Racism 2.0 - Late to the Party

I'm a little late to the party in completing my Racism 2.0 assignment, so I went ahead and read what everyone else wrote first.  I have to say, some really great topics were brought up, from a first-hand experience of being African-American and that perspective, to the Will Smith controversy, and another classmates perspective dealing with racism against him by blacks and whites alike - all very thought provoking for this assignment. 

I grew up in a very racist family, which is ironic because I have been told by doctors (and my grandfather's and brother's appearance) that there is African-American in my family.  I don't understand how you can hate one race and look in the mirror and not hate yourself?  But members of my family do it everyday.   

I would like to think over the last 44 years I have matured enough to believe that I am not racist.  Positively, or negatively.  I do try to accept people for who they are and not what they look like.  That being said, I have already admitted to being overly nice to my friends that are homosexuals because I figure their life is hard enough in society, they don't need any grief from me.

And while I would like to think I am not racist, there are parts of different cultures that I'm not fond of.  As I do expect there are parts of my culture that I don't expect everyone else to be fond of either.  But just because I don't embrace factions of different cultures, doesn't make me racist, I believe that anyway. 

Part of this assignment was not only to recognize the problem and delve a little deeper but to also offer up solutions.  And really, I believe part of the solution is a matter of awareness, evolution, love and effort.  Racism is a HUGE problem, in not only our country, but the world.  I learned this in my history class last semester.  I was so naive to think that we were the only country who brought slaves over from Africa, and that blacks are the only race of slaves.  I was surprised to find out there are Indian, Arab and Irish slaves (along with other races) !!!   Not to mention, Brazil alone took in millions of slaves from Africa alone.  Do they have the same dirty stain on their history as we do?  I believe Americans have admitted there is a problem and some have been active in trying to solve it, in implementing policy such as Affirmative Action etc....and although I don't believe in this policy, it was someone's answer to hopefully end racism.  But as hokey as it may sound the solution is effort and love.  There is no room for racism in true love, unconditional love.  And we cannot come to true and unconditional love without effort.  And although racism is a problem we want to solve nationally, it has to start on an individual basis.  If individually we can make the change, then collectively the change will manifest itself.  It starts with us.