by none288

Created on: September 11, 2009

The common opinion is that black people (African Americans, Caribbean Americans, Africans) are somehow inferior to other races. Though overt racism, for the most part, has been quelled, subtle racism is alive and well, existing heartily. In general, it is presumed that a "smart" black person is a rare find, and the intelligence of that black person is celebrated all the more because, presumably, most of his or her race is not intelligent. While blacks seem to make up the bottom tier, Asian Americans are seen to be the Model Minority, contributing so much more to society than stereotypically fat, angry, and loud blacks. Many blacks internalize the public opinion and use it as an excuse not to do well academically.

To me it does not makes sense to pit different races against each other. While many Asian Americans excel in mathematics and science, Black Americans have positively contributed to society as well. They have forged ahead in dangerous waters, becoming politicians and CEOs, uncovering territory that was previously inaccessible to all non-whites. Is not the first, non-white Presidential candidate black? Why then are blacks seen as so inferior, even to other non-whites (Hispanics, Asian Americans, Brown people)?

The purpose of this post is not to bolster the confidence of blacks. It is more so to say that the good in each ethnic group should be acknowledged and uplifted, not ignored. Negative stereotypes should not be used to easily hurt and degrade an ethnic group. Most brown people are not terrorists, and believe it or not, most black people are not gangsters or thugs.

Notice that I said "ethnic group" and not "race". For mankind to move forward ethically and philosophically, people must drop this notion that their skin color determines who they are. The entire human genome has been mapped out and only a few genes have been linked to skin color. There are so many other factors that could define a human being, but since color is the first thing people see, psychologically, it is easier to form expectations and impressions based almost entirely on skin color. Two people with different skin hues could be genetically more alike than two people with the same skin hue. People, in general, find my last statement so hard to believe because it has been ingrained in everyone, regardless of their color, that race equals color.

Newsflash: Race is not defined by skin color.

Sociologically, a group of people with the same skin color can bind together and intermarry,

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