Breaking down the barrier

The reality of racism

In a perfect world there would be no violence, no hatred and no wars.

What we do is defined by the choices we make. Choices bring us the good, the bad and teach us lessons.

Yet there are still people who continue to have hatred in their hearts and never learn. It’s up to the rest of the world to begin a worldwide movement to change the thought of hatred: racism.

At Ferris State University, many organizations and events are held to bring diversity awareness to campus. Many people that attend these events already have a mind-set for a better world; it is those who oppose and do not attend who could benefit from such events.

I do not see color. Not in the sense that I am color blind, but in the way that everyone is equal. It is almost 2014 and I imagine a world where we are as diverse as we’ll ever be and where racism does not exist. That reality is crushed when I hear the opposite on the news, or see it in person. Of course, the world has come a long way, but racism has not disappeared completely.

We are not as diverse as the commercials would like us to think. They try to include someone who is Caucasian, African American, Asian, Hispanic, a girl, a boy, someone with light hair and someone with dark hair, to make sure we know they cater to every ethnicity. The sad reality is, although the commercials are portraying how it should be, it isn’t actually true.

I grew up in a very small town in the upper peninsula. In my school, everyone was white. Despite the demographics in my town, I grew up in a household that didn’t tolerate anything but equality for all. Unfortunately, not everyone grew up the same way I did.

I witnessed racism in the way it was talked about, but not executed, as there was no one there to push their hatred on. It’s sad to learn people are still judged to this day by the way they look or where they came from.

When I came to Ferris, I saw more ethnicities in one day than some people I know had seen in their entire life. Ferris was the place for me, much larger and diverse than my hometown but not too big.

Being in an interracial relationship, I have never experienced any sort of racism, which is hope for the future. The biggest thing I’ve heard is the occasional phrase, “that’s awesome, but I wouldn’t have expected that.”

Many younger generations do not even know racism exists. Hopefully they will grow up with many like-minded individuals who will change the outlook on diversity and racism in the world.

When everyone begins to realize we are all here for the same reason, change will happen. Ultimately, it’s going to take a generation on the same page to break down the walls of racism.