By Ayanna Ewing
Courier Staff Reporter
In today’s age many people believe that racism no longer exists. That belief is far from true, though people have become better in handling prejudices. Many more life times will have to pass by before racism goes away.
There are plenty of reasons as to why racism still exists, one being that most cling on to their culture and differences. Our country tells us we are all equal and the same, but to celebrate and stick to our differences. In doing this, it prevents us from truly seeing each other as being the same.
Racism by definition of Oxford Dictionary is , “Prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one’s own race is superior.”
The irrational ideas of superiority have been shown and encouraged in society within the government and in our media. Certain stereotypes that are often depicted can cause fear, like the false idea that all African American males are dangerous or thieves.
According to Clay Routledge, a social psychologist and associate professor of Psychology at North Dakota State University, one of five motives for racism is “Survival… Humans evolved as a species that thrives in groups, and groups compete over scarce resources… When humans evolved, our world was much different. Our brains evolved for that world, not the modern world we live in today. Therefore, we must strive to have belief systems that reject what may be a natural inclination to not trust or hold negative attitudes about people who look different than us.”
The hate and violence that is built by prejudice helps to advance our species none. For us to finally see that we all build one race with many, we must view the world’s cultures as all of ours to share, not individual ones that force us to be split apart.
It is hard for many to accept that their views are outdated or wrong. Acceptance is key for our species to move forward. It is important that we view everyone as a person, whether they have different lifestyles or physical natures if racism is to become extinct.
