Racism has been around long before you and I ever existed. It is something that has stood through generations upon generations. It is something working against all people, alike or different. What is this racism, why do we have it, and is it something we should fight against?

Racism can have many definitions but the upstanding theme is clear. “Racism is the process by which systems and policies, actions and attitudes create inequitable opportunities and outcomes for people based on race.” This cannot possibly be fair to anyone at all, yet many people around the world act upon this thought. A black employee might be discriminated against based on his skin color alone, yet a white employee would be just fine. It wouldn’t be fair to the black man because there is nothing they can do about the color of their skin.

This volatile prejudice has been around for thousands of years. Adolf Hitler was racist towards the Jews, and people made others, with darker skin than their own, slaves who worked endlessly without pay. Racism can be seen as extremely prevalent despite articles talking about it. This can be because “Things like unconscious bias, our upbringings, the kind of media we consume, and more all factor into what we think of others.” People often jump to conclusions or make judgements on the fly, and might unconsciously or unknowingly use prejudice when making these decisions.

Now for the million dollar question; Is racism something we should fight against? Absolutely! How is it fair that a black person in a nation of whites is limited in what he/she can do? Their skin color shouldn’t justify any action others take against them! An innocent man, jogging near a house. BANG! Now he’s six feet under, and only because he was black. We are all humans, each and every one of us. Everyone should be equal, like Thomas Jefferson dreamed when he wrote “all men are created equal”. Same with Martin Luther King Jr. when he gave his speech saying that “Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that”. So please let this message become a part of your lives. No one deserves less than another. Treat everyone with love, regardless of any racial differences or backgrounds.