by Lori Davis

Created on: June 21, 2008   Last Updated: August 25, 2010

It is difficult to determine why racism is so widespread in society. For reasons that are far beyond my understanding, some people find it necessary to categorize human beings by the color of their skin. When a child is born there is no hatred, but sincere love in it's heart. What that child becomes is greatly influenced by the way he/she has been taught.

Racism is nothing less than hate. This hate comes from within a person that has experienced a lifetime of negativity. One that faced hostility while growing up, most likely in the home. When a child is raised in a home that is filled with anger, pessimism, debate, control, and/or experiencing or witnessing verbal and physical abuse, that child has a greater tendency to become such a person.

An environment that is filled with name calling, rage, and fighting will cause a child to act in such ways growing up. The child becomes an adult continuing the cycle of such behavior by building a wall of ignorance between themselves and the people they share the world with. The key word is "share". While growing up he/she only knew the life of hatred, therefore they are unaware of the fact that we all must share this earth and respect those around us.

Racism exists within all races, and basically comes down to each individual. Some people are full of hate and anger, while some are not. Choosing to dislike a certain race is only a scapegoat to hide the reality of much deeper emotions other than racism. Selfishness, desire to be in control, lack of intelligence, ignorance, and defiance all play a great role in the racist.

The term "racism", a word used to define plain stupidity. How sad it is to live life hating other human beings for the color of skin. There is no excuse, but there are causes. These causes have such terrible effects that continue to grow. In this world there will always be turmoil and strife, but how petty for racism to cause such grief. If individuals would learn to be just that, and realize that all of us are human beings with equality, none above another, this cycle of hate might stop spinning. The cycle that started many years ago, fighting between the races, passed down from generations, and the cycle continues.

When will the human race learn to share? When a person is a racist they are merely against themselves. There is one race called "human", and this race has it's beauty and it's flaws. All come from within and reflect as an individual. There are good and fruitful trees, there are also bad, rotten trees. If the good tree just so happens to be an apple tree, does that mean the bad tree is rotten simply because it is a pear tree? There are plenty of good pear trees, you know? There are also plenty of rotten apple trees.

Learn more about this author, Lori Davis.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.