Overcoming Fascist-Racism

The thing about hating somebody different from you is that you don’t get a chance to actually talk to this person. Talking to somebody different from you helps you overcome stereotypes, lack of knowledge, and, in general, the way racism can sink its teeth in you. The modern-day fascists are racist people who want to curb immigration completely. They support everything certain people do to stop it because the ban wasn’t totally successful. There is also such thing as being uncomfortable around people different from you. The key is to keep talking to them until you beat your discomfort.

This Vox article, presents the solution to the problem, being that ten-minute conversations without being confrontation may help people discuss their problems. The person in office now has made racist statements that encourage people to say it. They had to repress their racism for a very long, eight years during the Obama administration. These days, with whom is in office now, we have to worry about him hosting his campaign on fears of immigrants, and Muslims. He stokes the embers of racism since the United States has a long history of it anyway. People on the other side are very fed up.

But see, this doesn’t help build bridges either. White people feel threatened by people of color out-numbering them by the year 2042. He tried to institute a Muslim ban, remember? It may yet be possible to smooth over racial anxiety. Some people, who don’t have prejudice problems, try to be friends with everybody. But those who do have prejudice issues tend to stick with friends of their own race. Learning to mix with people may help this situation altogether. Part of my class in elementary school was Filipino, another part was Mexican, and the other third was white. I learned how to build friendships with people different from me.

High school was another ballgame altogether, with mostly white people taking up the majority of the population at St. Francis. They did things like fly the Confederate flag, which these days are a huge symbol of racism. The thing is, telling people they are racist, sexist, and xenophobic aren’t terms that help them understand what they are doing needs amending. White rural Americans feel neglected according to Arlie Hochschild, a sociologist who wrote a book calledStrangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right.

They feel alienated because of affirmative action and equal opportunity, although it could be said that the tables have turned because white people’s racism once kept people of color down, a mere generation ago. Yes, the article in Vox then goes on to say that racism is unacceptable in the United States, but at least you can confront it, unlike when I go to Spain and am reminded of my Chilean heritage continually, despite the fact that I’m also half-Spanish. Black Lives Matter protests about white people’s dominance or what is known as "white privilege." To me, I have white privilege because my skin is pale. Having pale skin does give me an advantage. Having to have a conversation about race in America needs to happen. The fact is, we have problems with race as a country.

Attempting to talk to somebody different from you has its benefits. I almost make it a point to do this in my daily life. Trump supporters spend their lives paranoid about white peoples' status. We have to get those paranoid people do not see diversity as a threat. Empathy is one thing that can help those white supremacists try to change their eyesight as to why they feel that people of color are a threat when really, it is the other way around. Racism can only be cured through positive dialogue after all.

Works Cited:

Vox