Acting [insert color here]

Have you ever heard of the phrase “he’s acting so white” or anything else related to it regarding race? I know by personal experience that I have heard phrases as such throughout my whole life strictly in the U.S., never in other countries, which makes sense in some respect. The fact that the U.S. can be so diverse and (arguably) function astounds me, but at the same time, I believe that this diversity and functionality shouldn’t be a question at all. People from different backgrounds getting along is really enough to satisfy my doubt of humanity’s inherent kindness and goodness. I think “acting” a certain color doesn’t necessarily make sense literally nor do I believe that it should be restated any further. It incites divisibility within a nation that should be united, and it keeps people from realizing that every American deserves the same rights and responsibilities no matter what ethnicity or racial background they are. The phrase itself implies stereotyping and impulsive judgement, which are two things that I don’t particularly agree with. Defining a person with the accepted stereotype in which that person inconsequentially belongs to has wrong written all over it.

However, I can’t deny the fact that with diversity comes adversity. Different backgrounds lead to different views that lead to different debates that lead to different conflicts that lead to different unfortunate events that reinforce as well as challenge those different views as previously stated. Removing the term “acting [insert color here]” or anything related to it. Removing that from the vocabulary of every single person on Earth is inevitably impossible. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Challenging these various views is important because having only one view of the world prevents us from developing our morality, learning about different possibilities, and progressing society as humans. Having only one view would bring world peace, but that requires everyone living the same way and growing up exactly the same. Developing our morality should come first before anything else. Having that backbone to be better people and better citizens to our neighbors is essentially the responsibility of every human being. Learning about different possibilities gives us the benefit of the doubt. It makes us consider the many outcomes that comes from having different views. Lastly, society cannot progress without the two previous steps. If it does progress without these steps, then it creates a distorted society in which no one trusts anyone and everyone is considered as an enemy by everyone.

So, I guess what I’m trying to say is that a simple phrase can have so many unintended implications. It can also keep us from removing the stereotypes subconsciously embedded in society. There is so much more that goes into this conversation, but I am looking forward to talking about this more in the future because for all I know, racism could be and hopefully be nonexistent by then.

Keep reading: Regarding Racism Part II, Confederate Flag/Gay Pride Debate, Envisioning A World Of Pacifism