Reflective Essay: Prejudice And Racism

As a biracial kid, an outsider may think I’ve grown up aware of racial issues. Surprisingly though I haven’t, and until recently I had been mostly ignorant of the racism that is still present in our modern day society. Looking back I can understand why. I was born in New York City but my earliest memories are from living in New Hampshire, a state where the population is about 90 percent white. Although at this age I felt strange living in a place where there were so few minorities, at the time I was young and everyone was so friendly that our differences didn’t seem to be significant. The fact that I had a darker skin tone than all of my friends didn’t faze me, and in all honesty I didn’t feel like I was black.

My first real exposure to diversity was when I moved back to New York. Living somewhere with so much diversity, I was suddenly exposed to people of many different races, religions, and cultures. It was somewhat of a culture shock, but soon enough it became something I enjoyed. Recognizing people’s differences and learning about their

backgrounds was exciting, and it was nice to be in a place where I wasn’t one of the only black kids. I felt like I thrived in that environment. As enjoyable as living in New York was, it was also the first time I was really exposed to racism and other’s prejudices. Going to the mall with a group of friends was a common way to pass the time. Now I can remember being followed around and watched by the managers. When we’d leave the store, my friends and I would often get our bags searched. It didn’t occur to me at the time, but we were the only people of color in our group of friends.
Until about a year ago, I was completely unaware of America’s issues with race. I had no idea police brutality was a problem. I was completely oblivious to the bits of racism and micro aggressions I’d experienced. What made me reflect back on my past experiences and on America’s treatment of people of color was the murder of Michael Brown. The protests in Ferguson and across many other cities, the Black Lives Matter campaign, and the traction it was gaining exposed me to the experiences of other black people. I became more aware of the systematic oppression that people of color still face, and realized that it was something I may face. The times that people looked wary of me, and subtle forms of racism like my friends saying someone was ‘pretty for a black girl,’ or people being surprised about how well-spoken I was were no longer normal comments or reactions. I realized that I had already faced discrimination, and I was held to a different standard than I previously thought.
For me and many other Americans, the racial debate has been ignored for too long.

As a child, race was something that didn’t matter. My perception on race now is that it does matter. Although ultimately we should treat everyone with respect, it has become important to acknowledge that some people are disadvantaged because of their race. Though some people are educating themselves, others remain ignorant. Although I feel more aware now, I’m still learn more about race and racism every day along with others. The progress that America is making as a whole is small but important. It’s important that we educate and respect each other. A time where racism doesn’t exist is likely impossible, there are always people who will choose to be ignorant, but becoming aware of the oppression people of color face is something that can help us improve our society. Though ignorance can be bliss, not everyone has the privilege of staying

ignorant.