by Volecia Plafcan

Created on: July 11, 2008   Last Updated: July 12, 2008

Racism is a form of hate. It can't be taught. You learn it yourself. You can be raised in it but, whether you chose to follow tradition is your decision.

Racism is not only segregation of black and white but, it is hatred among races of all kind.

I was raised during times of segregation but, I chose not to follow in the steps of my parents and grandparents. I did not consider myself any better or any less than anyone else and if I so happened to see a foreigner (i.e. Chinese, etc.), I considered that an awesome experience for there were hardly ever strangers in our small town and never in the country where my grandfathers' place was.

Racism can exist among whites. Sometimes people with money think they are better than the ones who have less - but, that is only sometimes. Racism can exist among blacks - especially the older and younger ones for like all parents and grandparents, they do not see eye to eye.

People need to understand they were put on this earth for a reason - that when they leave it, they're are going to be gone but, conditions on earth will be improved because of them contributing just a small bit. It doesn't matter what color they were.

That is why I cannot understand why blacks are requesting reparation because their ancestors were slaves. Were it not for their ancestors, they would still be in Africa and probably starving to death. As it turned out, their ancestors provided a way for the black race to be in America and benefiting from all the pain and hard work their ancestors provided for them.
As far as I know, there is no living slave today who would actually have the right to reparation and if there were, he would be certainly be hailed as not less than a martyr.

Didn't the white race and the American Indians fight the British for freedom? Was there not a lot of pain involved there?

I do not approve of slavery, but it is still alive and kicking as I write this right now and I think if more time were devoted to this matter, there would be less heartache for parents whose children have been abducted and shipped off to work in sweat shops or prostitution.

I am white. I was raised in Mississippi and Alabama and I never knew integration.

I was in my early teens when a fifteen year old black male called a white woman 'honey'. His name was Emmett Till. That night, he was dragged from his uncle's house and they found his body the next day. This was in the early fifties. Now, what lesson was taught from that?
This was a child murdered by adult men. I just wonder if that made them feel more like men.

It didn't teach me racism - it taught me that there is just hate in the world and most of it is carried in hearts of cowards.

So, I can only say that racism is hate - someone can try to teach you to hate but, it's your choice if you want to learn it or not and I did not choose to learn it.

Learn more about this author, Volecia Plafcan.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.