I honestly believed that racism no longer existed in America until I served a full time mission for my church.
Growing up in a mid size town in the Pacific Northwest, I learned about the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr. I respect everything about that movement and I believe it was inspired of God.
I never realized that racism didn't end there.
I know that sounds naive but let me explain.
After the lessons on Rosa Parks and peaceful protests, my teachers instilled in me that this was the best way to handle the situation. We talked about how it changed so much. But the conversation never continued. We didn't discuss how racism still exists in America in some form or another. And because I grew up where I did, I didn't question it.
I didn't see any indication of it in my own life. Sure there were different cultures in my high school. But it was mainly language barriers that kept people apart, not their race. (At least from my young perspective.)
My parents never spoke of other races or cultures in a derogatory way either. About a year ago I asked them about this. They said that their parents had some prejudices about other cultures. My grandpa especially because he served in WWII in the Pacific Islands, including Japan. My parents however grew up in small towns in Washington. They didn't have any experience with other races to lump them into a category so they didn't. They taught me that as well through their example.
My parents have traveled the world throughout their lives. Even though they may not like another culture and don't want it for themselves, they at least understand why that culture exists the way it is and lets them be. They have never responded to a different culture in hatred or malevolence.
So I was ignorantly blissful.
At the age of 23 I served a full time mission for my church in Las Vegas, NV. When serving this kind of mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you are with one or two companions. They are always with you, except for the peaceful bathroom. You get to know them well and you talk about a lot.
At one point, I had two companions, Sister Kellar, from Ohio, and Sister Bair, from Texas. They are fantastic people. We got to know each other really well because of the time that we spent together. We started to hear about some sort of unrest, I think it was the Ferguson riots but I really don't remember now. When we were home we started talking about it among ourselves. I told them that I didn't understand it. That racism didn't exist in America anymore. It's a thing of the past. They looked at me with the widest incredulous eyes I have ever seen. It almost seemed like they didn't want to burst my bubble. I told them to be real with me and just say what they were thinking because obviously I needed to hear it. They both reported that they know or know of people with deep prejudice and racism. That, despite the civil rights movement, those feelings have been very slow to change where they are from. To be honest, it did burst my bubble. But I was grateful to understand.
The purpose of me sharing these things with you is to show that even though our world is not perfect. Even though civil rights has a long way to go. Even though people still believe lies about entire groups of people.... One girl in the Pacific Northwest wasn't effected by it. Because of the examples that were around me that didn't repeat lies to me, there were no racist lies for me to believe. If that can happen to one girl, maybe it can happen for more.
You may have had an experience with someone of a different race, but that doesn't mean their entire race is like that. Nor does it mean that everything they do is bad. It was a singular experience. Deal with that experience, don't generalize it.
You may have heard someone's racist comment, don't spread it! Just because someone else believes it doesn't mean it's true.
You may have had this racist idea in your family for decades, don't believe it. Your ancestors perception of what happened with that other race is probably distorted. And it's just become more distorted over time. Figure out the truth of the situation and realize that what those people did back in the day does not mean that an entire race repeats it. Perhaps individuals do, but not entire races. Let's be realistic here. There's a great example of how to deal with this in the scriptures.
In the Book of Mormon: Another testament of Jesus Christ, there's two main groups of people: the Lamanites and the Nephites. Both groups come from the same parents. Laman (hence Lamanites) had this idea that his brother, Nephi (hence Nephites), ripped him off and took away his rightful heir to being the leader. Laman perpetuated this idea with his family members, and it went on for many many generations. The Lamanites believed the Nephites to be thieves and liars. They had laws that if a Nephite were to be seen approaching a city, they would kill them on sight. (Hey, guess what. That's racism.)
The truth was that Laman's actions did not line up with a good leader for a family. As he was growing up, he didn't practice being a good leader so when the opportunity came to lead, he wasn't given it.
In time, while a few Nephites served and loved the Lamanites, they came to understand that the traditions of their fathers were wrong. They realized there was a better belief that included more peace and love. They changed their belief when the "others" didn't act like what they were told to believe.
This is possible for America too. If people say your culture is this or that, don't let them believe it because of how you act. Be respectful, kind, and open-minded. This world really can be a better place.
Ending racism for real starts with you. Facing your own beliefs and sifting through what is real and what is false. It starts with holding your tongue. It starts with forgiveness. It starts with seeing people for the good that they have in them. The more I experience, the more I have to keep these things in check. And it is worth it.
