As weird as this sounds, for years and years I had no idea there was a thing such as racism. I grew up in Kansas, but next to a very busy fort, and so there were people from aaaaaaall over the world coming in and out and I got to meet all sorts of different people. I grew up expecting people to look different, and so I always based my judgements on who the people were and not what they looked like.
When I finally learned was racism and such was, I was really, really confused. I just couldn't understand why people thought like that. I thought it was rather rediculous. I understand it's out there, I just didn't realize it was such a big issue until I visited places other than where I grew up.
Boy, was that frustrating. Even now I get annoyed when people make even jokes regarding race or being oppressed by some person or the differences between them and not the individuals. In my head somewhere there's a voice screaming "IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT."
Unfortunately, I learned what it was like to be moderately-well-off white in a world that was not like my hometown. Certain people don't want to associate with you because they think you'll have nothing in common. >:/ It's rather frustrating, because if they don't talk to me, than how would I know?
Looking at it, I admit that a majority of my friends have and are caucasian like myself. But I have and still have black, mexican, asian, etc friends as well. And it's because of who they are and not what they look like. Gotta thank my upbringing for that. :3
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-04-03 07:12 am (UTC)When I finally learned was racism and such was, I was really, really confused. I just couldn't understand why people thought like that. I thought it was rather rediculous. I understand it's out there, I just didn't realize it was such a big issue until I visited places other than where I grew up.
Boy, was that frustrating. Even now I get annoyed when people make even jokes regarding race or being oppressed by some person or the differences between them and not the individuals. In my head somewhere there's a voice screaming "IT'S NOT THAT IMPORTANT."
Unfortunately, I learned what it was like to be moderately-well-off white in a world that was not like my hometown. Certain people don't want to associate with you because they think you'll have nothing in common. >:/ It's rather frustrating, because if they don't talk to me, than how would I know?
Looking at it, I admit that a majority of my friends have and are caucasian like myself. But I have and still have black, mexican, asian, etc friends as well. And it's because of who they are and not what they look like. Gotta thank my upbringing for that. :3