Are you Racist?

What is Racism?

Slavery in America was the last topic that we touched on in my American History class before our semester ended, and Stan* decided to go out with a bang. Writing the equivalent of a mini essay, he spoke of the need for education and understanding towards the issue of race and racism. Generic? Just a little. Off course? Completely. Why? Because race is not a complex issue that is tough to understand.
The subject of race is a minefield. We often find ourselves tiptoeing around the topic, terrified to slip up and make a seemingly innocent comment or joke that will label us as a RACIST. Let’s face it, after you receive that title, you may as well join a leper colony. Even they may oust you. What is it about this one word that has people reluctant to bring it up in a multi-racial environment? What does racism even mean, and could you unknowingly be racist?

Simply put, race is defined as the color of your skin and place of origin. Nothing more. Following this definition, “racism” is discrimination against someone of a different skin color or place of origin. I tried explaining this to Stan, kindly suggesting that he is confusing the term “race” with the term “culture” yet he still persisted that race was more involved than my basic definition.
I then asked him to explain to me what information is given in the “race” column of a job application or a test form (answer: skin color and/or place of origin). Surely, I inquired, Stan doesn’t think “Caucasian” or “Pacific Islander” is a lifestyle? Or does he?

Stan isn’t a unique case. We often bond our skin color to our culture and lifestyle. Some of the more narrow minded individuals (racists) make pre-emptive judgments about someone’s character based upon their skin color. Some examples that I’ve actually heard are phrases like, “White people have it easy. All black people are athletic. Ship all of the Mexicans out of here; they’re all dumb illegals who can’t speak English”. Of course, these are nothing but stereotypes but are commonly mistaken for truth.
It’s ridiculous how people tend to discriminate against others over something that they have no control over, unless there are expectant parents out there in doctor’s offices across the U.S. picking their baby’s skin tone from a color wheel.

How does the media further support the concept of racism?

Sitcoms are iconic for establishing stereotypical roles for diverse social groups, including race. White people are often depicted as snobs or beyond a hard day’s work. Black people in sitcoms often take on the role of the slapstick comedian or the criminal. Latinos are often the aloof menial laborers. We all know that the show is strictly for entertainment value, but how much of this stereotypical behavior about one another do we adopt as truth?

Unfortunately, seemingly objective points of view such as the news also bolster the concept of racism. You see, the media has the ability to filter what they broadcast, thus telling a version of a truth instead of remaining completely objective. To prove this, I went on my local news station’s website to visit the “crime” section. Every criminal on there was a minority with the exception of one white male. According to a statistic taken in 2008 separating crime by race in America, there was a mere six percent difference that divided black and white criminals. Why then, are we seeing only one race primarily represented in our media concerning crime?

So are you racist?

Most of us would give an adamant “no” without questioning but let us think for a moment. Do you laugh when someone tells a racist joke or agree with a snide presumption that someone makes about their peer by simply judging them off of their skin color? Do you spread that joke or remark to others to share in a laugh? Do you buy into the stereotypes that the media presents to us? Racism isn’t always aggressive and outspoken discrimination against someone who is a different color than our own; it can take a more harmful and contagious passive approach. Next time we click on the T.V. or hear another person being degraded for no other reason than the color they were born with, don’t take part in it. In fact, do one better and speak up.

*Name changed to protect actual student’s confidentiality
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_crime_in_the_United_States#Current_crime_rate_statistics