The Scars Racism Can Leave If There Is No Healing Process

As a child, I remember my sister and I going to the corner store to buy pop rock candy with my mom and being followed by the person working in the store. I asked my momma why the man was following us and if he was going to rob her. The weird thing was he was only following the black customers. My mother tried to explain to me that there are people that treated black people different because the color of their skin. I guess being a child I did not realize how wrong this action was because I would still go with my friends to buy candy and gum from the store until we moved.

The most disturbing act of racism I remember as a child was when a parent told their daughter she could not play with me because I was black. I did not understand how someone could be so mean to me. We were only playing and riding our bikes together. What was so wrong with that?  I ran home crying to my mom and told her what happened. She was not happy that the parent had hurt my feelings but she managed to comfort me through the situation until my dad came home. They told me it was the girls lost and she did not deserve a friend like me. I never spoke to the girl again because I found other children to ride my bike with and the little girl ended up moving.

 I was able to cope with the situation because my parents were there to support me. I learned that it was nothing I did but sometimes adults and children could act ignorant and in ungodly ways. The children were acting on what was taught to them. I have always tried to treat everyone with respect and remember how it felt to be treated in such an ungodly way.

In the south, racism is still evident in the day to day activities. One day my oldest daughter told me that a boy on the bus asked her if she lived in the white building on the side of our house. She started laughing and said "no" that is our shed I live in the brick house. He continued to say little racial slurs until my husband and I contacted the school and transportation department. They investigated the situation and we did not have anymore problems. My heart goes out to the children and anyone that have been the victims of racism. I do not allow any of my students to disrespect each other because a child's self esteem and identity formation can be seriously altered if they do not have a strong support system like I did.

In the last month there have been two students in our county that have taken their own lives for whatever reason. The community (blacks and whites) have rallied together to support the families, friends and fellow students. Why does it take death to bring people together momentarily? I will leave this question with you.

I have always wanted to visit my family in New York and shop in Soho. While I was looking up some tourist information on the web I came across the ABC 20/20 documentary shot in Soho, New York.It was done to see how customers reacted to someone being racially harassed. Although, the shopper, clerk and security officer were actors the response to the mistreatment of the shopper was amazing. There were only about 20 people out of 100 that came to the shoppers defense. Feel free to see the video yourself @ Shopping While Black Social Experiment That Shows Racism Still Exists In America.

In South Africa, they celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in March every year. The celebration is the rememberance of 69 people in Sharpeville, South Africa demonstrating peacefully against racial apartheid were opened fire on and killed by police. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is remembered by world elected officials and organizations working together to stop racism.

Bilaal Rajan,(March 2009).Fighting Racism Around The World, Social Activist and UNICEF Ambassador