Personal Narrative My Experiences with Racism My perception of our world is that racism exists everywhere, even in the land of liberty, America. I am aware of the fact that there is racism against not only blacks, but also whites, Asians, along with people from all other ethnicities. I believe racism is deplorable in any form. Therefore I do my best not to be racist in any way. One of my earliest remembered experiences that have affected me with this was a black individual was in Kindergarten. During recess one day I was playing with friends and then I was called in for pushing a black girl into some mud, which I had not done. After a couple of my friends accounted for me during that recess period, the young girl finally confessed that it was her own fault for getting muddy. Her motive for getting someone else in trouble for it was she did not want her mom to be angry at her for getting her new clothes so dirty. This experience made me slightly racist towards blacks for a short period. This experience does not really relate back to democracy that much. My next major influence was my first grade teacher. I remember most of that school year was spent on Martin Luther King Jr. That was the first time I had learned about racism, and what had happened in the past to blacks, amongst others. That school year had a great impact on me and it has changed me ever since to treat all people fairly, no matter what color, sex, intelligence level, social class, etc. This experience has taught me the meaning of democracy, and how to practice it. My third major influence on my view of others was my friend’s sister and her racist point of view. Whenever I would be over at my friend’s house and we would listen to any type of hip-hop or rap music, she would always call us the ‘N’ word. She would also accuse us of acting black and so-on just for listening to a certain type of music, wearing a certain style of clothes or whatever, she would always get her racist remarks heard. The funny thing about this is she’s a hypocrite. She used to listen to the same type of music with her friends, and she used to wear the same brand and style of clothes that we wear now, so I do not understand how she can say anything to us.
Personally, I have never experienced any form of racism so far in my life; possibly because it is looked down upon. Though this is true, there are African Americans claims to experience racism in their everyday life. When taking leisurely walks to clear their minds or just for good exercise people complains that during these walks and in other instances throughout the day, they notice that people act differently around them. Specifically, people would cross the street to switch sidewalks and women would cling a little tighter to their purses. Even go so far as to wait for the next elevator. Some might feel like it is easier just to avoid eye contact. Over time the population has tried harder to pretend that they treat everyone equally but the way the media brings up racism is
I have heard a white person tell a black person, that he or she does not act black. I have also heard the statement, “I am not racist, I have a lot of black friends.” When I hear statements like these, it makes me think that people are trying to negatively compare white and black people, even if they are not meaning to. Although I wish we could combat prejudice in the society, I don’t think that we can ever truly stop it, and racism will always be a problem in America” (Friedman, 2007). Unless people stop forming negative stereotypes about different races other than their own, prejudice and discrimination towards races will always be apparent, and passed down to
An influence that made an impact throughout our historical events, and in my culture was Cesar Chavez . He is was a civil rights activist and a labor leader who fought for improving the working conditions and fair amount of pay for farm workers. He would lead marches called boycotts, and also did hunger strikes . Before he did all this he himself , with his family worked in the fields as farm workers. Cesar Chavez hardened by his experience and dedicated his life to improving the treatment with nonviolence .
Question One: Some examples of how racism continues to exist is through: housing, in the criminal justice system, environmental, and even with health care. With housing African Americans are affected because they live in poverty stricken areas. With this comes lower education amongst other issues. They are not given preference for loans and therefore being obligated to live in areas that are dangerous or not properly funded. When it comes to the criminal justice system they are racially profiled and usually a victim of a vicious attack by the police. African Americans are more likely to get stopped; they also make up the majority in the incarceration system because they are more likely to get charged. With this causing families to lose a family
not be their fault, it may be the way they were brought up, or perhaps
Throughout time, some views on particular issues in society change dramatically while others remain unchanged. Sometimes, only one aspect of the issue is perceived differently while the rest of the topic stays the same. This is demonstrated well in the case of racism. In the United States, racism itself has not changed, but the allotment for what is considered acceptable has. Racism deals with the actual outward discrimination upon a race or the mental process of thinking a race inferior to your own. This phenomenon exists in the U.S. today just as it existed in the first years of the nation's existence; however, the way it is perceived has changed drastically. Abraham Lincoln and Harriet Beecher Stowe expressed similar though not identical views of the African-American race and a belief that blacks are rational human beings. A hundred years later, Malcolm X held a dramatically different view of racism and the extent to which it affects society as a whole.