Growing up in a mid size town in the Pacific Northwest, I learned about the civil rights movement and Martin Luther King, Jr. I respect everything about that movement and I believe it was inspired of God.
I never realized that racism didn't end there.
I know that sounds naive but let me explain.
After the lessons on Rosa Parks and peaceful protests, my teachers instilled in me that this was the best way to handle the situation. We talked about how it changed so much. But the conversation never continued. We didn't discuss how racism still exists in America in some form or another. And because I grew up where I did, I didn't question it.
I didn't see any indication of it in my own life. Sure there were different cultures in my high school. But it was mainly language barriers that kept people apart, not their race. (At least from my young perspective.)
My parents never spoke of other races or cultures in a derogatory way either. About a year ago I asked them about this. They said that their parents had some prejudices about other cultures. My grandpa especially because he served in WWII in the Pacific Islands, including Japan. My parents however grew up in small towns in Washington. They didn't have any experience with other races to lump them into a category so they didn't. They taught me that as well through their example.
My parents have traveled the world throughout their lives. Even though they may not like another culture and don't want it for themselves, they at least understand why that culture exists the way it is and lets them be. They have never responded to a different culture in hatred or malevolence.
So I was ignorantly blissful.
At the age of 23 I served a full time mission for my church in Las Vegas, NV. When serving this kind of mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you are with one or two companions. They are always with you, except for the peaceful bathroom. You get to know them well and you talk about a lot.
At one point, I had two companions, Sister Kellar, from Ohio, and Sister Bair, from Texas. They are fantastic people. We got to know each other really well because of the time that we spent together. We started to hear about some sort of unrest, I think it was the Ferguson riots but I really don't remember now. When we were home we started talking about it among ourselves. I told them that I didn't understand it. That racism didn't exist in America anymore. It's a thing of the past. They looked at me with the widest incredulous eyes I have ever seen. It almost seemed like they didn't want to burst my bubble. I told them to be real with me and just say what they were thinking because obviously I needed to hear it. They both reported that they know or know of people with deep prejudice and racism. That, despite the civil rights movement, those feelings have been very slow to change where they are from. To be honest, it did burst my bubble. But I was grateful to understand.
The purpose of me sharing these things with you is to show that even though our world is not perfect. Even though civil rights has a long way to go. Even though people still believe lies about entire groups of people.... One girl in the Pacific Northwest wasn't effected by it. Because of the examples that were around me that didn't repeat lies to me, there were no racist lies for me to believe. If that can happen to one girl, maybe it can happen for more.
You may have had an experience with someone of a different race, but that doesn't mean their entire race is like that. Nor does it mean that everything they do is bad. It was a singular experience. Deal with that experience, don't generalize it.
You may have heard someone's racist comment, don't spread it! Just because someone else believes it doesn't mean it's true.
You may have had this racist idea in your family for decades, don't believe it. Your ancestors perception of what happened with that other race is probably distorted. And it's just become more distorted over time. Figure out the truth of the situation and realize that what those people did back in the day does not mean that an entire race repeats it. Perhaps individuals do, but not entire races. Let's be realistic here. There's a great example of how to deal with this in the scriptures.
In the Book of Mormon: Another testament of Jesus Christ, there's two main groups of people: the Lamanites and the Nephites. Both groups come from the same parents. Laman (hence Lamanites) had this idea that his brother, Nephi (hence Nephites), ripped him off and took away his rightful heir to being the leader. Laman perpetuated this idea with his family members, and it went on for many many generations. The Lamanites believed the Nephites to be thieves and liars. They had laws that if a Nephite were to be seen approaching a city, they would kill them on sight. (Hey, guess what. That's racism.)
The truth was that Laman's actions did not line up with a good leader for a family. As he was growing up, he didn't practice being a good leader so when the opportunity came to lead, he wasn't given it.
In time, while a few Nephites served and loved the Lamanites, they came to understand that the traditions of their fathers were wrong. They realized there was a better belief that included more peace and love. They changed their belief when the "others" didn't act like what they were told to believe.
This is possible for America too. If people say your culture is this or that, don't let them believe it because of how you act. Be respectful, kind, and open-minded. This world really can be a better place.
Ending racism for real starts with you. Facing your own beliefs and sifting through what is real and what is false. It starts with holding your tongue. It starts with forgiveness. It starts with seeing people for the good that they have in them. The more I experience, the more I have to keep these things in check. And it is worth it.
