Well Informed - Racism

Racism according to Webster Dictionary: "prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior."

Various other definitions that I'm curious about

White Supremacy: the belief that white people are superior to those of all other races, especially the black race, and should therefore dominate society.

White Privilege: A privilege is a right, favor, advantage, immunity, specially granted to one individual or group

Black Power: a movement in support of rights and political power for black people, especially prominent in the US in the 1960s and 1970s.

Black Panther: a member of a militant political organization set up in the US in 1966 to fight for black rights.

Refugee: a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.

Immigrant: a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country.

Since 1776 America has dealt with various social movements to encourage equality among all races. Between 1861-1865 America was involved in the Civil War, North against South. Although there were other purposes of the Civil War, one was the North wanted to end slavery. Equality among blacks and whites, people who were free and those that were enslaved. After they had received their freedom from their masters, they were still not free. Nearly 100 years later we had Martin Luther King Jr. fighting for greater equality among blacks. 

However, in a country that race is so diverse, racism just doesn't exist among whites and blacks. Racism occurs between blacks and Hispanics, Hispanics and Asians, Asians and Whites, and I could keep going but I think you get my point. Social media frames racism in America to between Americans against immigrates, refugees and racial profiling. 

In 2015 I visited the country of Haiti, 95% of the population is black with 5% mulatto (half black & white), and white (according to CIA). In our car that was driven by a native Haitian, we were pulled over for having our windows too tinted. The funny thing is, all four of our windows were rolled completely down. The officer made us roll up our windows, then ticketed us. In Haiti, you have to pay the ticket right there or they throw you into jail (lack of mail system). Due to the color of our skin, we were pulled over, because we are white they assumed we are wealthy and we can pay the tickets. 

In Nice, France a Burkini ban was made due to the terrorist attacks. Police found a woman laying on the beach in her traditional burkini and made her take it off. In the article, it states that citizens on the beach were shouting at the family to "go home". Recently on a place a couple were removed for making racist comments to a Pakistani passengers, asked them if they had a bomb in their baggage (article here).

I'm white, I do not and cannot understand the life that those who are not white live in America. Yet, they do not also understand what it is like to be White in America. I was not raised in a nuclear home, with an abundance of wealth. My upbringing didn't teach me that because simply the color of my skin made me greater than those with different colored skin. I was not taught that I was to enslave, put down, or judge others based off the color of their skin. However, I am also being judge for being white. That because I am white I must have white privilege, I must view myself as a white supremacist. In the documentary 13th, you're right, I do not understand what it is like being black. It's not that great being white when everyone points their finger toward you. 

I do not have a solution to world peace, however I do have quotes the sum up my perspective on racism.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. - Martin Luther King Jr.
Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others. - Rosa Parks

Racism is still with us. But it is up to us to prepare our children for what they have to meet, and, hopefully, we shall overcome. - Rosa Parks
If you judge people, you have no time to love them. - Mother Teresa
If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. - Mother Teresa