Kim1

Matthew Kim

Ms.Jorgensen

English 10 honors

28 November 2018

Everyone has a story

Growing up as a child we are taught nothing about race or racism. As we move on in life

we experience new things and it opens our eyes. Understanding different races and how the

different groups of people will lead to a less biased atmosphere in each community. Many people

see others based of their skin color or where they are from and it is very hard to understand that

they are causing a biased atmosphere.

Having a mixed community proves to workout better for everyone. Growing up in these

mixed communities kids learn that there is no such thing as race, just a human race. Racism is a

social function made for people who would want to gain money, feel better about themselves, or

gather more authority. Most people don't know that though. People are socially labeled based off

their race or culture. For example a black family moves into an all-white community. This is the

first time both groups are exposed to each other. In the document “Promoting Neighborhood

Diversity,Benefits, Barriers and Strategies” it states that racially diverse neighborhoods provide

opportunities for exposure and interaction between whites and minorities. This means exposure

to diversity helps broaden the social networks and creates opportunities for many people. This

isn't just in neighborhoods it can be in school too. Students who attended desegregated schools in

the late 1970s can be more culturally sensitive. They can also deal with diverse work situations

and can be less likely to apply racial stereotypes. Doing this can make people feel more

comfortable attending diverse schools, neighborhoods, or workplaces

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Many people are struggling from racism. In The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin the

letter says “You were born where you were born and faced the future that you faced because you

were black and for no other reason.” This reveals just because he was black they out him in a bad

part. The society had basically been saying that any black person is worthless. They had labeled

them as these bad people. Today society labels people too much and it's causing a problem.

Children growing up are gonna be taught the labels created today. Baldwin also says “They are

in effect, still trapped in a history which they do not understand; and until they understand it they

cant be released from it.” This quote shows no matter what you do some people will still think

white men are more powerful compared to anything else. It's not that they don't know most

people know better than to do that. But, it's hard for people to act on what they don't know.

Know sometimes if people commit to standing up, it means they are taking a risk of being in

danger. White Americans are scared to lose the identity of “being white.”

The thing is that no matter how much the differences or diversity is everyone's better off

together than being segregated. The society we have been living in still has labels to people. For

example people use “you're asian so you must be good at math.” or “You have glasses and that

means you are smart.” These are the kinds of comments we here as childs. So when we are

taught that stuff it begins to become a subconscious action child. Just like the two sides of the

story. Most of the time all we know is one side of the story and the other story is irrelevant. But

the other side always matters. When cultural shock happens it opens their eyes. It is the dangers

of a single story. Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie said that her dorm buddy was asking about

what kind of drinks do you drink in Africa or what do you guys sing to in Africa. This is a great

example of the single story. People grow up only knowing one aspect of a person's life and as we

grow up, meet new people, visit new places, and try new things they learn the other side of the
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story. Diverse communities already know both sides and that's why it would be better off non-

segregated. This is a very big problem to deal with and people should come to see that.

People are judged by their race or skin color everyday and it’s pretty hard to understand

how if there is a diverse community or population it can lead to a all around positive

environment. Many famous people have also realized what has been going on. Racism is just a

thing to label someone as. It does not define how you should act, dress, or speak. It is a label they

carry around because people choose not to change their views. Toni Morrison said that “There is

no such thing as race,none. There is just a human race scientifically. Racism is a construct a

social construct.” This is how people should be thinking before they start to judge or label

someone. Like the quote “Never judge a book by its cover”. It is hard to understand different

races and how the different people will lead to a less biased atmosphere in each community.

There is a huge way people are based of their skin color or where they are from and it is very

hard to understand the biased atmosphere.

Work Cited

Colbert, Robert. “Toni Morrison.” The Colbert Report, Comedy Central, 19 November 2014. Commented [1]: Steven

Baldwin, James. The Fire Next Time. First Vintage International Edition, 1993.
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Hughes, Langston. “Thank You, Ma’am.” The Short Stories of Langston Hughes, Child’s World,

Inc., 1958.

“Racism in America: Small Town 1950s Case Study Documentary Film.” YouTube, Accessed on

1 November 2018.

Hughes, Langston. “Thank You, Ma’am.” The Short Stories of Langston Hughes, Child’s World,

Inc., 1958.