Just a little pre-warning, I feel like this is going to be a highly controversial post, so I would like to stress that I am not trying to offend anybody, I’m just stating my opinion.
Racism is a topic that we have all encountered at some point in our lives, whether we’ve felt that we are a victim of racial prejudice, have been accused of being racist, or have witnessed an instance of racism. We could talk about 50 years ago, we could talk about yesterday – regardless of the time period racism always seems to be a hot topic.
I went to an event the other day, and a discussion was had about racism and where we all stand regarding it nowadays, so I felt the need to get my personal view across on this blog. I know that racism still exists. I watch the news, I see discrimination due to ethnic backgrounds, and I understand that in this modern world, racism still occurs from day to day. However, I believe that nowadays people have a tendency to over-play the “racism card”, as it were.
I think, as someone of Caribbean heritage, one of the phrases that irritates me more than anything else is the phrase “because I’m black”. It is an overused excuse, in a multitude of situations. The amount of times I’ve heard friends and acquaintances claim that they didn’t get a part in something or didn’t get a job, or someone didn’t like them “because they weren’t white” is overwhelming. I’m not saying that this is never the case, but the truth is a lot of the time, it isn’t. If you go into a job interview for a business that you think consists of mainly white individuals, and you have the mind-set that you don’t stand a chance because you aren’t white, then you’re already sabotaging yourself with your negative attitude. Don’t go into things leading with your race. If you have the right qualifications, if you work hard and if you believe in yourself, then you should be able to trust that you are good enough to get what you want, regardless of your race. And the truth is, there may be times in this world when the reason that you don’t get what you want is because of your race. But that shouldn’t be your go to excuse.
A few days ago somebody said something to me which really stuck. “It’s too easy to point the finger at someone and say that they’re racist, but we all have our bias”. And it is shockingly true, because yes, you can scold somebody for discriminating against you, or judging you too quickly… But can you honestly say that you yourself have no prejudice against any group of people?
I’m a black girl who went from a majority white primary school, then to a majority black secondary school, and now to a rather diverse sixth form, so I’ve observed this issue from all sides. My primary school was private, and I was not oblivious to the fact that I was one of the 4 black girls, and 7 ethnic girls (out of a year of 30) in my year, but it didn’t bother me. It wasn’t until I moved from my primary school and into a majority-ethnic state school, and I was told that I “didn’t act black enough” by a large number of people that I really realised how much racism takes place. It’s often the people that complain about racial stereotyping, that will ridicule someone of their race when they don’t comply with their perfect racial image. I’m not a very loud person, and I guess I’m relatively well-spoken, but that doesn’t make me any less “black” than anybody else. I grew up in a Caribbean household, I have a lot of family that I see all the time, and they appear to have no problem with how “black” I am. By using terms like this, we are setting back years of history. If we really want equality, we shouldn’t accuse people of “acting white” or “acting black or Asian”… Everybody acts with different characteristics, and race is not a characteristic.
I’m not condoning racism in any way, and I’m not saying that ethnic minorities make it all up in their heads. Racism still does exist in society. There have been times where I’ve felt that I was a victim of racism, and there are times when I really believe that I’ve witnessed racism. However, I feel like because of the history of racism and what we’re brought up learning about our backgrounds, it’s easy to blame race for our shortcomings and fall-backs. It’s taken me years, but I’m finally learning to look past the colour of my skin, (whether it’s the reason for my rejection or not), and focus on the things that I can change. If I don’t get a job, I’ll work on a better CV or better interview skills… If I don’t get a part I want, I’ll sing louder, practice more. You can’t change the colour of your skin, and it shouldn’t be that important a factor. I am proud of where I come from, but personally, I think the way that I was brought up, the way that my parents raised me, and the activities that I partook in as a child, define me way more than my race does. Don’t ignore your race altogether, but don’t use it as the foundation for everything that you do.
Read, comment, share, and don’t take anything personally. Remember we’re all still forming opinions. Byeeeee!
Still Forming Opinions... 