Brief Reflection on Race

By: Gus Victoria

No one is born to hate. We are taught that. The color of one’s skin or his place of birth cannot be an obstacle to the fulfillment of his potential in a society that truly values freedom and equality. Neither should her gender prevent her attaining the heights to which her heart and soul in lofty dreams soars. We live in a special place in a very special time. Each of us has the ability and the duty to march toward this dream that has been in the hearts of wise men for ages past. That the content of one’s character is the standard by which he is judged by his peers. Our prejudices have no place in this noble future. The black man and the white man disappear. They become simply man. The common bonds of love which every heart knows intimately should serve to bind us as a people; man, woman, old or young. Learn to love your enemy and you cease to have an enemy. This is the most difficult task we can possibly hope to accomplish. And yet, people have lived and died doing just that. By their example giving us hope and shaming us to act.

There is much injustice in this world. We have become inured to it. To such a degree that the above paragraph is seen as a naive empty call to ideals that don’t exist in the harsh reality we live in. They seem to be a waste of time. It is so much easier to revert to anger. Anger is more visceral. Like a fire fed oxygen it is fueled by actual wrongs committed. Unfortunately it is a fire we cannot control. It becomes then a conflagration in our hearts that soon turns to hate. That hate might feel good at first. Especially if one is wronged, this hate can move us to actions to right that offense. They are wrong.

No wrong committed by hate can ever be corrected by more hate. Whether the hate comes from ignorance or injustice it remains a potent destructive force.

Education is our key to understanding.

Understanding is what we must attain. It will allow us to begin to halt the cycle of hate.

Yes, yes, this is all well and good. Words spoken by far wiser men than me.

“The evil that racism once was surely is no longer.

“We have evolved as a people, as a society.

“Why Gus, do you continue to point this out?

“You obviously, seek to divide!

“Racism is dead except by people like you who reverse it.

“Stop talking about it and it will go away!”

Would that it were as simple as that. Little more do I wish than to live in such a world where these thoughts on racism are mere fancy on my part. That the heritage of hate is one left far behind us. The truth screams that it is not so. The blood of innocents cries out that it is not so. The tears of those who must witness daily this reality of destructive prejudice are testament that it is not so.

Racism is real. It lives. It thrives. In this country. In this state. In this city.

Slavery of body was abolished many years ago, paid with the blood of millions and the tears of millions more. Who legislates slavery of mind and soul to ignorance? Who can free us from that?

The march continues...