For the record, it is not battling racism for one group to pick on another. It is not calling for equal rights for a group to ask for special treatment even though they may not follow the law. It is still hurtful to demand silence from one group and then publicly mock them in ways that would not be tolerated from them.
These hypocrisies continue to divide our people and live in the minds of women and men who claim neutrality. And this growing standard continues to plague our nation.
Racism is not just for the African Americans or Hispanics. It can happen to anyone by any other set of people. Reverse racism is the act of White Americans being targeted in ways that would not be tolerated were the roles reversed. However, we have a Supreme Court Justice who threw out a case of Reverse Racism while she was still actively on the bench, siting that reverse racism wasn’t possible. It sure is – maybe not the term, as the term would have someone believe that no racism is taking place – but the act of racism is rampant across all lines, not just a select few.
Every time a nationality or specific group of people picks, mocks, makes fun of, hinders, disrupts, or otherwise means to set apart another specific group of people, racism and prejudice have occurred.
How is it okay for a Black comedian to mock white folks on stage but not the other way around? Why is it okay for a hip-hop song sung by a black group to mention losing your black man to a white woman but that would never be tolerated were it sung the opposite way by a white group? If it’s alright for the Mexican population to claim a Hispanic Heritage month, why is it racist for a White population to claim a European-descent month? There is a Black Network, a Mexican Network, but no White cable or television channels. Why is this?
As some of you may know, I have a heritage that includes American Indian – Cherokee, to be exact. And as proven by archeology, American Indians and Mexicans are tied to the same lineage. Yet the American Indian people are one of our most censured groups, and still they remain some of the most silent.
In my teens, I was given the opportunity (although I would not have called it that at the time) to live with a large group of girls, made up of all kinds of ethnicities and backgrounds. I loved these girls – my housemates, my mentors, my friends. Sure, we didn’t always get along and didn’t always like each other, but never because of our skin or backgrounds. Sometimes personalities just clash. And sure, there were preferences…on music, clothes, boys, and all sorts of other stuff. So what that our hair was different; our eyes, our skin tone, our features…this is true in every culture. We had feelings and opinions and cares and experiences. And we were able to share them.
Every group has its bragger’s rights as well as its downfalls. Each of us has our “trailer trash” and our “Super Stars”. Yet we seem to forget this if someone else mentions our flaws. I’m constantly reminded of the adage “Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it.”
If it’s not alright for someone to mock your individuality or heritage, then respect that it’s not okay for you to do it to them. Period.
If we are truly one nation fighting for one country, why aren’t we wholly one people? We will always have differences and preferences that set us apart, but these should make us stronger, not more divided. It’s time we stop claiming victimization and unify ourselves as simply neighbors, friends, co-workers, associates, family and just plain humans.
Song: Overweight by Blue October
Ever carried the weight of another?
For how long?
And walk as far as they need to recover?
For how long?
But are we scared to take the ride
Or dare to look inside?
I wanna learn to walk with others as an equal
I want to treat the ones who love me with respect
I wanna tell the world I’ll give them all a piggyback
And try take away my negative effect
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