RETHINKING RACISM
For far too long we have believed in the dictionary definition of “racism”, which has formed the basis of debates, attitudes and laws as well as the thinking and relating patterns which are used throughout all of the societies of our small planet. In its very definition, according to Webster’s dictionary, racism is a belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular group thus producing racial prejudice or discrimination. In addition, a racist is defined as one who subscribes to this definition as truth and therefore practices the defined belief.
I hold that it is time to eliminate this word from our dictionaries, attitudes, laws, debates, from our very minds as it is fallacious and has caused countless years of pain, suffering and sorrow to the entire Human Race. For you see, there is, has been and forever will be only ONE RACE on this planet and that is the HUMAN RACE! Unfortunately, our HUMAN RACE has been divided by those who wish to cause domination of one group over another and this has been played out in civilization after civilization. Even that word, civilization defies its own meaning when we truly look at what we have termed “racism”. How can a group of people consider themselves civilized (developed out of a primitive state) when they purposefully divide themselves OR EVEN WORSE, allow themselves to be divided by others according to skin color, hair and eye color, shape of noses, body parts, and all other manner of PRIMITIVE THINKING AND JUDGMENT?
Let us look at how this foolish idea has been spread. From my childhood days I can easily recall the images given to my ethnic group through the media, the job pool, the images on store products causing attitudes that achieved the general mind-set that one color of skin was far superior and preferential to another. This general mind-set spread from one generation to the next and continues still today throughout the media in all of its forms.
Which one of you in America has not seen “Uncle Ben’s” rice or “Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Mix” and “Aunt Jemima’s Pancake Syrup”? Even today those products carry the same old image from the 1940’s and 50’s. A dark skinned man with a balding head and a dark-skinned woman with a bandana tied around her head. These images are certainly not the stature of products such as those with pictures of their makers like Colonel Sanders and Paul Newman’s Own. Some might call this gentle persuasion and ‘soft’ advertising. I call it blatant and intentional division of ethnic groups through the stilted use of imagery.
Even today in 2009, the media still persists in carrying the image of one ethnic group as superior to another by simply continuing to hire and promote beauty as existing mostly in one ethnic group. This has changed to some degree, but still lacking is an equal representation in the media advertisements of the peoples of Asia, Latin and South America, India, Pakistan, Africa and all other ethnic groups not of the European or Caucasian persuasion.
Go into any large department store and look at any images that might be displayed. What ethnic group is most represented? The same is true for magazines, movies, newspapers, ad infinitum. Our American culture is no longer dominated by one ethnic group. Even in the mid-west where I grew up in a basically two ethnic group society, this situation no longer exists. Throughout our country one sees the beauty of the various ethnic groups from all over our planet. Our outer picture has changed. Now it is time to change the inner mind-set to reflect the outer reality.
When we look at the world in general we can easily see that the one ethnic group that claims dominance is in fact the only minority that exists. Perhaps this is why the attitude has been taken and maintained. Might we say that this has been a long standing defense mechanism because of the true lack of sheer numbers on the planet when all ethnic groups are accounted for in total? It definitely is a thought provoking idea.
Since our laws are made to reflect our society it is a long overdue idea that we should take such words as “race”, “racism”, “ racist” and all other such terms out of our language. REMOVE THEM. Let’s speak the truth. What is practiced on our planet is ETHNIC EXCLUSIVITY in many ways and forms. It is NOT racism because, as aforementioned, there is ONLY ONE RACE on our planet……the HUMAN RACE.
As we consider eliminating these ill-conceived words and thoughts that have produced mind-sets, let us remember to stop using those words and possessing those attitudes each of us in our own lives.
It really is time to “grow up” on this planet and accept who we truly are……ONE RACE, THE HUMAN RACE, living on ONE planet under ONE sun and ONE moon. When we adopt this new mind-set we can move on to include all of our‘relatives.’
