RACISM AS PERCEPTION

          According to Wikipedia 'Racism consists of both prejudice and discrimination based in social perceptions of biological differences between peoples. It often takes the form of social actions, practices or beliefs, or political systems that consider different races to be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities. It may also hold that members of different races should be treated differently'. In other words, people should be treated differently based on the color of their skin and people are considered inferior/superior based on the color of their skin. Basically, the skin is the major problem here. But why should the color of my skin be a problem to anybody?

          Racism was considered 'dead' when it was formally banned in the 20th century. But is racism really dead? The answer is NO. Racism is very much alive.

            Mr. West was partially right. Yes, racism is alive; No, they don't conceal it(whoever they are). Last week, a friend and I wanted to grab a quick lunch at Burger King and we got lost so we were asking for directions. Then we saw this man-he was white of course-and as we approached him he spat on the ground. And he was shaking his head and saying 'No, I don't have any money'. Then he entered his car and drove off. And i'm like,

I just experienced racism in it's full form, in broad daylight, in the 21st century. Black people have been so stereotyped that every black male is a criminal and every black female is a whore. In the case of that man we were homeless beggars. I was not dressed like a beggar neither was my friend and we even looked cleaner than he was so I couldn't understand why he thought we were beggars. It was baffling and disturbing to say the least.

I saw this picture on the internet and I was like 'Seriously, people still say stuffs like this in the 21st century?' Why should you be in jail cos you are a black teenager? Are all black teenagers criminals? So white people don't commit crimes too?. If you are walking down an alley at night and see a black male coming towards you and you begin to panic or cross to the other side of the road then you are a bloody racist. Because you assumed that he was going to rob or attack you cos he's black.

          We can never truly leave in peace if we don't change our perception about people's race, either black, white, Asian or whatever. We need to stop assuming and judging people based on the color of their skins. If we can learn to see each other as brothers-or sisters- instead of distant strangers then the world would be a better place. P.S that's a line from Tupac's song lol. Peace

 

HUMAN ASSUMPTIONS: ARE THEY ALWAYS WRONG?

        As humans we tend to judge people by the way they talk, look, dress and even sometimes by merely looking at them, we come up with such bizzare assumptions that could land us in ICU if other humans could read our minds (Thank God they can't :D). It's human nature to assume and judge people without actually knowing them. It's in our DNA, we were designed that way by God (or any other supernatural being you believe created the world) and we can't help it. I will make assumptions about people, my children will, my grandchidren, great grandchildren -till wherever my generation decides to end- will make assumptions because we are HUMANS. While it's bad to make assumptions, sometimes we are right about our assumptions.
          For instance, you see a girl standing at the red light district-or whatever they call it in America- and she is wearing this super short skirt and this blouse that leaves nothing to the imagination with these extra high heels. And yeah she's also holding a cigarette and chewing gum (I know what you're thinking already lol). You assume 'Yeah, she's a slut'. But you wanna give her the benefit of doubt and follow the instruction written in the HolyScriptures which says 'Judge not' and you're like maybe she's just one innocent teenage girl that missed her way home and is waiting for her mom to come pick her...LOL. Then VROOOOM, a Ferrari speeds by and parks where she's standing, she leans down at the drivers side and after a few minutes of 'talk' lo and behold, she enters the car and off they go. And you're like 'Told you, she's actually a slut'. Cos yeah, she is a slut. Innocent teenage girls don't dress that way and stand in the middle of the road at night duhhhh!
        Basically people view/judge you by your outward appearance before they get to know the 'inner' you. People would assume you are indecent if you dress indecent, same way they would assume you are married if you wear a wedding ring. Humans are always going to make assumptions based on what they see-that's always the first thing-and what they hear.  Trying to keep your outward appearance in check-and by outward appearance i mean they way we dress, talk, walk, basically our personal appeal-is a way to prevent people from making the wrong assumptions. If you dress like a homeless person, people would assume you are homeless. If you talk like you have no sense, people would assume you have no sense. If you walk like a drunk, of course people would think you are drunk. People would always talk and think and assume and judge but you could disappoint them by not giving them something to judge with in the first place. But as humans can never be pleased the best thing to do is not to give a....for lack of a non-offensive word i'll just skip that part, sorry. Ignore whatever people say cos humans will always talk/assume anyways but don't give them reasons to make the wrong assumptions. It's ok if they judge and make up their own assumptions but NEVER give people reasons to judge you wrongly. Peace.