Skin color. Why do we judge man's character on what his skin looks like? "He's asian, he must be smart" "He's mexican, he must be lazy." "He's white, he must think he's better than everyone else" "He's black, he must be drug-driven, gang affiliated" Skin color is no more an indicator of man's character than his blood type, or his cholestrol. Some whites say they are not prejudiced against blacks, yet they don't like asians. Some blacks who pride themselves on being prejudiced against whites can't stand hispanics. And it goes on.
I think many of us say we are not racist, but how many times have we described some one based on their color, as if that is the one defining characteristic about them?
This year, I moved from The Bay Area of California, which is widely known for its very diverse culture, to a small pre-dominantly white town in Massachusetts. Never before have I experienced such racism. I am half white, and half Persian. I speak some Farsi, and am almost fluent in Spanish. But the thing is, many of the students in my new high school could not get past the color of my skin. I have been subjected to name-calling such as "dirty mexican" and "nigger" etc. I am not even mexican...I am not even black. I cannot help but be offended though, because if they think I am mexican, or black, than that it is an insult. I have many friends who are hispanic, black, asian, and white, but no matter how many times I have tried explaining that I am Persian, no one seems to understand. Sad though, isn't it?
Some say ignorance is bliss...I think we need to be a lot more informed about the races.
I am Persian, thus thrusting myself into the "Caucasian" category in everything. I find this offensive actually, because I am Middle Eastern and White. Not just Caucasian. Also, why do we mix together all eastern ethnicities into one--"asian?" Many asians feel offended as well because they can clearly see the difference between Japanese and Korean, Chinese and Cambodian, and yet we still group them together. "you are THIS because I say so!"
I am not trying to blame anyone, I think we are all equally at blame for racism in the world today, my question is, what can we do to stop it?
Wow, that really made me realize that i have never referred to people from the middle east as anything except asian. I believe that to stop racism, children should be taught from a young age to respect each other's diversity, ethnicity, and cultures.
I believe that to stop racism, we should all ignore race. Sure, be proud of where you're from; but if you live in the U.S.A., you are American. We are American. This attention to race frankly annoys me.
You are caucasian. Original tribes in the Middle Ease migrated from the Caucus mountains years ago, you are in fact a true caucasian.
They can see the difference but some people can't, especially those who don't know the small details that you have to understand to realize their country of origin. Calling someone from Korea, Japanese on accident pisses them off much more than calling them asian because most understand that we have no idea how to tell them apart, well some of us don't.
Stereotypes have truth in them, or they wouldn't be widely accepted or used. That doesn't mean we should use them but it means that it isn't entirely untrue either.
Good blog though.
oh! I didn't know that! (= thanks for telling me. Are all Middle Easterners considered Caucasian? Or just those that border southern europe, such as Turkey and Iran.
But then, I suppose those from Iraq and the such are classified under Arab, no?
Livin Ma life like its GOLDEN!
Hmm, I don't remember, I'll look it up and let you know.
ok! thanks. (=
Livin Ma life like its GOLDEN!
"The Caucasian race, sometimes called the Caucasoid race,[1][2] is defined by the Compact Oxford English Dictionary of Current English as "relating to a broad division of humankind covering peoples from Europe, Western Asia, parts of the Indian Subcontinent and parts of North Africa" or "white-skinned; of European origin" or "relating to the region of the Caucasus in SE Europe".[3] The concept originated in attempts chiefly by 19th c. European thinkers to develop a method of racial classification. This typological method was discredited and the concept is not relied on in scientific work related to humans.[4][5] People in Europe, especially in Russia and nearby, generally use the term "Caucasian" exclusively to identify people who are from the Caucasus region or who speak the Caucasian languages."
brought to you by wikipedia.
Thank you!
Livin Ma life like its GOLDEN!
I don't believe most people realize that their prejudice comments and their ignorance really hurts people.
I've even seen some Persians get upset when they are called Arab. They've made it known that they are Persian and that there is a difference.
I believe that we have to be some what conscious of the fact that yes, it is hard to tell the difference between all asians, all blacks, all white etc. I'm not expecting people to know that my father comes from Cameroon and not Nigeria, it's difficult to tell the difference.
I do think that people should be more sensative to other people's race and culture in order to become tolerant.
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"Most intellects do not believe in God, but they fear us just the same." - Erykah Badu
oh yes! I completely agree with you. I don't mind the first few times, because, people do forget that Persian and Arab are different; but once i have corrected the same person a few times, it gets a little irritating, and sometimes i wonder if they see there is a difference or if they see just a middle eastern person?
Livin Ma life like its GOLDEN!
It just goes to show you how stereotypical people truly are.
I've been the minority many times (even though I may be white & female). I lived right near Washington DC, & at school I was called "the little white girl." That's what I became known as, I was smart, but I could never be called the smart girl.
I wonder if situations like this gives the majority a sense of power, it must. It must make them feel better about themselves.
I now live in Texas (dominantly white) & I have pictures of my black friends & me all over my binder. The topic, during one of my classes, was how I am white & have black friends. I truly don't give a care what color you are, one's personality is what I judge by. The fact that i was singled out now as the white girl with mostly black friends just makes me angry. Why do other people have to give a care?