This is an issue that should not be an obstacle in this generation, but it is. Why? As I see it, everyone bleeds the same. We are all human. Having a different skin color should not change the way you see and treat another human being. People in the world, especially people of lighter skin tones, tend to think they have a higher status in the world. They think they are entitled to more money and more power than everyone else because they are rapacious.
This is an issue that should not be an obstacle in this generation, but it is. Why? As I see it, everyone bleeds the same. We are all human. Having a different skin color should not change the way you see and treat another human being. People in the world, especially people of lighter skin tones, tend to think they have a higher status in the world. They think they are entitled to more money and more power than everyone else because they are rapacious.
I’m not saying all of the Caucasian race is like that, because I have firsthand experience with people who are anti-racism. I was born and raised on the island of Kaua‘i, and my skin color would be considered white. On Kaua‘i, I’ve never really witnessed any racial discrimination in person because I was taught to treat everyone equally and with respect even if you don’t personally know them. I treat strangers, family and friends the way they should be treated.
We have various races and cultures, and we should appreciate that we ended up coming together. We need to be able to live among each other without hatred coming between us. Treat people with kindness. If you want to treat people like crap then don’t start crying when they treat you the same. This is not a double standard. I will treat you the same way you treat me. No one deserves to feel like they don’t belong, because we’re all human. But you treat other humans of diverse backgrounds and people who come from a different place on earth differently, and why? Just because they’re not similar to you in skin color? In my opinion, racial discrimination seems like a type of bullying, but on a whole other level.
Racial discrimination has killed thousands and thousands of people. Whether it was from others or it was self-inflicted. This needs to become something that we can speak openly about. If not, this problem will never be fixed and we will all see the past relive itself. I swear it’s like the whole world is divided into two parts — one where they’re fighting for equality, their freedom, and the other just to get rid of every race that is not white. People out there really think having slaves is a good idea again. But it was never a good idea. Their ancestors should not have done that, but that is in the past.
The hardship and the gruesome memory of what the people of color have to go through during the past and the present should live as a memory of what we as people should never do. But it feels as though people want to live like it was in the past, which was horrible. Like, come on people, it’s the 21st century. We shouldn’t be backtracking by a million steps.
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Kayley Gardner is a resident of
Kalaheo.
