Racism is treating another group of people unjustly based on their skin color. It can come in the form of alt-right white members rallying in support of racist ideologies or in the simplest act of not sitting next to someone in class due to their skin color.
Two weekends ago, the country was reminded of the seemingly ever-present racist mentalities still existing within the nation. In case you weren’t able to catch up on the details, here is a quick run-down of what took place.
On Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug. 12, alternative right groups protested the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue located in Charlottesville, Virginia. Titled the ‘Unite the Right’ rally, it was organized by members identifying with groups such as neo-confederates, neo-Nazis, the Ku Klux Klan and the list goes on. The rally first got attention when protesters marched through Charlottesville chanting racist phrases and carrying tiki-torches.
The next day members of church groups, the nearby Virginia State University and several left-wing groups formed a counter protest in response to the rally. Tension between the two assemblies was high, and Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe declared a state of emergency when the rally soon escalated into a riot. The height of the conflict occurred when James Alex Fields Jr., protester from the alt-right group drove a car through the crowd, injuring over 30 people and killing counter protester Heather D. Heyer, a 32-year-old paralegal.
Seeing all of this happen in 2017 United States of America, it is hard to deny that racism, hatred and bigotry are not alive and thriving within our nation. Unless you stand with those on the alt-right, I’d say the majority of Americans would agree that the display that happened in Charlottesville is a very disheartening one. Many are rightfully upset, discouraged and angry when they hear about the rally and realize that, yes, there are still people in this country today who stand by racist ideals.
I am personally disappointed and outraged that there are still citizens of my own country who truly believe that a fellow human being’s value is determined by their skin color. This kind of presentation of hatred reminds me that I can’t slack on showing individuals respect no matter what. It has me wondering what we, right here in Hammond, Louisiana, or wherever you are, can do to combat racism within our own communities.
So, let’s start off at the macro level. On a national scale, there are a few avenues to stifle the growth of racism in our culture. Vote for a political candidate who seems to show respect to people of all nationalities and ethnicities. We can keep present political representatives in check. Call them out on their disrespectful ways. Write to senators or members in Congress about your concerns about racist policies or misrepresentation in media.
We can combat racism within our own area. Be on the lookout for ways racism may occur in your community. If you feel called to make donations to local organizations that promote messages of respect, acceptance and racial harmony. Attend racially diverse events. Talking with people about this subject is critical. We have opportunities on our university campus in that we have students walking around with all shades of skin, and with these varying pigmentations sometimes come diverse cultural backgrounds with them. Talk with your friends of various ethnicities about their thoughts on racism and how they feel it may affect them on an individual level. If you hear family members, coworkers, friends or classmates making racist comments or jokes, call them out on it; it may start an important conversation that needs to happen. Racism may start and can end with you. Yes, you on a personal level.
There’s a view in sociology that society is made up of each individual action among the people within the society. So, if you and your friends are interacting in a room, some sociologists would claim this is society in action as views and ideas are being exchanged and you all as individuals are interacting. With this mentality, it gives you as an individual some responsibility to keep your own ideals and behaviors in check.
If you catch yourself making racial slurs, jokes or comments, ask yourself how it could be a reflection of harmful mentalities you may not even realize you hold to. Be cautious of the assumptions you make as you pass up large crowds made of people with a different skin color than yours. What kind of thoughts or assumptions are you making as you pass by? Don’t be afraid to call yourself out on your own racist mentalities and challenge yourself to stay open-minded and respectful.
That’s what it all comes down to. If we are people of integrity and desire to show other human beings respect, we should be striving to look past the presumptions that we may have been taught as we have grown up, and that goes for anything ranging from race to sexual orientation to other cultures. I realize here in America, we tend to focus on the prejudices that happen between white and black populations, but really, we should open up the conversation. Racism is happening to all ethnic minority communities. No matter which ethnicity you identify with, we should all be looking to better ourselves in order to better the community so that we can bring more peace and understanding into our culture and society.
Correction: In an earlier version of this article that was posted on lionsroarnews.com and printed in the Aug. 22 issue of The Lion's Roar, the term alternative-right was used. It was replaced with the term alt-right.