Sunday, July 4, 2010
Discrimination Act
Thinking back, I can't remember one specific act of discrimination against a racial or ethnic minority that I have personally witnessed. I grew up in a small town that was mostly white, so I haven't been in those situations yet. I have, however, been around people with prejudices and I have been exposed to discrimination indirectly. From racist jokes to racial slurs, I have heard many discriminatory comments from people I know. At work, I am exposed to many racial comments. I work for a construction company, so I am usually outside all day working around mostly white men who enjoy making jokes and stereotypes about people from African Americans to Mexicans. When I hear these jokes, I know that they would greatly offend people, but it seems that most people will let it pass and go along with it. No one at work ever says anything about racial comments, they just go along with it, mainly because they don't want to be singled out. Also, many of my friends have prejudices and they make jokes about minorities. All throughout my school life, my friends have been somewhat racist. While they don't act discriminatory, they still joke and mock them in private, and I play along with it because I don't want to be singled out either.
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I have seen and heard such comments myself. I also am guilty of not saying anything to stop such talk. Even though I do not repeat such jokes or comments, I am just as bad by not stopping their comments. I hope to become a strong enough person to stop such things in the future. If they will not stop saying that kind of thing I will refuse to be around them anymore. I hope that blogs like this shows that even comments and jokes can be racism and painful to others. They know that people are talking about them in a disrespectful way even when it is done behind their backs. We need to think of that before we speak.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean when it comes to growing up in a small town with no racial diversity. I was lucky thought I had family that did and I was exposed to it. I understand your situation and it sucks. The messed up part is your co-workers would not tell those jokes to the group they are making fun of. If you can’t tell your joke to everyone then you should not tell it at all. I would like to believe that we have come to a point where we as a whole we can tell jokes without offending someone but unfortunately we have not.
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