Not a Black and White Issue

In light of the holiday passed, I thought I’d write out some thoughts on racism.

The first think I’d like to say is that almost every term in the whole of the racist argument is bogus. For example: African-American, White-Hispanic-American, Latin-American. When you are born in America, you assume the title American, no attachments, we’re all americans.

Heritage is a great thing, don’t get me wrong, but in the present, you’re an American with the same amount of opportunity as your fellow American, the naming of groups of people just delves to deeply in to the caste system. We’re all created equal, right?

More bogus terms in the racist argument: Race, and any derivatives thereof.

The problem I have with the word “race” is that it just separates the people. (Dictionary Definition: each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics)

Major divisions? Are you kidding me? Look up Ebony and Ivory, listen to the lyrics. We sing that song, wondering why people can’t stop hating people different than them, and we still use the word “race”? It’s definition shows that it’s meant to separate. It denotes physical characteristics as if we’re animals.

Ah, yes, this species is white, they’re good at being privileged, rich slave-masters that hate on this other species, the black ones that are only peaceful and always the victim. Very, very evolutionist.

I don’t want to get into the politics of the situation, because the issue is much more personal. The word “race”, though, is what causes the entire racism problem.

No, it’s not about the color of your skin. Black, white, yellow, red, it doesn’t matter. Everyone is human. The stark contrast, like black on white, between skin colors is not the focus of this. It’s about one man respecting another. One man treating another as he would treat himself.

The issue isn’t whether or not people with black skin should be equal in America (that’s  already been determined a big fat yes). The problem is that people see black-skinned people as different, and think that because they don’t look alike they’re not actually human.

Dehumanization is causing problems on both sides, and it goes both ways. When people say Blacks, or Whites, they’re referring to their stereotypical image of the other race.

When the argument is removed from a personal relationship with the person/people in question, and it’s turned into a legal battle over wether or not the minority race is being treated equally, a black man can refer to Blacks, as one person. Blacks, in his mind, is a guy that has been beaten down, abused, and mistreated, and someone who he wants to free and allow to flourish. Meanwhile Whites, to him, is a man who takes advantage of the majority vote, and abuses Blacks, shamelessly taking advantage of him at every opportunity, in every arena.

You can’t lump all of the people with black skin into one “race”, just as you can’t do it with white-skinned people. We’re all individual. If I were black, I know I’d want to be known for my personality, a collection of traits that only I possess.

No, the issue isn’t that a long time ago people cared what color you were, nor that a long time ago people beat you, depending on what color you were. It’s not that simple.

The issue is man to man; respect, or disrespect. The issue is that people don’t overlook something as… uh, skin-deep… as skin. The issue is the enmity we have towards fellow men who are precious in the eyes of God, even as we are. The issue is the trespasses made by both sides (sides created by stupid, stupid, stupid politicians) that pit brothers against brothers.

This issue isn’t  clean-cut, as you can see. It’s definitely not black and white, right and wrong.