Growing up, I was racist. Homophobic. Xenophobic. Nationalistic. It still is a journey, internally, to reason the internal instincts, that are learnt behavior instilled from a place of fear.
I cant say how much I have changed, but I want my friends to know that I am trying.
When I have a racist thought, I try to catch myself before it develops into an attitude or behavior.
I have so far almost completely lost the feelings of tension towards certain nationalities.
I have lost the religious prejudice.
I have almost completely worked out why, how and when I discriminate LGBTQ.
A real eye opener was when people called me WHITE GYAL. And I hated to be addressed by my skin color. The time it really opened my eyes though, is when a friend said (she called me white gyal a lot);
Why you don like to be call white gyal?Being white is good. ?
I was shocked. It hit me then.They didn't feel anything bad about calling me white girl, because they have learnt that being white is good.
Being white is associated with money, beauty and whatever else is worth to be valued.
Not only because of the history of the country where this hit me. But because of the history of this world.
And I don't think I actually could express to my friend there why I don't like to be called 'white gyal'. Because, she was right. Totally.
Too much is going on in the world right now.
I want my friends who live in any sort of feeling of fear or opposition because of their skin type, language, or whatever ..... to know;
I think I am still racist. I do.It is learnt behavior, someone else's fears projected on me when my mind wasn't questioning the things I was told.
And I want you to know- I know it is stupid! I wont use the word 'wrong'. Just stupid.
So basically, my 2pence in this whole horrifying chaos around us is;
The solution, imo, is in education.I was educated as racist. Now I try and educate myself better.
The solution is EDUCATION. Of young people and all those who are willing to learn.
I invite you to watch Miss Jane Elliott talk about this.
Love you