I was late for school, and my father had to walk me in to class so that my teacher would know the reason for my tardiness. My dad opened the door to my classroom, and there was a hush of silence. Everyone's eyes were fixed on my father and me. He told the teacher why I was late, gave me a kiss goodbye and left for work. As I sat down at my seat, all of my so-called friends called me names and teased me. The students teased me not because I was late, but because my father was black. They were too young to understand. All of this time, they thought that I was white, because I had fare skin like them, therefore I had to be white. Growing up having a white mother and a black father was tough. To some people, being black and white is a contradiction in itself. People thought that I had to be one or the other, but not both. I thought that I was fine the way I was. But like myself, Shelby Steele was stuck in between two opposite forces of his double bind. He was black and middle class, both having significant roles in his life. "Race, he insisted, blurred class distinctions among blacks. If you were black, you were just black and that was that" (Steele 211).
Just as Zora Neale Hurston explained in her article, “How it Feels to be Colored Me,” I never thought much about race until I was about thirteen years old during my junior high school years. As Zora stated, “I remember the very day that I became colored” (30). I, too, recall the day I realized that I was white and that it meant something more than just a Crayola color. No longer was white just a color; it was the race I belonged to with its own rules and regulations.
Discursive Essay on Racism Racism has existed for centuries, but during the last two hundred years hatred toward ethnic minorities or even majorities has fluctuated. Racism occurs all over the world, can happen to anyone and will always exist. There are three different forms of racism, open racism, violent racism and secret racism all express forms of hatred towards ethnic groups. These forms of racism, although different, all have the same main purpose, to promote hate towards ethnic groups. Open racism expresses freedom of racial thought and speech.
Racism is a setback in personal relations between people of different cultures. My family comes from Mexican descent and is constantly being shunned. I personally had never been discriminated because of my race or my culture, but it all changed the day my mother decided it would be a good idea to take a trip with my father. My family isn’t a family hard to identify; we look, act, and talk like Mexicans and that caused a bitter disagreement up north. For the first time I experienced the horrors of racial discrimination.
I appreciated your quick reply, it was a surprise and needless to say very well received.
I just got done working a 9-5 double shift of course ; I came in body sore as ever I walked over to open up my window when I saw it was shattered by a brick. Instead of being in fear I felt rage. How dare they break my window that I paid my money for. I picked up the brick and it had a note on it, The note read:
I am Black. I am African. I am advocate for LGBTQ+. I am a daughter. I am great friend. I am female. I am a sister. I am against animal cruelty and testing. I am very friendly. I am welcoming of any and every one from different backgrounds and religions and I am great friend. Only 4 of those statements people will look over. The rest of those statements someone will judge me for it. Someone will look at me differently. Someone will treat me differently. I have seen and experienced this first hand and I have also overcome it. It was summer 2014, my mom signed me up for swimming team. My swim teacher was male and for this story we will call him Mr. Jay. Our swim team meet up every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and sometimes Saturday for practice.
The movie was an interesting movie because it has the ability to make you react with many emotions. The movie follows characters that live in Los Angeles and the characters are involved in each other characters’ lives. With each character I had a first impression and I would most of the time end up with different impressions of them in the end. There are a few concepts I noticed and created after watching the film. I had a variety of emotions while watching the film, the most notable emotions were angry to hopeful. Regarding racism the action I could take is to not always rely on stereotypes.
Wait. Be still. Don't go over the line. Don't let go. Wait for it. "BANG!" My reactions were precise as I sprung out of the blocks. The sun was beating down on my back as my feet clawed at the blistering, red turf. With every step I took, my toes sunk into the squishy, foul smelling surface, as my lungs grasped for air. Everything felt the way it should as I plunged toward my destination. I clutched the baton in my sweaty palms, promising myself not to let go. My long legs moved me as fast as I could go as I hugged the corner of the line like a little girl hugging her favorite teddy bear. The steps were just like I had practiced. As I came closer to my final steps, my stomach started twisting and my heart beat began to rise. The different colors of arrows started to pass under my feet, and I knew it was time.