The Truth about Racism

The exact subject on Oprah that day escapes me. What I do remember was a woman telling a story about how she was put off of an airplane: a few of the other passengers felt uncomfortable about her obesity. She went on to say that fat people are kept from better jobs and are paid less because of their weight. Her comments smacked of coincidence. They all had the familiar ring of things said by other "minorities".

 

Too Many Similarities

The similarities in tone go way beyond the coincidental. All such statements are rooted in bitterness and pain; in year of emotional abuse. Words that express a myriad of emotions: anger, frustration, hate and a grave feeling of helplessness to change one's own situation. I have found these feelings that that are not only felt by racial minorities but they are held in common by all people. Most people may not know it, or even care to admit it, that are more similarities than differences "under the skin".

 

A Human Problem



No amount of current headlines are necessary to remind us that there is a "racial problem". There is absolutely no need of tales of neighborhood unrest or full scale rioting to remind us something is going on a daily basis. Plain truth of the matter is that not problem of the "races".

 

It's more than one ethnic group against another. Any hatred manifesting itself in our cities stems from fear and indifference. It's not so much black against Korean or white versus black. What it boils down to is, black against black, white versus white, Hispanic versus black; all the way down the wide human spectrum of human diversity. It's also man against woman and man against man. In spite of the thousands of years we've occupied this planet we have yet to learn how to treat each other with respect and sensitivity.

 

Disdain for anyone because of the color of their skin is purely a smoke screen. I've know blacks who have hated other blacks because they weren't dark enough. As well as Hispanics who disliked the other because they we'ren't light enough. It is much easier to be indifferent to someone than it is to take time to commit oneself to understanding and becoming involved with another person or group. Indifference is the root of it all.