in full color

I grew up in what happened to be basically an all-white neighborhood. It was not for any racism, but simply that it was the suburbs and not many people lived there who were of other cultures. I think it is sad that I was not really exposed to other cultures earlier on in my life. Despite my lack of exposure, however, I was brought up in a home that vehemently believes that racism is wrong. Lately, I have observed that perhaps the racial acceptance of my parents is fed in part by the prejudices of their parents.

What is it with the elderly and racism? I realize that things were very different when they were children, but how, in this day and age, can they possibly continue to hold on to those old falsehoods?

My cousin was telling me about one of her new neighbors, whom she recently met. She can tell the story in more detail than I, but basically he stated that he believed that Muslims, Hindus and Mexicans are filthy animals. When my cousin chided him, he replied "well, I'm old."

Even my father's mother, the sweetest woman you could possibly meet, is a racist. She may not believe in oppressing minorities, but when I told her that my roommate was from the south side of Chicago, the first thing she asked was "is she black?" (Not to mention, this was not on just one occasion, but two.) If you ask her about the Chicago neighborhood where she grew up, she'll tell you that it is overrun by Mexicans. The first thing she said to describe my choir director was "he's black."

It pains me to call my relatives racist, but I simply cannot avoid the fact any longer. I believe in respecting my elders, but with all due respect, I cannot possibly respect anyone with such outdated, ridiculous opinions. I will not accept their racism simply because it was once tolerated. I will not put up with it just because they're old and don't know any better. Since when has ignorance been an excusable offense?

I was speaking with my mother's mother (who still refers to African-Americans as "colored people") recently about racism. She was telling me a story about how my great-uncle, a white man, shot a black man for trying to steal something from him. She was apparently expecting me to think this was perfectly all right, because when I told her that I thought it was wrong to shoot someone, especially when it is partially because of their race, she actually became angry, telling me I could not possibly understand because I had never lived in the South.

Quite frankly, I think that is the most absurd lie I have ever heard in my life.

Racism still exists because some people still tell themselves this lie, that because racism existed in the past, it is simply a reality that we cannot rectify. Racism still exists because, in the eyes of some, it remains a very grotesque tradition. Racism will continue to thrive until we can find the beauty in every language, every culture, every nation's colors, creed, music, and art, and yes, every skin tone.

We must not try to paint the world all in one color. We must not paint it yellow, black, white, nor should we paint it red with blood. To oversaturate the world in one color just brings darkness. Rather, we must cover it in light, for in light there is every color of the spectrum.

One of the things I love most about my neighborhood here in Chicago is the diversity of the community. Every African-American, every Anglo, every Asian-American, every Native American, every Latino, every Arab-American, every Jew, every Muslim, every Christian, every Buddhist, every Hindu, and every pot-smoking Rastafarian is made in the Lord's image, a reflection of God.

Like a huge photomosaic, every face is part of God's face, and that is the most beautiful thing there is.