As we humans find our way through our individual lives, we all develop our own distinct interpretation of the world around us. We are the product of our genetics and our environment; both shape us into the individuals we are. There are so many things we have in common: the desire to enjoy our lives, to love, to be loved, to succeed at the things we enjoy doing... Yet we often focus on our differences, whether they be religion, class, or - most often - race. We developed from tribes, and it is an ingrained reaction that is hard to shake.
Through the centuries, the tribes at the top have ebbed and flowed. From the Sumerians to the Egyptions to the Romans to the British, there have been the conquerors and the conquered, and the conquered often end up subservient, generally against their will. As mankind has become more enlightened (in general, not always specifically), the idea of slavery and the lessor worth of some humans - based on tribe - has become anachronistic.
Slavery was abolished in the United States about 150 years ago, and - despite the change in law - the changes in the hearts and minds of my fellow citizens have been slow to catch up. In other people, the racism is easy to spot. In ourselves, it is rarely recognized. Some of it is severe to annoying (such as referring to people as "the Blacks"), and in other cases it is as simple as not realizing that there continues to be a dichotomy between large segments of Americans, based on race. Let's see if we can open a few eyes and shine some light on why my fellow "whites" don't always realize that not all is equal. Here are a few things to ponder:
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