by Barbara A. Black

Created on: July 23, 2010

Although many people would like to ignore it, racism is still very much alive in America. And it will probably remain so for several more decades. That is not to say that it is good, or that it should be a part of our lives, but it does mean that many people still harbor discriminatory attitudes.

For instance, the schools that our grandchildren attend have mixed classes at all levels. Of course, some of the classes are usually boys only or girls only, but there would probably be little said if a boy chose to take Home Economics, for example, or a girl take Shop. However, the girl who wanted to take a class that is primarily for boys, or the boy who wanted to take a class that usually has only girls, would probably be encouraged to take something else instead. If the student persisted, the school would allow him or her to take the class, but probably would not stop the other students from saying derogatory things about that student (at least behind his or her back). And if the student came to the teacher about it, that student might get a "Well, what did you expect?" from that teacher. I'm not saying it WOULD happen, but it COULD and MIGHT happen.

The same thing happened when the schools began to integrate. Students who had been in the same classes for most of their lives were suddenly being shoved into classes full of students that they had never met (and really might not have even wanted to go to school with, at the time), and expected to perform in accordance with rules and restrictions that they might not have ever had to conform to. Likewise, the students who had always gone to that school now had to accept, without question, the new students that they had never had any dealings with before. And the teachers had to make sure that they, too, were impartial with all of the students, regardless of color or ethnic background. So everyone was in a new situation, and for several years, the students and the teachers were still adjusting to the new order and rules.

Here in the South, we still have many people who avoid talking to people of another race, unless it is absolutely necessary. And for a couple who are of different races to be seen together in public is still not "normal," and many people (of both races) frown upon it. They may not say much, especially in front of the couple, but they will talk about it to their families and neighbors. The general opinion is that both of them are "wrong" in some way, because neither has chosen someone of his or her own race. 

Even many of the people who don't seem to mind when a bi-racial couple are dating, or even married, seem to get upset if they have children together. Their "reasoning" is that the children will end up being shunned by both races, simply because they are a combination of the two. I suppose the first people who married outside of their own countrymen might have had to face the same type of problem. But this is the twenty-first century, and one would think that all of the prejudices and slurs could be put aside and everyone allowed to live together in peace and harmony, at least in the same country! Racism is still alive in America, but it is time for it to be buried and forgotten.

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