Stop Racism, it's the enemy of freedom

 

Christina Giles

ILAS 100 Section 1

Blog 3

    Race discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because he/she is of a certain race or because of personal characteristics associated with race such as hair texture, skin color, or certain facial features. Color discrimination involves treating someone unfavorably because of skin color complexion. Why should it matter that I am lighter than you? Or my hair is darker than yours? We should all be treated equally.
    We should not be denied a job or be treated disrespectfully because someone looks “Hispanic."  Most people are quick to judge other people just because of stereotypes. Many stereotypes of Latino’s that are in today’s generation consist Latino’s being lazy, that they take all of our jobs, and that we are all the cause of criminal activity. Race should not be defined as white’s being superior to all other races, but in the United States that is what it seems like it is.

What does it even mean to be "white?" Just because someone does not listen to "white" music, dress "white" and does not look "white" does not make it alright for someone to be treated less fair. I do not believe that there is actually a person who is white. We are different in one way another.

I attended Elk Grove High School. My school is considered to be a white high school. Many students thought it was weird that I did not act Latina. In my mind I do not even know what it is to be Mexican. They expected me to hang out with only Mexican people, to listen to Mexican music, and to dress Mexican. Since I wore designer clothes and shoes, people thought that I was just embarrassed to be Mexican. I do not believe that if someone wears designer clothes and brands they are automatically white.

I believe that people believe that just because a person is Mexican they have low income, so they think that Mexicans cannot afford expensive things. Therefore when I wore brand clothes or shoes people would look at me weird like I cannot afford them. It really upset me when think that only white people can afford expensive items. Most Latino’s are said to have low income and little or no education. The racial categories represent a social-political construct for the race or races that respondents consider themselves to be and "generally reflect a social definition of race recognized in this country.

           All in all, I believe that someone should not be treated differently or disrespected because of the color of skin someone has or by the racial ethnicity that someone is. Everyone at the end of the day is a human being. Hair color, skin color, and race should not define a person. Before you try to judge a person by their appearance make sure you get to know them and their ethnic background. People are always so quick to judge someone without knowing a person's values. Racism needs to end, we are in a generation that Latino’s make up 17% of today’s nation and is going to continue to grow. As once said by Rosa Parks, “Racism is still with us, but it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome.”

http://www.eeoc.gov/laws/types/race_color.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_and_ethnicity_in_the_United_States_Census

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/hhmcensus1.html