I have become more aware lately of the blatant racism that still exists in the US. Even in Houston, which is a very interracial city, so I always figured we were used to other races and accepted them. It's just not true. Though our city is very racially diverse, we still segregate ourselves. I've been noticing this in places I didn't expect, and it's not just segregation because of our cultural differences, it's an inherent belief that a lot of us carry. People have said to me, "you wouldn't get it; you're white," or other things of that nature, and it horrifies me.
Are we very culturally different? Of course. Is it understandable that we may like to hang around people of our own culture sometimes? Absolutely. But that doesn't give us some excuse to completely cut ourselves off from other cultures. Isn't it true that we can learn from each other? God, I hope so, because doing that is the only way to truly co-exist and not just live with each other.
Am I the only one this is happening to? Am I just "too white" to be accepted by other cultures? I'm sure I do act very "white," but guess what, that actually is NOT my fault. I am not a closed minded racist, I was just raised differently than you. I accept your differences and would like to learn from them, if only you would let me. And this is not just a racial barrier; other white people were raised differently from me, too. So, why is this such an issue between us?
I don't know if we'll ever be past this. It amazes me that it still holds such a precedence in our everyday lives. People who I am around a lot want to hang around other people of their race most of the time. That would be fine, but when they talk badly about you when you're not there, basically, because you're white, that's where it goes too far. When they actually don't want to be around you for no good reason, that's when I not only get personally insulted and hurt, but horrified about our society as a whole.
This isn't really about racism, it's about intolerance overall. I think we can all agree that our society could use a hell of a lot more tolerance. This isn't really about pointing the finger; I'm sure I do more of this in my own life than I realize, but I do try very hard to rise above that, so I'd really like to remind others to do the same. It IS a big deal. It does have a gigantic impact on our society, and we could learn so much and accomplish SO much more if we could all learn to rise above it. Not to mention getting to personally know some really amazing people.
Are we very culturally different? Of course. Is it understandable that we may like to hang around people of our own culture sometimes? Absolutely. But that doesn't give us some excuse to completely cut ourselves off from other cultures. Isn't it true that we can learn from each other? God, I hope so, because doing that is the only way to truly co-exist and not just live with each other.
Am I the only one this is happening to? Am I just "too white" to be accepted by other cultures? I'm sure I do act very "white," but guess what, that actually is NOT my fault. I am not a closed minded racist, I was just raised differently than you. I accept your differences and would like to learn from them, if only you would let me. And this is not just a racial barrier; other white people were raised differently from me, too. So, why is this such an issue between us?
I don't know if we'll ever be past this. It amazes me that it still holds such a precedence in our everyday lives. People who I am around a lot want to hang around other people of their race most of the time. That would be fine, but when they talk badly about you when you're not there, basically, because you're white, that's where it goes too far. When they actually don't want to be around you for no good reason, that's when I not only get personally insulted and hurt, but horrified about our society as a whole.
This isn't really about racism, it's about intolerance overall. I think we can all agree that our society could use a hell of a lot more tolerance. This isn't really about pointing the finger; I'm sure I do more of this in my own life than I realize, but I do try very hard to rise above that, so I'd really like to remind others to do the same. It IS a big deal. It does have a gigantic impact on our society, and we could learn so much and accomplish SO much more if we could all learn to rise above it. Not to mention getting to personally know some really amazing people.
