Enlightenment Vs Unenlightenment Regarding Racism
Enlightenment Vs. Unenlightenment Regarding RacismThere is no doubt that racism exists in the United States. Almost everyone can admit this. The interesting part is that some people will admit that they themselves are racist while others will claim that they are enlightened and that they are not racist or prejudiced. The truth is that the one who can admit he is racist is actually the enlightened one. Someone who claims he is enlightened and that he does not see color is in the dark, he is unenlightened.
It is a sad truth that being racist is more natural in American society than to not be. As Robert Heilbroner says in Don’t Let Stereotypes Warp Your Judgments, “Stereotypes are one way in which we ‘define’ the world in order to see it. They classify the infinite variety of human beings into a convenient handful of ‘types’ towards whom we learn to act in stereotyped fashion. Life would be a wearing process if we had to start from scratch with each and every human contact.”
Our country has a long history of racism that continues today. Racism is perpetuated everywhere we look. We have the stereotypical Asian American in our television sitcoms and we have the token Black American in our advertisements. One who can admit that this is not satisfactory in being an accurate depiction of our population has her eyes open. It is important to realize that the fight against the ignorance of racism has only just begun. Someone who is enlightened admits she is racist so she may then move on to become educated toward a better understanding of her experience and the experience of others. Admitting you are racist encourages you to notice the prevalence of racism in our world and in ourselves. Admitting you are racist can be painful for us white-folk and for everyone because you have to admit to yourself how sick it is, but this is the beginning of the freedom. Just like the drug addict who finally comes out of denial, realizing your sickness is the only way toward health.
I have often heard my fellow White Americans claim that they are not prejudiced...
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