Race

“Race”

            When one hears the word race, many different meanings come to mind. Race can be a verb in which one digs or pierces, or a noun. However, even in noun form race can take the form of several different meanings, one being “a group of people belonging to the same family and descended from a common ancestor; a house, family, kindred”. On another hand is “a rush, onset, charge; a raid”. When one thinks of a group of people as a race history often goes hand in hand.

            Race has been a factor in our history along with the history of many other countries. Our forefathers came to America to escape the unequal ruling of the King. Once reaching America they encountered a new race of people- the Native Americans. They were a different color, had a different religion and cultures. The colonists had two options, accept them or the one chosen and take over. The colonists had just evacuated England because of their unfair treatment and in return treat the natives the same way. This concept of color and culture differences played a role in the colonization of South America and India. A question comes to mind; will we ever be able to see past race? During the 1960’s African Americans living in America were faced with all sorts of discrimination. They had separate bathrooms, seating, water fountains, etc. After many years of oppression Civil Right Acts were passed and they began to accumulate more and more rights. Even though laws were passed whites did not view blacks as equal. Here we are over half a century later, have things really changed that much since then? Stereotypes are just as prevalent as ever. Will we ever be able to look past differences in race? Why is it acceptable for a white family to have a black child but not a black family to have a white child? Where did the sense of superiority come from? As white Americans we are not a pure race. We are a mixture of all our ancestors from all over the world so why must we judge others by skin color? We put people in boxes, black or white; by doing this we are putting the two in completely opposite zones. Black and white are complete opposites of each other. These labels are only hurting our society. When you look at your skin you are not white. White is the color of paper or clouds, we are tan, and this goes for African Americans. They are not black. Black is the absence of all color; they are just a darker tan than we are. These earthy tones bring unite us. The feeling of similarity is what will unit all the races.