Racism – A Problem of Many Colors

Racism, in today’s world, can be distorted and confused with the concept of discrimination; but, they are different. Racism has many faces and many colors; more than you would expect.

Racism still exists today, but it may not be in the same light as it use to be. No longer is it as open as calling someone a name or mimicking some action to mock them. Now, it exists in the form of stereotypes and assumptions. For example, one major stereotype is that people of Asian descent are “high in intellect.” This may not be the case as every person is different. If one were to explore the reasons why this may seem true, they would find out that this is due to the strict nature and high standards upheld by many Asian parents. Parents can largely impact a student, and the added pressure from the stereotype as well as the high standards could drive anyone crazy.

Yet, another issue lies with people of Hispanic descent. Mexicans are associated with “hard labor and being able to fix everything.” Anyone can be handy; there are people whose careers depend on them being able to repair or upgrade a certain fixture. The stereotype of the “Handy Mexican” stems from the origins of Mexicans. In some parts of Mexico, things are not as well-polished and regulated as they are here in the United States. For the people who come from those areas, they have to learn to fix things as they cannot always just call someone to do it for them. After enough things are broken around anyone’s house and the budget doesn’t leave room for a “handyman,” anyone would grab a screw driver just to try to get the air back on in the middle of a steaming July.

There are many other stereotypes in the world that people need to watch out for, and they might not even revolve around race. What is important is that we strive for a stronger, more tolerant, world that is binded together by communication and respect for each other’s differences.

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