Dehumanization

My grandfather is a lovable, passionate man, however his one fault is that he’s a racist. Ever since I was little he has always told me, “No juegas con esta hente.” This means don’t play with those kind of people; those kind of people referring to African Americans. When I was around the age of seven, my mother couldn’t take care of me during the day therefore, she sent me to a babysitter who I later referred to as my “nana”. Needless to say she was African American but one of the sweetest old ladies you could ever meet. My grandfather however did not see my “nana” for who she was, but saw her for what she was, African amercian.
My grandfather did everything in his power to have my mother reconsider my new babysitter. He made countless excuses as to why she wasn’t suitable for the job, but the most justifiable excuse of all as he thought was that she was inferior to all other races. He told my mother and father that “the nigger is garbage and no good to the human race”. He also said that she wasn’t able to care for me because she was too insipid to do so. I was scheduled to leave my “nana’s” home at 4:00 P.M. , but my grandfather insisted to pick me up at precisely 2:30 when he was let out of work.
This scenario clearly resides under the waste product category of dehumanization. My grandfather showed hatred and saw black as inferior as well as useless. “The negro race is …a heritage of organic and psychic debris”, Stated by Dr. William English in 1903. This statement is precisely what my grandfather thought of African Americans. Thankfully, my mother kept me with my “nana” and my view of African Americans never was altered. Now, I see African Americans as my equal and I do not see them as inferior.
Every year my mother would take me to the Micosukee Indian Festival in the everglades, and every year I would invite a different friend to see the culture and alligator shows. Two years ago I invited my friend Serrena who I’ve been friends with since the seventh grade. She is a happy go lucky person who is friends with everyone. I have never seen her get into any confrontation with anyone over anything. When I asked her to go with me to the festival she was a little skittish, so in response I asked her why she was acting so strangely. She told me that “Indians are weird and that they aren’t normal.” After that vague description I asked her to elaborate. She sighed and began to explain, “Indians are savages who never learned American customs who are just out for our tax money that we work hard to pay.” I was flabbergasted and asked her to at least come to the festival, of which she obliged.
Serrena marveled at the alligator shows as the Indians stuck their heads into the alligators mouths. After the show Serrena told me that the reason the alligator didn’t snap it’s powerful jaws onto the Indians head was because they was were one. I looked at her questionably and she said “I told you, they’re vermin they’re animals. I’m not joking.” I stood open mouthed before my friend in awe that such a brilliant person could actually believe the gibberish that was leaving her mouth. “Do you really believe that?” I questioned. “They live on dirt, drink from rivers, and dance like monkeys, what other reason would they do that?” I argued no further and we went home.
To this day I attend the Indian festivals annually and I have brought Serrena along. Needless to say she now has appreciation for the Indian culture and their struggle. I am glad to say that she has caught the “Indian fever”. How Serrena viewed Indians was dehumanizing. It was from the animal category and is extremely demeaning.