Hello TEENSCENE-ers,
As you may already know from the home page, TEENSCENE’s focus this month is prejudice. And one instance of prejudice is racism – we’ll be blogging about this for a week or so and until then, we’ll be accepting suggestions for other instances of prejudice that we can blog about. Just leave a comment or send us an e-mail.
WHAT do you see when you see someone that has different skin colour to you? What do you see when you see when someone speaks a different language to you? There is probably more to it than you think.
The world has changed in many ways, but in other ways, it hasn’t. In the world of racism, this hasn’t. In fact it has become more and more of an issue especially in today’s teen society. Prejudice comes in many forms and racism is one of them but many people do not know that. It is called a race-based prejudice. Racism itself has lots of branches. Many teens blindly are racist that is why this month is all about prejudice and the different types of racism. Keep checking up for further blogs! But first things first, so what exactly is racism? Racism is a belief that one person is less human than another judging them by their colour, language, what they wear or anything that reveals the basic nature of the person. It can also be defined as the hatred of one person to another. Racism has existed through human history. If we don’t combat it, it will continue to grow through the future.
Racism is destructive. It devalues people. It disempowers people. It makes people feel inferior. Racism is moral blindness.
Throughout history, racism has been practiced unashamedly. This has often led to great disturbances and sometimes, loss of innocent lives.
An example of racism and its consequences is the case of the Jews:
In the Bible, King Solomon encouraged tolerance and acceptance of other people.
"Moreover, concerning a foreigner, who is not of Your people Israel, but has come from a far country for Your name's sake for they will hear of Your great name and Your strong hand and Your outstretched arm), when he comes and prays toward this temple, hear in heaven Your dwelling place, and do according to all for which the foreigner calls to You, that all peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You, as do Your people Israel, and that they may know that this temple which I have built is called by Your name." I Kings 8:41-43
But when he passed away, his words fell upon deaf ears. And his people, the Israelites, began to identify foreigners as "enemies" and practice prejudiced attitudes. In doing so, they turned the whole world against themselves and the opposing parties then practiced racism towards one another, where it became a crime to be seen with a person from another nation.
This racism led to the destruction of cities, many wars and loss of innocent life. We are still suffering the consequences today with Jews and foreigners still being persecuted.
Another example of racism and its consequences, the KKK:
In about the 1860s, an organisation was founded was founded in the United States. It was called the Ku Klux Klan. The organisation was destroyed in the 1870s by a President U. S. Grant but in 1915, was refounded. Since its beginnings, the organisation has practiced racism, along with many other forms of prejudice (white supremacy, anti-Semitism, nativism, homophobia, anti-Catholicism, anti-immigrant and anti-Communism).
The KKK has caused much destruction with its racist and prejudiced views – murder, manslaughter, assassinations, riots, burning of symbolic objects, kidnapping and physical abuse and torture.
One more example of racism that is closer to home and perhaps more recent, is the Cronulla Riots.
On Sunday, December 11, 2005, approximately 5000 people gathered on the shores of Cronulla Beach to protest against the Arab-Australian attacks on Anglo-Australians previously. The crowd became an angry mob after Anglo-Australians began to assault Australians of Middle Eastern appearance.
The method that was used to gather such a large crowd on that particular day was via SMS. Some messages found on people's mobile phones were:
"Come to Cronulla this weekend to take revenge. This Sunday every Aussie in the Shire get down to North Cronulla to support Leb and wog bashing day."
"All Arabs unite as one, we will never back down, the Aussies will feel the full force of the Arabs. Destroy everything, gather at Cronulla December 18 at midday - spread the word. Together exterminate the enemy at Cronulla. Send this to every lion of Lebanon."
These messages show the racist opinions and attitudes of both parties and demonstarate how people perceived Australia as divided when they could easily have been tolerant and accepting of one another. They saw each other not as Australians or human beings.
On that day, twenty six people were reported injured, including two ambulance officers and twenty-eight people arrested.
After the Cronulla Riots, many more retaliative acts occured and many people were injured and punished (for assaulting others).
So much needless desturction has occured because of racism, and if we want it all to stop, we need to learn to be tolerant of one another. Watch out for the next blog entry on how to deal with racism!
As prejudice is a powerful force within our society, to combat it is hard. Things are done and said without the person knowing it is racist. When we hear the word racism, we think of the violence that the media has engraved into our heads. With this, stopping racism would take a long time, but if we all work together to stop it, it will be in a matter of time where racism is no longer a word of the English dictionary.
Children are born “colour blind”. Their influences from family members, friends etc. has made them in a way, racist. The first step is good parenting. Stopping your children from racism exposure is a good way to start. But I guess you are all teens reading this.
Treating others (and I mean anyone) fairly and with respect is another key towards stopping racism. By teaching others that they’re prejudging someone, you can help stop racism.
Racism is started by us. If we all eliminate our beliefs towards other races, we can stop it.
Because they’re different on the outside, it doesn’t mean that they’re different on the inside.
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