Reflective Essay: Prejudice And Racism

As a biracial kid, an outsider may think I’ve grown up aware of racial issues. Surprisingly though I haven’t, and until recently I had been mostly ignorant of the racism that is still present in our modern day society. Looking back I can understand why. I was born in New York City but my earliest memories are from living in New Hampshire, a state where the population is about 90 percent white. Although at this age I felt strange living in a place where there were so few minorities, at the time I was young and everyone was so friendly that our differences didn’t seem to be significant. The fact that I had a darker skin tone than all of my friends didn’t faze me, and in all honesty I didn’t feel like I was black.

My first real exposure to diversity was when I moved back to New York. Living somewhere with so much diversity, I was suddenly exposed to people of many different races, religions, and cultures. It was somewhat of a culture shock, but soon enough it became something I enjoyed. Recognizing people’s differences and learning about their

As a child, race was something that didn’t matter. My perception on race now is that it does matter. Although ultimately we should treat everyone with respect, it has become important to acknowledge that some people are disadvantaged because of their race. Though some people are educating themselves, others remain ignorant. Although I feel more aware now, I’m still learn more about race and racism every day along with others. The progress that America is making as a whole is small but important. It’s important that we educate and respect each other. A time where racism doesn’t exist is likely impossible, there are always people who will choose to be ignorant, but becoming aware of the oppression people of color face is something that can help us improve our society. Though ignorance can be bliss, not everyone has the privilege of staying