Racism in Modern Day America
On Easter Sunday, my mother and I approached my grandmother’s apartment building. A short while later, an older white woman looked back, as she made her way to elevator. She shot us an extremely evil look, and then proceeded to get on the elevator with her walker, fairly quickly, and shut the elevator door before we had a chance to get in.
My mom and I exchanged glances, as we both knew this was the same woman who was rumored to be very prejudiced towards black people. Trying not to dwell on it too much, we got on a different elevator.
Once on the third floor, we started walking down a long hallway, where we saw her once again. She looked back to see who was behind her, and proceeded to speed off around a corner, walking faster than any elderly person should have, let alone one with a walker and locked joints.
My mom and I walked along as if we had not seen her, but when we got to the corner, we heard a crash. We turned the corner, and the woman with the walker had fallen. The fall was loud, easily heard throughout the floor. None of her neighbors opened the door to see what had happened or who had fallen.
I wasn’t sure what to think. We asked her if she needed help–which was obvious, but she did not reply. Forcefully, we helped her up. As soon as she got to her feet, she tried to speed off again, despite us repeatedly asking her to slow down. Hastily, we guided her to her apartment, and once she was in, she turned around to say thank you, with a very shocked expression on her face.
I don’t think she expected us to help her. I believe she thought that because my mother and I are black, we would leave her lying on the ground in pain. This is not how I, nor my mother, was raised. The two of us were taught to help someone if they are in need of help. What kind of person gives the cold shoulder to someone who needs a hand?
Later, my mother and I were talking. She explained that the same bitter, cold, and mean woman who gave us dirty looks and closed the elevator on us, was the same woman who would have to lie down in pain that night from the fall, and think about how the two black people whom she despised were the only two people to help her.
Racism is something that is being tolerated less and less yet it still exists in America. The best way I found to help get rid of racism is to break away from stereotypes, along with educating everyone on the harm that racism and being prejudiced does. If you have any comments please feel free to discuss below in the commenting box.
As far as Urbana High School goes racial issues hardly ever take a central focus. Clubs such as the Social Justice Committee work to ensure that we have a safe and non-racist environment.
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i just started going to a new school its horrible:(