessions, personal significance and even our being. We fear being replaced by others, especially in a relationship, by anyone perceived to be much more appealing and desirable than we are. When that person is from another race, it simply confirms our unworthiness and adds insult to injury. Fear is the biggest cause of racism in our world, especially irrational fear of difference and loss, which tends to see any difference as both threatening and undeserving of what we regard as our right.

3. Ignorance: When we know better we can act better, especially if we have the confidence to put that knowledge into action. But what keeps racism going in a vicious circle is ignorance of the worst kind. If we grow up doing a particular thing, and everyone else around us does it too, we come to believe it is right, no mater how morally reprehensible it could be to another person who does not share our culture and outlook. We will not see anything wrong with our actions because those acts would be validated by everyone else like us. The only change will come through education and awareness of why those actions might not be appropriate, the consequences they carry for others as well as the alternatives that are available. Until people who know no better undergo an educative process around racism, ignorance will always keep racism thriving, especially among those who have no desire to act differently.

4. Lack of self love, feeling of unworthiness and desire to feel superior: The most racist people in our world tend to be the least confident, lacking in self esteem and, most of all, lacking in self love. They project all their negative feelings outward unto others, especially on to the most week and vulnerable. When we truly love ourself and appreciate who we are, we can appreciate how others feel and accommodate them more. We also have better understanding of others because we appreciate where we are coming from.

Racism comes through a feeling of unworthiness, of being ‘victimised’, of lacking the opportunities others have, and of being a failure. Someone has to pay for such low feelings and self-perception. This means a need for scapegoats in order to feel superior and to exercise personal power over others. Racist people tend to feel insignificant, isolated, wronged and unloved and they remedy that feeling of exclusion by blaming someone else for it instead and seeking opportunities to exercise that prejudice and resentment.

That is why racism will always be difficult to eradicate because it is not a social act. It’s an individual one. The causes of racism begin with the individual and can only be resolved by addressing the actions of individuals. It’s individual people who behave in a racist manner which is then enhanced by the group and validated by institutions. That is why institutions often remain racist and discriminatory in approach for a long time unless the individuals within them are encouraged to act otherwise.

Not only is the world experiencing unprecedented times due to the coronavirus pandemic, but now the United States is seeing extreme action against racism due to the brutal killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. Total outrage over racism is justified and is being exhibited by thousands of protesters and millions of peaceful people. There are people throughout the world who are also joining in the outrage over the racial bias and injustice against black people. Society is taking a stand against racism.

This certainly is not the first time that such injustice has occurred. Although the mistreatment can occur with white people, so many cases have happened over the years where black people were targeted and received unfair treatment simply because of the color of their skin. Innocent black men have been suspected of crimes just for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Black mothers and fathers regularly warn their sons about the possibility of it happening to them even if they are totally law abiding citizens going about their daily lives in a normal fashion.

George Floyd has become a symbol of the systemic racism which occurs in this country. Although his name and story might not have been known if he had lived, he unwittingly gave his life for the cause of justice. He may not have been a totally innocent person as he was being arrested on suspicion of a crime. He could have been guilty of doing something wrong. However, he was a relatively young man who did not deserve to die in that manner. His name and story will be remembered for years to come.

Perhaps if George Floyd had not died in the confrontation, his case would remain unknown. Others, both black and white, may have faced similar treatment from law enforcement officers. If they did not die, their experiences were likely not known. Even though some videos emerge showing brutal behavior by police officers, most do not result in consequences against the police. Their situation is not known to anyone other than close family or friends besides the police. Often nothing happens even with video coverage, and outrage does not occur.

We can look at the millions of successful black people who have become educated with degrees in the areas of law, medicine, and all fields or who became successful in other businesses without the benefit of higher education. Many are now living in upper class neighborhoods and having an abundance of money, but there is a good chance that they did not grow up privileged and that they faced racism in their lives. Even those who are now “rich and famous” have stated that they had also encountered racist issues and people in their lifetimes. Some are giving financial help to the cause.

Racism is nothing new. It should have been rectified by now in the United States, but there seemingly will always be some hateful people who consider themselves better than people of ethnic minorities. Although most elected officials proclaim to be against racism, there are some who seem to openly promote racial inequality such as the Congressman in Iowa who was just defeated in his Republican primary election. The prejudice and discrimination of the few continue to prevent the eradication of racism.

