Reflections on Prejudice
Prejudice, once accepted as eradicated, no longer in existence, sorry to say it still exists even today. Emancipation Proclamation was expected to be the answer? After a civil war the North and South, fighting for the right to own or the right to release, the abolition of it was the expected result. The victory of the Union army, afterward abolition of slavery for those who were aware. Difficult as it was while many could not read or write. The saying goes Ignorance is bliss, and yet was it? For those who remained under the careful watch of overseer. Blissfully unaware that they were officially free, was that the way of it?
The slaves were now free from the tyranny of a Master, of an owner aware that they held no rights whether Man, Woman or Child because of the difference in the color of their skin, his objective the bottom line, sound familiar? Without the awareness, so important to make a change, the necessary knowledge withheld the false beliefs reinforced. Not unlike the native Americans so willingly walking into a life of servitude, seeking peace and only finding a war based on color. The knowledge so necessary as a weapon against this supposed blissful ignorance closely controlled and withheld by any means, without a weapon how does one fight? Without this weapon the labor continued to be cheap,an abundant supply of workers who just accepted, what was offered even if in and of itself was like jumping right into to self imposed servitude. Based on so many false promises, money, home and the like. The reality of the situation was far more grim then such false ideals could present it as. The money as only one example, far below a livable wage. Promises of housing, substandard at best and a ration barely enough for a child, let alone a full grown man who worked 12-16 hours a day for it. Yet they still grasped the false opportunity, following the empty promises. How many years even after the Emancipation Proclamation did such individuals try and jump the bandwagon, traveling west following the promises of instant wealth of rivers of gold flowing everywhere you looked that of course would not pan out. As Steinbeck immortalized in his masterpiece "The Grapes of Wrath", of the exact journey of a family expecting to be rich, in the abundance of the west. As well as the story of the treatment of animals as mentioned in Jack London's "Call of the Wild" of a dog by the name of Buck nabbed and beaten then hitting the trail for far to many miles following the same false promises of abundant gold out west. The point being, has prejudice been truly eradicated? Or only renamed, interpreted differently. Considering today's many migrant workers, going north following more false promises? Perhaps today it is different, unique, because they may not be false promises, instead skewed truths. Seems very similar to many immigrations stories doesn't it?
To speak on immigration, in itself is a whole other process, think about it before you assume to much, the two go hand in hand. Even though society, today appears to be more accepting of difference, of multi-cultural awareness, still the original beliefs are far more difficult to change. The quote "Can't teach an old dog new tricks" comes to mind. For so many years, there has been the idea of limitation, to not initially, accept a person for what they are as they are. To accept a person not by looks alone but to try and see beyond that to understand who they are as a person, the whole package. To set aside any and all preconceived notions. To make up your own damn mind, not following what society tells you. Not expecting to to follow the false stereotypes that every black man is a rapper, that every Mexican must be a gangster or an expat from the south land. That every Filipino is a catholic and the list goes on and on. Why would you then try to pigeonhole, to classify because of race. For that matter because of the color of the skin they are lesser then you. Like the white rice, that many the rich family had in the heyday of China, being less healthy for these supposed elite then the brown rice a common poor family consumed. Simply because of color, because white looked better. Well the hope is the lesson was learned after many of these same elite fell sick because they were not eating the healthier brown rice so common in every other household.
As a diverse society, there is no neatly classified societal structure, society is not so simple even if there is such highly held views. By some views, the diversity of this society is a chaotic mess, confusing as it may be, a mixed salad. Unique grouping and clearly a society into itself. Not one that should be placed in classes and false ideas of a better race over another. Being multicultural can offer a great perspective on the world at large the ability to explore a different culture to grasp what it uniquely offers. Not to sever the ties to forget about the history, traditions held dear. Not changed because these diverse cultures should become a part of this American Society to just meld with the rest instead to offer something different to change the flavor just a bit of what otherwise would be boring. Consider how boring a stew would be without a basil leaf, without the sugar. To limit society to what is already known, to close the minds of a adapting society. To not create something different, new and unique in it's own way. To keep things they way they have always been even if bitter or tasteless. Each ingredient makes the dish, if the only ingredients you use are pieces of the supposed only American Society you are losing out on a diverse taste sensation, when grasping what is different as something that can improve.
Prejudice, is something that has been a part of society for so long, the time has come to make a change don't you think? Even today more changes, more choices, and yet for some reason people still choose to be selectively ignorant, so badly wanting everything to be black and white because it is simple. There is an entire spectrum of color to explore why limit yourself to only extremes? To grasp change is often the most difficult as well as the most necessary. Society continually evolves and adapts the biggest challenge continues to be that people must change those traditional views. In that each individual must reach a consensus with the person in the mirror, to make that change, by changing who you are.
In today's world, the idea of inferior being has been dis-proved many times over. The same blood flows through the same system within each of us, regardless of color, of background, the same blood flows. The anatomy is no different no matter the color of the skin or accent on the words. The same blood flows, through the same system, no matter the cultural garb, a person chooses to wear as a part of their culture. Their unique views on things, the belief system may be different but in more ways then one we are each the same. That culture is a great complement, to the recipe, diverse culture, diverse flavor. That diverse culture is like the basil leaf in the soup, it improves upon the whole, it does not become the whole. Grasp that, add the basil leaf introduce the new flavor don't put it aside passing it off as different. Create a new and exciting flavor and begin to integrate with other recipes, be thankful you have the opportunity to experiment to explore. In grasping this difference this other culture, you will be better for it.
A diverse society is par for the course, and it offers a fresh perspective on life, making each of us a more well rounded person. Even prejudice can change, to truly eradicate it, by each taking the steps in the direction of change. To explore other cultures instead of force this culture, each background is different, each is another piece to the puzzle it is in diversity the most amazing picture can come about. To explore each culture and it's unique view, through life's journey, step by step in the right direction. It is a wonderful blessing to be a part of multi cultural society, remove the blinders, there is so much more to see.