Racism has been affecting the lives of many since the beginning of time. It didn't disappear when slavery ended nor did it disappear when Martin Luther King Jr. led the "March on Washington". We are living in the 21st century and it still has not vanished. I believe that my parents experienced more racism issues than I did, especially my father. He was born in the south, North Carolina where it really was ruff. He would tell me stories about how the schools were segregated and he couldn't even look at a Caucasian child. If he did, he would risk getting beat up or hung. My father also suffered from poverty. He came from a family of thirteen brothers and sisters. There was no such thing as buying new clothes every week and sometimes they didn't even have enough food on the table for every family member. His sisters and brothers had to share everything. It was also mandatory for them to work in the farming fields before and after school. When my father turned about 13 or 14, he moved to New York City to begin a better life. Although segregation and racism was still going on, he wasn't as bad in the northern part of the U.S. as it was in the South.
When hearing these stories from my father, I notice that he talks with much gratitude and appreciation. He understands that if it wasn't for his childhood being the way that it was, he wouldn't be as humble as he is today. I have never heard my father complain about anything. He never states that he had a rough childhood. He says that is was full of blessings because it could have been worse. He is glad that he labored as much as he did growing up because taught him the importance of hard work and dedication.
I also have come into contact with racism during my junior year of high school. A few chorus members, the director and I went to a Ihop restaurant after singing for a News Channel station. All of us are of the African American race. When entering the restaurant, we were not waited on immediately. Although there were host/hostess standing around, we were not acknowledged. As we were eating, we noticed that more than half of the customers and restaurant staff were staring at us with ugly expressions. We couldn't even eat in peace. After paying our bill, the looks of disgust were on their faces. It was so bad that we left the restaurant singing, "We shall overcome". This was the worst eating experience I have ever had. I believe that my chorus teacher finally filed a complaint but I do not know what the result was.
We are currently living in the 21st century and it is a shame that such ignorance is still being tolerated. Some children are being taught to like only the children that "look like them". I have even observed little girls in toy stores picking up baby dolls of a different race and hearing their mothers make statements such as "Put that one back. She doesn't look like you so that wouldn't be a good option." Come on America, we have to do better! We have to teach our children that each race brings something special to human kind. A person's skin color is simply an outer covering. An individual's inner spirit is what matters most.
I have enjoyed reading your post. The part about your father was especially touching, and I greatly respect how he embraced his obstacles and actually used them as a stepping stone to empower him. You have portrayed in him what I used to see in my own father. I also agree with what you stated regarding ignorance being tolerated. In my society, we have a different form of racism and prejudice, but I feel the same way you do. When I read stories about racism, I am especially astonished to hear that intellectual and religious people endorsed this sort of behavior as well. How can anyone who believes in God also believes that his or her race is better than someone else’s? It is really beyond my comprehension.
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