Black People vs. Asian People? - A Discussion Concerning Race

I usually try to stay out of the meddlesome topic known as "racial issues" but it seems like this topic is so important to so many people that I must touch on it, at least once. In response to the extreme views of normal people I have read here (http://www.topix.com/forum/afam/TM3RAGCK73KV5L6HP/p3) I will address this issue of "race" once and for all.  

The common opinion is that black people (African Americans, Caribbean Americans, Africans) are somehow inferior to other races. Though overt racism, for the most part, has been quelled, subtle racism is alive and well, existing heartily. In general, it is presumed that a "smart" black person is a rare find, and the intelligence of that black person is celebrated all the more because, presumably, most of his or her race is not intelligent. While blacks seem to make up the bottom tier, Asian Americans are seen to be the Model Minority, contributing so much more to society than stereotypically fat, angry, and loud blacks. Many blacks internalize the public opinion and use it as an excuse not to do well academically.  

To me it does not makes sense to pit different races against each other. While many Asian Americans excel in mathematics and science, Black Americans have positively contributed to society as well. They have forged ahead in dangerous waters, becoming politicians and CEOs, uncovering territory that was previously inaccessible to all non-whites. Is not the first, non-white Presidential candidate black? Why then are blacks seen as so inferior, even to other non-whites (Hispanics, Asian Americans, Brown people)?  

The purpose of this blog is not to bolster the confidence of blacks. It is more so to say that the good in each ethnic group should be acknowledged and uplifted, not ignored. Negative stereotypes should not be used to easily hurt and degrade an ethnic group. Most brown people are not terrorists, and believe it or not, most black people are not gangsters or thugs.  

Notice that I said "ethnic group" and not "race". For mankind to move forward ethically and philosophically, people must drop this notion that their skin color determines who they are. The entire human genome has been mapped out and only a few genes have been linked to skin color. There are so many other factors that could define a human being, but since color is the first thing people see, psychologically, it is easier to form expectations and impressions based almost entirely on skin color. Two people with different skin hues could be genetically more alike than two people with the same skin hue. People, in general, find my last statement so hard to believe because it has been ingrained in everyone, regardless of their color, that race equals color.  

Newsflash: Race is not defined by skin color.  

Sociologically, a group of people with the same skin color can bind together and intermarry, preserving their own culture but that is an ethnic group not a "race". People erroneously use the terms ethnic group and race interchangeably, when in reality, the word race should be more closely applied to the same terms as the word species. Scientifically, a species is a group of organisms that can mate together in order to create viable (able to reproduce) offspring. The last time I checked, people with different skin hues can have healthy babies together. Bottom line: There is one race: the human race.    

So, people of one color should not be lifted up at the expense of people of another color if we are all basically the same. Some would be of the extreme opinion that people of different colors can not coexist because of all of the "interracial" competition. A few would secretly agree with me if I said "All black people should move back to Africa, they don't belong here." or "All members of People X should move back to Country Y and stay there." I am not of that opinion.  

I think the problem is that too many of us take our skin color too seriously. As I mentioned earlier, many people (blacks, whites, everyone) define themselves, who they are, by their skin color. Here is where I become radical, and say that I don't. Call me an idealist, but honestly I see myself as colorless, as well as genderless. I am what I am. I do not let stereotypes about the color I just happen to be, or the gender I just happen to be stifle and control me. I have Asian friends, and black friends, white friends, and brown friends, but they are not my friends because they are Asian, black, brown or white. They are my friends because they are the cool people who get along with me.  

Now, one might think that to see one's self as colorless (and genderless) is utterly unrealistic, but it is possible to adopt such a mindset. In fact, I believe that if more people adopted such a mindset we would be able interact with one another on a higher plane, above the muck of "race" To me it is a step in a better direction, a way to progress to a more enlightened world. If anyone should be judged, he should be judged by the content of his mind. People should not be so lazy to judge him based on his external attributes.  

A friend once asked me if I believed in "interracial" marriages and I do. Whenever I see multiculturalism (not the forced kind in ads, but the genuine kind between say a group of friends) it makes me happy. The world is such a diverse and colorful place. We should celebrate our many colors and see the good in each of them. We should abolish the bothersome concept of "race".  

I understand that it may seem like humankind could never reach so high a goal. I could ask almost anyone "Does racism still exist?" and they will truthfully tell me yes, and they will probably add that racism will always exist in some form or the other. Yet, I will be optimistic enough to say that someday racism will not exist. Is it so hard to believe that the forces of good and change can triumph in the world? Well, I, and people like me, people who believe in a better, smarter and more enlightened world will believe. Any change can begin with just one person. Gandhi said "Be the change you want to see in the world." Michael Jackson said "Make that change" because it "starts with the man in the mirror."  

The world is capable of becoming so much better than it is now. Mankind is capable of becoming one people, not remaining several factions divided by skin color. All it takes is for one person to believe in change and the good bound up in the hearts of every man, woman and child. It starts with a simple attitude adjustment: "who I am is not determined by my color" and imagine the world.

For more of my thoughts on this matter visit here:
http://daemon.gaia.com/blog/2008/5/unis_mundi_-_one_world   

- Ryu