Malika Bushey

English 06

12/5/07

Cause/Effect

Me Vs. Racism

Racism is something that is an every day experience. People have to deal with it all of the time, whether it is an awkward look or a racial comment. Racism started generations ago and it is still a part of our world today. I have dealt with Racism in several different scenarios including at the airport, at church, and at the work place and have come to realize that racism is not a thing of the past but a thing in the present.

When I was ten years old I went with my friend Erika to the church where she attended. When I was their I felt a part of something and it felt wonderful to be in a place of God. Just as I was leaving a young boy whispered in my ear the “N” word that was the first time I had experienced such a racial term directed towards me. I remember being upset and not really understanding what the boy was saying when he whispered it to me. I then told Erika what had happened, and as a result she told her mother who then became furious that such hateful words would be said in a church let alone at all. When I came home I asked my mother what the word meant and she explained to me that it was a racial slur towards African Americans that should never be used. Sue, Erika’s mom was very embarrassed didn’t know quite what to say other then apologizing to my family. Sue told me that she discussed what had happened with her Minister and the next day he gave a sermon on racism. I have never been back to Erika’s Church in fear of facing racism again.

Traveling is something that I have always enjoyed doing. One time when I was flying to Arizona the summer after 9/11 I was with a group of friends who just so happened to be all white. When we were going through the security everyone in front and behind me got into the gate but when it was my turn they said “step aside now”. They didn’t say please or even try to sound nice about it. The security guards went through all of my stuff without being careful or respectful. I felt like a I was a foreigner in my own country. I felt as if my skin color had determined my life and how people would treat me. I wanted to scream at the top of my lungs I am human, no matter what color I am, I am human. This wasn’t just a fluke event that happened at one airport; in fact, it happened at several airports on this trip.

Another incidence of racism I faced was when I worked at the DECC. I was doing my job serving people ice-cream with my friend Amber. All of a sudden this woman came up and asked for some ice-cream so I asked her what type of flavor she wanted. She turned to me with a disgusted look and said, “I want her to serve my ice-cream”. At first I thought maybe she knew Amber so it wasn’t a big deal. Later I found out that Amber had never seen that woman in her life. The next day I tried to serve that woman again to see if she just had a bad day, but the same thing happened again. I was surprised that I even had to deal with this type of discrimination at work.

Sitting at home I thought about it and realized that people just don’t know any better, and that often times people say these type of things out of ignorance and generalizations. Racism is not an easy issue to deal with but we are moving forward as a society. Racism can be found anywhere and progress is being made, but it is still an issue that relates to today and not just the past.