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Racism
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What makes a person who he or she is? Is it possible to categorize a person as “good” or “bad” just because of the color of their shin or the shape of their eyes? Tragically, for some the answer to this question is “yes.” Racism occurs when one person or group believes that they are better than another person or group based on his, her or their race. It is unfounded discrimination that impacts millions of people every day.
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Racism involves the behaviors and attitudes that occur when someone cannot see past these superficial classifications. There is usually a fear of, a lack of knowledge of and/or experience with the group that one feels superior to. Many racist people assume that any differences between their group and others are biologically determined and therefore unchangeable. Racism is acted out and reinforced through social, cultural, and institutional practices that support the power of one racial group over another. Prejudices based on race are a combination of negative attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes. These thoughts are strict and unchanging even when evidence proves them wrong. Discrimination is treating someone as if he or she is unequal to you based on some insignificant characteristic, which is difficult to change. Racism is a combination of racial prejudice and discrimination.
Race – Groups of human beings made on the basis of physical characteristics that one is born with and can not change (skin color, hair texture, eye shape)
Ethnicity – A group of individuals who share a common background made up of customs and traditions that are passed on between generations (religion, clothing, and nationality)
Culture – A broader category that goes beyond race and ethnicity to include any group of people who share a common lifestyle and passes their routines on to members of the particular group (socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, geographic location)
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