The World Is Black, The World Is White

What Would You Do?

A reality show on ABC, ever heard of it?. The executives create a scenario and hire actors to role play. They then use hidden cameras to record real people's reactions to the scenario at hand. I'd never heard of this show until last weekend when I happened to catch the end of it. The show had hired three white, teenage males to vandalize a car bought for the show. In the parking lot of a public park the boys spray painted foul language and kicked the car. A few passerby approached the boys and confronted them about their behavior, many just passed the boys in utter shock, too afraid to approach or comment because they were outnumbered.

The produces were then curious what would happened if they switched from white teenagers to black ones. The result? Three phone calls to the police within minutes. No one approached the boys. Immediate action was taken. Oh but it gets better. The show highlighted these points and people's responses to white vs. black. Notice how the police were called at least three times for the black boys, and not at all for the white. I forgot to mention, the police were called once during the white boys time. Oh, but wait. The black actors had fallen asleep in a car nearby. Someone had called to report that there were a couple black teenagers that looked like they were ready to rob something or someone. Wait, WHAT?! Is this a joke? Three boys are vandalizing, spray painting, and kicking a car, and yet the sleeping black boys have the police called on them. Really??


Racism. It's obviously not as big of a problem as it used to be, but sometimes it surprises me that it's still as bad as it is. Why do people think they are better than someone because of the color of their skin? The only thing I can come up with is ignorance.

People come up with these ideas about people of different colors and different races. They don't give anyone a chance. Well in personal experience I've noticed a few things. When you create a stereotype, you pull out actions/appearances that support these stereotypes. You ignore the people that don't match your profile, yet you attack the ones that do. By ignoring those who disprove your theory, you're missing your opportunity to learn. Point #2: there gets to be a certain point when we just give up. Example: a young child in school, the reputation is he's a trouble maker. At first he tries to show his teachers and peers that they have a misconception of him. But every good thing he does goes ignored and only the bad noticed. Well, what's the point in him trying if it's not going to help? He quits trying and goes with the 'bad boy' behavior, acting out more than he used to. White people get these misconceptions about people of color. The people of color try to break the barrier yet their efforts go unnoticed. Why should they try to conform if we're not going to accept them either way?

How about this...White people have this idea that many people of color (not just blacks) are criminals. But as we saw from What Would You Do? statistics could be wrong. The crime of the whites went ignored. What other crimes/trouble caused by whites have gone ignored? Are criminal records and statistics accurate? Crime is crime, no matter the color of your skin.

On the other end, I believe using the term "racism" has gotten out of hand. If a white person were to have a problem with someone of color, it's automatically "because [they're] black." I don't think this is right either. Racism isn't something to joke around about.

Recently a former teacher/basketball coach and a family friend of mine has been accused of being racist. Supposedly he's made some vulgar and racial comments. In my opinion these accusations are pure ignorance. Anyone that knows this person knows that he is a "jokester." He likes to make people laugh. While his comments may be inappropriate at times, he would never do anything to purposely offend anyone, and if told he was offending, I believe he would change his actions immediately. Before screaming "RACIST" these people need to think about the repercussions of their accusations. Not only are they calling this man a racist, but they are potentially ruining his career, reputation, and life because even if he is not a racist (which he in no way, shape, or form is) he still has to deal with the media, the board of education, the NAACP, and the new false identity created for him.

Ever heard the song black and white by Three Dog Night?

The ink is black, the page is white
Together we learn to read and write
A child is black, a child is white
The whole world looks upon the sight, a beautiful sight

And now a child can understand
That this is the law of all the land, all the land

The world is black, the world is white
It turns by day and then by night
A child is black, a child is white
Together they grow to see the light, to see the light

And now at last we plainly see
We'll have a dance of Liberty, Liberty!


We are not the United States in any form. Color of skin is just one of the many things that separate us as a country. Until we can learn to accept each other for who we are, no matter our race, social status, gender, etc. we will continue to be divided. Until we can surrender our pride and cease judgement, only then will we be united. As the song says, only then will we have Liberty. Unfortunately, I believe it will be a LONG time, if ever, that we will come together as one. I hope we prove me wrong.