Racism: The Root of All Evil

Racism is not new, it has been around for thousands of years. Even in the book full of love and peace; it carries several instances of racist people. Around 1140 B.C. a lovely new widow and her mother-in-law come to Jerusalem to start their lives over and to be accepted by the people of God. Unfortunately the widow, Ruth, was not one the “chosen” people. She was a Moabitess, considered heathen to the Jewish people. Ruth, wanting to glean in the fields so she and her mother-in-law could eat was shunned by the Jewish women. She was not able to gain enough food because she was different, not like the other women, not accepted because of her race. (Ruth 2:1-6). Sound familiar? The years have come and gone, social customs have evolved, but mankind has maintained racism to this day.

What is racism? “A belief that human races have distinctive characteristics that determine their respective cultures, usually involving the idea that one’s own race is superior and has the right to rule others.” (Stein 1184). With the numerous races populating the world and the number of people involved in inter-racial relationships it is a wonder that racist behavior and the dislike people have for others that are different from themselves constantly surfaces. Clear cut lines in race are still being drawn despite the current mixtures that are happening within our society. For example, in New York City the NYPD stopped 80% of blacks and Latinos and 85% of them were frisked by the officers. When whites were stopped only 8% of them were frisked. (Quigley 2011). Not only are Americans affected, but all around the world – racism constantly rears its ugly head. A global example of racism can be found in South Africa, specifically Capetown, Mitchell’s Plain, and...

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