Ross T Lucas

There are words that are “loaded.”  By that, I mean words that when used, can set people against each other whether or not that was the intention.  One of those words is “racism.”

The first reaction of many people to hearing the word “racist” is to deny they have any part in it.  “I’m not a racist,” is the common battle cry of those who, in my opinion, have their heads stuck in the sand, ignoring what’s happening around them.

No matter how much I decry it, racism is a part of my heritage.  I wasn’t born racist, but it was something taught (unknowingly taught) to me by everyone I encountered who was like me.  I cannot shoulder the responsibility for what was done by others in the past.  However, I (and, in my opinion, you) are responsible for what happens today.

If I choose to remain blind to those attitudes (racist attitudes) which automatically put people of a different ethnicity into categories where I can feel superior to them just because I’m white, then I’m guilty of what is passed on to the future generations of people who are white like me.

It always takes courage to look at one’s self.  It isn’t an easy task.  But it’s a task we can begin together.  It would have been so much easier for me if past generations had looked at the issues and taught me differently.  However, they were as unaware of how racism shows up and how it affects all people as I was.  I won’t hold myself guilty because of what they did or didn’t do.

In writing this I don’t intend to make anyone feel guilty because of how they grew up or because of what they were taught.  What I hope is that in reading this short article people will take time to examine what attitudes they have adopted and to examine how those attitudes affect how they relate to people who are part of a different group.

I don’t know how to avoid making the reader uncomfortable.  None of us likes to look at things that may put us in a bad light.  But if something is important and I, or you, are wanting to do something about it, then discomfort will be a natural consequence.

Guilt is often counterproductive to change.  I can get so wrapped up in guilt that I can’t see anything else.  Guilt can keep me from seeing possible ways I can act differently.  Making myself or someone else feel guilty is easy, getting them to see potential for change is difficult.  I’m much more interested in helping people see their potential to change the world in positive ways than having them beating their breasts about things they cannot change.

I ask you to turn your attention on who you are.  What attitudes have you been taught about other groups of people that allow you to discount them or feel superior to them?  What can you do to change those ways of thinking?