Reviews please. :)
UNLEARNING THE PRACTICES OF INEQUALITY
My teacher had just started taking a new chapter in World History. It was about Apartheid in South Africa; a system in which people were discriminated based on color. Being in the sixth grade, I was amused and found such racism to be 'silly' and 'childish'. I had never differentiated people based on color. But after that day, I began to see different colored people with different eyes.
I was filling up my school bio-data form. There was a sub-heading which read 'Caste'. My father filled it as 'SC'. I asked him what it meant. He said it stood for 'Scheduled Caste'. He then went on to tell me about the caste system and the practice of 'Untouchability'. He told me that we belonged to the Dalit Community, the most backward caste in the country. For centuries, we were socially oppressed, persecuted and forced to do menial tasks of upper caste people. We weren't even allowed to touch them. Although this practice was no longer in existence; the fact that I belong to a community which was once considered 'Untouchable' left me deeply depressed and disturbed. Admittedly, I began seeing my upper caste friends in a way I never saw them before.
I didn't know people could be discriminated based on color and birth. I was taught that.
No person is born with an impulse to hate. They learn to hate. Even in the time of Apartheid, no white man was born with hatred against the blacks instilled in him. No upper caste man was born with a natural tendency to be demeaning towards his inferiors. They were taught that by society.
When a person learns that his community had discriminated another, somewhere deep down, he starts feeling superior. He will no longer see people from the 'lower community' as his complete equals. He will only treat them equally thinking that he is 'being nice' and is doing them a 'favor'.
How to stop racism? Stop talking about it.
Think about it. Let's say one of your acquaintance is handicapped. What do you think would make her feel better? Constantly sympathizing with her or letting her live without mentioning her handicap to her?
When you stop mentioning something, it is destined to disappear and to be forgotten. Make no mention of Apartheid. People will forget that discrimination can take place based on color. Make no mention about gender atrocities. People will forget that a gender bias even existed. Make no mention of the caste system. People will forget about untouchability.
So, according to me, racism shouldn't me mentioned at all. It shouldn't be taught about in schools. Equality despite physical differences should be thought of to be as natural as trees being green. We don't constantly say, "The trees are green!", do we? Similarly, there shouldn't be a need to say, "Every person should be treated equally". It should come naturally, without question.
I believe every person is born with a natural capability to love. I am human. So are you. Therefore, I shall love you unconditionally regardless your nationality, race, religion, gender or sexuality. After all, you have the same red blood as I. You have the same number of eyes, the same number of legs as I. You are one of me. I cannot even think of bearing any ill for you. I shall feel love for you and love only.
These lessons of Universal Brotherhood and unconditional love should be taught to people. People can hate only if they know that it is possible to hate. Get rid of this possibility. Don't even mention hate practices. Keep them as hidden as Prester John's Land. It is only then can we truly unlearn the practices of inequality.
Although this practice was no longer in existenceexisting ; the fact that..
Even in the time of Apartheid, no white man was born with instilled hatred against the blacks instilled in him ..
They were taught that by the society.
When a person learns that his community had discriminated another as if somewhere deeped down, he starts feeling superior.
ConstantlyIs sympathizing with her constantly or letting her live without mentioning her handicap to her would do?
When you stop mentioning something, it ismight be destined to disappear and to be forgotten.
People will forget that a gender bias evenhad even existed
So, according tofor me, racism shouldn't me mentioned at all
AminoPasta
Hey Amino, I really liked your essay. Honestly, it answers the prompt really well. I would not change anything but just make some grammatical corrections which are mentioned above. :) Its a really good essay and i enjoyed it. :D
For other commenters, here's the full prompt:
Tell us how you would address the questions raised by the quotation below, or reflect upon an experience you have had that was relevant to these questions. "How can we unlearn the practices of inequality? In other words, how do we increase our capacities not just to act without racism but to actively promote racial equality?" - Imani Perry, Professor, Center for African American Studies, and Faculty Associate, Program in Law and Public Affairs, Princeton University.
While you're certainly entitled to your opinion, I think it may come across as naïve. (Of course, that's just my opinion too...) The prompt asks how to "actively promote racial equality," and you're arguing that if we ignore it, it will go away. Again, you're certainly entitled to believe this, but what about the historical reasons why we have things like Scheduled Caste/Tribe (India) and affirmative action (US)? There historically has been, and still continues to be, a massive gap in wealth, quality of life, life expectancy, education level, and social status, between the historically oppressed groups these programs address and the average levels in their respective societies. Your solution only seems to address social status. On average, African-American families in the US and lower-caste families in India have less access to health care, education for their children, family planning resources, etc. Hopefully, you haven't had to experience it yourself, but there are certainly many, many people for whom these programs are their only hope for education and advancement. "For centuries, we were socially oppressed... this practice was no longer in existence" I'm glad to hear it's not been a problem for you, but for many, many others, this oppression still exists.
My point in saying all of this: If this is what you believe, then certainly, you should write it. However, I think you should bear in mind that some will very strongly disagree with you. Moreover, if you acknowledge the complexity of the issue within the essay, that will certainly help it.
I would say that you need to bring in a little more evidence to support your stance on the issue. As far as your point is concerned, it works as long as it's not completely off the wall and you have a well-reasoned argument.
I think you misunderstood my point.
Firstly, *racial* inequality refers to ill-treatment on the basis of color, birth or origin. No way does racial inequality allude to economic and financial inequalities. There are black billionaires, there are white destitute too.
Secondly, I've only appealed at turning a deaf ear to this *racial* inequality. No where have I implied that economic and financial inequality should not be looked into. So, birth rates, family planning, inadequate resources, health care have nothing to do with my essay.
Color, gender, birth, nationality. These factors shouldn't decide how a person is treated. How do we make sure this happens? By not talking about it. That's exactly what I've tried to put across to you.
