Personal Reflection Narrative

Personal Reflection Narrative

Making a Difference in Racism

Introduction

The one thing regarding which I want to make a difference in this world is racism. The basic physiology and anatomy is the same among all human beings. Yet, differences are present in their appearance, physical viability and adaptability, cranial structure, color of the skin, and various other such factors. These characteristics are carried on from generation to generation. These traits are also affected by the geographical and environmental differences. At the end, however, we're all human beings that deserve to be respected. But I have noticed that not all people show respect and solidarity towards other human beings who are different from them in terms of race and ethnicity.

To me, racism is a gloomy word; it is as dark as the night, and this darkness is a clear reflection of the hearts of those who are racists. I want to talk about racism that is not just limited to places located far away, but the racism that prevails here in the United States. Talking and discussing about the problem is important because we can only come up with solutions and a plan of action if we dwell upon the issue. I want this issue to be discussed on not just a national level, but international level as well.

On my fourth day in South Africa, when I was walking down the street with my female friend who was black, many people disturbed our conversation by screaming and calling out, "Hey, she's colored and you're white." I've found the concept of racism to be very common in the United States as when I used to walk with friends, people used to even stick their heads out of the windows of their cars just to yell, “Stay with people from your own race.”

I find the laws in this regard to be of significant importance and something that needs to be reformed on a national level as apartheid laws in South Africa preferred supremacy of the white on people of all other races. In South Africa, I talked to white people who reminisced about the days when apartheid laws were practiced and they were in a much better situation. In the United States, I talked to a white man on the phone who thought I was white, and he tried to differentiate between the pictures that come up when white and black people talk about positive action by asking me to notice the difference between "that black guy in Florida and me and you are discussing position action.”

Under apartheid laws, you were better off if you had a lighter skin tone in South Africa. This is because many people in the U.S. and many other parts of the world have the belief that lighter skin tones are better and such people are better as persons. In order to make a difference for this menace called racism, I lately participated in a brown/black conference which was about building coalition between the Latino and ...