Racism has existed throughout human history. It entails the abhorrence of one person by another due to the belief that that other person is less than human being because of his or her language, customs, especially his or her skin color or any other factor that exposes the essential nature of that person (“Racism”). For me, the belief with regards racism still depends on one’s upbringing. Family is the basic foundation of one’s beliefs and points of view of an individual, and as such, one’s family background and upbringing either helps or avoid the development of a racist attitude. It should start in the parents’ advices and lessons with their children. As a daughter and sister, I will treat all my relatives, whether they are of different races, equally. I will love them just like how I love my parents and siblings. Being a student, my viewpoints regarding racism has been altered when my eyes has been opened into different perspectives. I learned that all humans, whatever race they belong, are equal, especially in God’s eyes. Therefore, I, as an individual and as a human, must treat all human beings with respect, without discrimination and prejudice. I need not be an ethnocentric who believes that the basic standard and principles of life and everything around me is anchored to the culture where I belong and to the country where I live in.
As a neighbor:
I will respect all my neighbors, whether he or she is from the same race that I came from or not. If someone talks to me who has a different color of skin, I will speak to him or her in such a way that he or she will not be intimidated or will not feel different with me. I will establish a good rapport with my neighbors who belong in a different race, especially those of my same age so that they can also feel that they belong in our community. If there are new neighbors of different color or language, I will introduce myself to them and address them with their names. I will let them tell stories about the place they come from so that I can have their background; in return, I will listen to them and tell some personal anecdotes too.
As a student:
I will talk to my classmates of different color, tradition or language, courteously and treat them just like everyone else. I am aware that they are sensitive with regards to race treatment, so I will watch out for my words and action and make sure I will not hurt them. If a professor has given reading assignments written by authors of the different nationality and ethnicity, I will read them and pay attention to what they want to say. I will pull out from my thinking the notion that non-American or non-European authors are inferior to those Americans and Europeans. I will or I can join organizations advocating the equality of races and eliminating discriminations.
If I have professors of diverse colors and language, I will respect them just like how I respect the professors of my same race. I will listen to their lectures, as a sign of respect and value, do my assignments and perform well in class. I will talk to them politely because I have this conviction that all people are equal regardless of the place they came from, the color of their skin, the language that they speak and the traditions and customs that they live with and believe in.
Work Cited
- “Racism.” 2001. Anti-Defamation League. 16 January 2009