My column: Taking a stand against Racism

It seems that ever since the beginning of time there has been racism. The Webster’s dictionary defines racism as a belief that the difference in a person’s race has an inherent superiority. Racism has created arguments, division and even wars between every race in the world.
I believe that the reason why races discriminate against each other just based on differences is because we are a fearful. When things change or we are faced with diversity in people, our instincts tell us to be “on guard” or to retaliate with negativity. As normal human behavior, we are more comfortable with what we are familiar with. From the time we are children we are taught to notice differences in shapes, feelings, and even color.
Even in the times of the ancient Mediterranean regions, such as Greece and Rome, there is record of slavery of “inferior” races. Slaves have often been a sign of power and wealth. The most common examples of slavery to Americans was the slavery of the African Americans and then later in history the discrimination of the Jews by the Germans. African slaves were greatly mistreated by the Europeans. To some of the slaves it was a chance to work and live a better life but most were unfairly treated and lost all of their rights as human beings. The Emancipation Proclamation declared the freedom of the slaves of America and was issued the 22nd of September in the year of 1862. The slavery may have ended there but the racism didn’t. African Americans in the 20th century were discriminated against with restrictions on where they could go to school, shop, eat, or even the water fountains they were allowed to drink from. In 1964, the Civil Rights Act was pasted and gave not only blacks but, every person of color the freedom from being discriminated.
The Holocaust. Since the 18th century, holocaust has been used to refer to the death of a large number of people. In a span of thirteen years an unimaginable amount of men women and even children were unrightfully killed for simply just being born a certain way. Adolf Hitler formed “Nazi Germany,” to rid the world of imperfection and weakness. Even today we are touched by this form of racism and discrimination.
We have repeated our history too many times when we don’t take a stand when we see open racism in our communities, workplace and schools. No matter if it’s something as large and horrific as the Holocaust or even as small as a racial slur in front of friends, it affects someone deeply and sets back the progress of acceptance we strive for in America.
I believe that as Americans, we should be proud to have such great diversity and character as a country and take a stand for acceptance and respect for the fellow man. As a country of individuals we can use our voice to speak up for the ones who are being prosecuted for race and beliefs.