Asian Americans have experienced racism over the years. Racism was what caused the Chinese to be discriminated against in the Chinese Exclusion Act after Chinese immigrants had been such an important factor in the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Japanese immigrants faced extreme discrimination when laws were passed prohibiting further immigration from Japan. Americans of Japanese ancestry faced an ultimate case of severe racism when they were forcibly removed from their west coast homes and incarcerated in American concentration camps during World War II although they were innocent of any wrong doing.

Still, other ethnicities cannot claim to have been mistreated in the same racist manner as African Americans have been for decades and centuries. Racism should not be allowed to continue. Change should have come before now, but hateful people continue to perpetrate the racism which still exists.

Peaceful protests can help to bring about change, but they must stay peaceful in order to not cause further damage. It is gratifying to see so many white people joining in the peaceful protests against racism. Total outrage over racism is justified and long overdue, but it is important to not let violence and vandalism take over. It is a matter of civil rights to be treated fairly. It is definitely time for change.

Racism and bigotry are very common in this world unfortunately and many people have to face this sad reality.

Many immigrants feel that in their new country they’ve lost their confidence, they feel depressed and lost. In their home country, they were happy and successful with many friends and good job.

But coming to the new country, faced with racism, they’re not able to succeed in their career or be accepted, and can feel an underlying tone of resentment or negative energy coming towards them.

Racism is not only about race or religion it can be about sexual preference or anything at all. It is a question of being rejected for who you are for any reason.

The way to deal with racism is to first accept that every human being has ‘freedom of choice’ and has the right to think any way they want. This means that every person has the right to be a racist as you have a right to your choices of religion or country to live in etc.

Combine freedom of choice with the reality that choices are made based on education, be that good or bad education, or miss-guided judgment or simply the influence of marketing and media, things start to make sense.

It is clear that humans have a herd mentality, and think what they are told to think, without using personal experience or common sense. We must allow for people to be as blatantly stupid as they possibly can with following these racist and prejudiced attitudes. Humans are like animals, if you beat them enough times with a stick, they can become scared when the just see a stick. Likewise, if they hear prejudicial statements often enough, they will believe what they hear, regardless of being totally unfounded.

Thus, like any animal, their choices and prejudices, are very often put into their mind rather than being made with objective reason or wisdom. Racists can in this way be pitied for being a victim of mental manipulation.

The most important point to remember is that you are not God. You have no right to tell somebody what to think or believe, just as you insist that nobody should tell you what to think and believe. This means that if you want to believe in one religion and do not want anyone telling you to follow a different one, then you have no right to tell that person that they should not think your religion is bad. Everyone can think what they want, it is only fair.

Denouncing racism IS racism. Racism is a religion just like any other religion.

And so when we take all of these points together, we can look at somebody who is being a racist, and as long as there is no physical violence, we can accept that they’re stupid or closed minded and mentally poisoned, if that makes you feel better, and give them the freedom to be stupid.

Give them the freedom to have their racist and prejudiced attitudes because you demand the right to not be a racist. You have the freedom to not think and feel negativity towards somebody just because of the color of their skin or any other preference. We do not have a right to choose anything we want if we do not give others that same right.

And now, how to be immune to racism. When this racist person insults you, and you know that the insult or the basis for their negative view towards you personally, is totally false and without any validity whatsoever, you won’t get hurt or offended in any way.

As a five-year-old making a comment about your physical appearance would not insult you because it’s only a five year old, by the same token, a person of advanced years can be equally ignorant.

When faced with any racism or prejudices against you for any reason, if you allow them the right to be that way, and not take any offence whatsoever, you will exhibit such a strength of character that does not crumble under their attack and hatred, they will have to take notice.

That strength will show them that maybe their prejudice is not valid, and that despite their attacks, you can remain calm and strong, and not retaliate. Your difference is clearly superior to them in someway.

It is this way that you may change their view and maybe open their mind so they are no longer racist.

It may be a slow process, but it is one that is guaranteed to immediately benefit you from not feeling bad and at least have a chance to change the world over time.