What is racism?

Today I am tired of hearing that everyone that lives in the United States, that is latino descent is 'Mexican'. I decided that today was the day that my white students understood my definition of racism.

A system of advantage based on race. (David Wellman, Portraits of White Racism)

We get so caught up in our everyday lives, that we don't realize that we have so much given to us, just because we happen to be born in the United States, of Caucasian descent. We have been given so much and are given so much on a daily basis. We don't have to worry about being considered dumb just because we don't speak English. We aren't considered a migrant worker, just becuase we are from Mexico or Guatemala. We are not told that we should go to the alternative high school, just because we are black, and we'll fit in better. They don't tell us are less likely to go to college because of our skin color.


We (I clump myself into this category because I am White) are told that we can do whatever we want. We are told that we can become whatever we want. We are told that we deserve to go to college. We are told that we can live wherever we want. We aren't asked if we are Italian or Russian, because of our skin color. We aren't considered dumb because our ancestors are Irish or Welsh. We can go anywhere without someone wondering if we are going to harm them in any way. People don't really lock their doors when they see us walking down the street. We can go out of the country and be respected by most because we are from the U.S.

But the reality is, there is still racism and we won't ever really be rid of it until we take a stand on equal rights. At what point do we teach our children that all people who speak Spanish aren't Mexican? At what point do we stop people from telling racist jokes? When do we allow our children to read childrens stories with the illustrations of Black children or Latin children?

I feel so strongly about this, and most of the time, I can't really say all that I would like to say. I can't seem to communicate in a way that describes what is in my heart. The reality is, Whites are the dominant culture in our society. When do we stop seeing color and start seeing heart?

"We live in a time when there is no clear path to where we are trying to go. Yet many of us have a vision of where we would like to be, a vision of schools where all students have the opportunity and the encouragement to achieve at a high standard. It is a vision of multiethnic communities characterized by equitable and just group relations rather than the present deeply ingrained power hierarchies that systematically advantage some and systematically disadvantage others. It is a vision of education that not only should foster intellectual development by providing students the tools of critical thinking, speaking, writing, and quantitative reasoning, but also should provide all students the skills and experiences necessary for effective participation in a diverse society."