response to class discussion on racism

8/3/2019 Response to Class Discussion on Racism

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Katie Watkins

Karen Thompson

Eng. 343Surv. Amer. Lit.

Critical Response Essay

5 December 2011

Racism

Once again, I found myself leaving class more baffled then when I walked in. After

reading an assigned piece about slavery, I felt as though I had developed a complete

understanding of my own opinions and morals toward racism. However as the class discussed

the assigned reading, the conversation quickly turned to the idea of racism and how Mark

TwainsHuckleberry Finn should be taught in the classroom, or if it should be taught at all. I

soon realized upon leaving class that perhaps I didnt have a clear understanding of my own

stance upon racism.

Having been raised in a conservative and rural area, I did not experience racial diversity

in my upbringing. In fact, the only black person to attend my high school in the past 5 years is

my best friend. I have never looked at him as being black, but I always looked at him as just

Danny. I thought that since I had a black friend, then I was surely not a racist individual. As

the issue of the n-word came up in class, I found myself admitting that I throw that word

around rather carelessly and quite often. After witnessing the outrage that it brought amongst my

peers, I found myself wondering if I was in fact racist person. I then started wondering what it

even means to be racist, and whether or not I fit into that definition.

I think that a persons upbringing and background has a huge influence on that

individuals perspective of another race (not just African Americans, but all races). I will admit


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that I am the offspring of two rather racially intolerable parents. Recently at my older brothers

college graduation, my parents admitted that they found it hard to applaud the Iraqi student as

she received her college diploma. Even though that was an inappropriate thing of my parents to

say (for it was not that particular girl who wreaked havoc upon the United States), I found that I

agreed with them to some extent. I find it hard to congratulate a Muslim students achievements

in an American college. Does this mean that I am in fact a racially intolerable person?

It is movies like The Help,Remember the Titans, and To Kill a Mockingbirdand many

others that sometimes muddle my view of the notion of racism. I see films like those and think

to myself, well since Im not accusing a black man of rape, refusing to play football with a

black guy, or making the maid use an outside bathroom, then I am surely not a racist person.

However, I feel like racism is not prevalent in todays society in the way of making people of a

certain color use a certain bathroom or play football at a certain school (at least not that I know

of), but rather racism is an issue in society with people like myself. It is people that have not

been raised in a diverse culture that feel it is necessary to always smile at people of a different

race to make it appear as though they are not racist. On many occasions I have found myself

smiling at the Iraqi behind at the coffee shop or avoiding eye contact with the black person on

the campus sidewalk, all to make the appearance that I am not a racist person.

I always wonder why something as simple as a difference in skin pigment can make such

a commotion in society. Yet, I am guilty of seeing that slight skin tone difference as an excuse

to walk on the other side of the side walk in downtown San Diego, or to clutch my purse a little

tighter in North Carolina. I feel that it is one thing for a person to say that they are not a racist

person, but it is a complete other thing to actually act that way.


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I would love to admit that I am not a racist person, but that is simply not the case. At the

airport, I feel my anxiety rise as a Muslim walks through security, even though I know without a

shadow of a doubt that person is not going to blow up my plane. I think that it is a very bold

statement for someone to claim that they are in no way, shape or form racist. I havent yet

decided if it is it plausible for someone to state, I am not racist. I think that in some way every

person has slight insecurities toward other races. However, that doesnt just apply to white

people in regard to Mexicans, Blacks, Muslims, etc. That statement applies to all races. I dont

think it is reasonable to live in a world free of racism, because there will always be inexperienced

people like myself in the world (and yes, I do consider myself to be inexperienced in the world).

I dont know if there is a solution to racism, but I think there is an alternative to live in a cordial

world: treat every person with respect and integrity.

response to class discussion on racism

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