Race Journal
This week I learned a lot more about myself and have done a lot more soul searching. I know you probably looking forward to me saying that I liked certain quotes or particular stories, but what I believe I have learned is a bit deeper then just reading material. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed the reading but the real learning was done from the quiz.
After completing the racial quizzes I have came to realize that I am a bit raciest. Before this quiz I never would have considered myself to be raciest at all, not even one bit. As a matter of fact, I have always been around people of different races and have never had any negative feeling and or emotions about them. I also have a family member that is from a different country and I love and adore her. Not only do I adore her but I look up to her. As I stated in a previous assignment I come from a very respectful family that has taught me good morals and has made me the person I am today. However I now realize more that some of the negativity that I had, but didn’t realize I have toward darker skinned people, may have steamed from my step dad. Now I know it’s not completely fair to say that he is to blame for my negative feelings however, I think he may be some of the reason I am who I am, I am today. Growing up I always looked op to him and asked him for advice and his opinion. He would give me his opinion like I asked and then in turn he would ask mine. I don’t remember what I would have said but I always remember my dad saying well I’m glad that I raised you right and you know the difference between right and wrong. I remember always wanting to say the right thing and wanting to make him proud. So I basically would re state what he just said just in a different way, a more childlike ways. This example as well as other I can think about makes me believe that I may have listened to him and his negativity too much
After reviewing my test conclusion I have come to realize that racism truly is a learned condition. I have been talking to a lot of my family about this specific assignment and have discussed why they think that they might be racist. Many of them like my self have said that they blame it on there family surrounding and up bringing. Then we came to a conclusion that this is a vicious cycle and it will continue to be this way until someone decides other wise. For instance in a family, there may be few who have positive thoughts and the others have nothing negative to say. If certain family members choose to not be negative this may have a trickle effect and may create a positive surrounding for other family members to grow up learning only positive thoughts for people who may “different".
I think it is important to know about racism because it is still an on going issue in the world. It is important to know if we are raciest so that we can work on fixing ourselves and in turn helping the world to better appreciate each other as a person rather then a certain race or ethnic background. I know that this will more then likely always be a problem but looking back at our history we have came a long way. I think that no matter who you are and what your beliefs are you will always have a bit of raciest thoughts. I think that it doesn’t always have to be based specifically on race but also could be that you may favor a certain gender, religious group, and political preferences. I know this isn’t technically racist but I feel when you favor one group or another it could cause problems in the world. I think more people would be surprised to see the results of the test if they took it. I think there would be more people that might be racist and not realize it. A lot of times like for instance my case I didn’t realize I had that opinion because of my surroundings and the people that I choose to surround myself with.
I have decided to do my E Portfolio paper on the race journal. As an assignment we were asked to take two quizzes. Both quizzes were a series of questions based on skin color and race. Going into the assignment I thought that the quiz would be silly and I would find out that, just as I thought I was not a racist person and liked all races equally. Little did I know I would soon find out that I was a bit more racist then I thought. I have always been a person who gets along with many and just enjoy being around others. I have never been the type to start any type of confrontation and in fact I have always been the exact the opposite. I never want to hurt anyone or many any one feel as they are inferior to anyone else. I always go out of my way to make a person smile when I know they are going threw a hard time. With these results staring me in the face I began to wonder if I am a hurtful person and if I deep down look at a person of different skin color different then others. In my heart I knew that I wouldn’t ever say nor do anything to intentionally hurt someone. But have I said or acted certain away around a person with a different skin color subconsciously.
This assignment has had a major impact on my life and I have now been trying to change my feelings and emotions about others. I have had an eye opening experience that has made me what to change for the better and become a better person. It also made me realize that I am not the only one in the world who has a bit of racism. I think that it is human nature to judge a person who looks different then ourselves. With that being said it doesn’t make it right to have feelings toward someone else. This is one of the reason we have so much hate in the world is because people feel that they are inferior then others. If we could all work on ourselves and try to be a bit more excepting of others the world would be a much happier place.
Some may wonder why I used such an intense topic to publish on my E portfolio for any one to see. I have decided to use this journal because I have learned a lot about my self as well as others because of this assignment. I think that others should take the quiz and or take time to think if they treat everyone else with the equal amount of respect. Chances are there may be a certain group of people that you may look down upon and feel inferior in one way or another. If people realized they had these feelings they may be able to make some changes in their life and in turn make life for others better by being more excepting. Life is about learning and learning more about ourselves. It’s about figuring ways to improve our lives as well as others around us and ultimately making this world a better place to live. I am grateful for this assignment to teach me more about my self making me a better well rounded individual.
