By María del Sagrario Ramírez
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 24, 1997

Are we a long way from getting along?

Arizona Daily Wildcat María del Sagrario Ramírez

Yes, here we go again, another discussion about racism. But it's the topic of the '90s, I can't leave my last semester without expressing a Chicana's point of view. The truth is, after attending the Oct. 14 showing of "Walking Each Other Home," I started thinking:

Having a discussion about race and prejudice can be uncomfortable. It can be even more uncomfortable when we deny our own prejudice and say, "I'm not a racist person." The truth of it is, we are all racist and we all have prejudice buried deep down inside all of us.

Having attended the showing of "Walking Each Other Home," a film by Lee Mun Wah, I realize that until we face our own prejudice and racism, we will never get along.

For me, I gained the courage to admit to myself that I was a racist. Yet, I also learned that the majority of Anglo Americans carry the heaviest burden and have been at a disadvantage when it comes to understanding discrimination. I also realized that as a minority, I carry the responsibility of admitting that I am also prejudiced and must work to get past it. It is ignorance and anger that has made us all racist.

Mr. Wah asked: What will it take for Anglo Americans to understand and admit that people of color continue to experience discrimination?

I ask: When Anglo Americans first began to experience "reverse" discrimination, did they also begin to understand what people of color experience? Did they acknowledge discrimination's historical unfairness or did they just feel personally cheated? Why did they try to eliminate equal opportunity programs that could not immediately benefit them instead of joining the struggle against unfairness? OK, not everyone is included, just those who matter, but doesn't everyone matter?

This is why saying one is not racist is a false statement. The truth is, we are all racist and admitting it is the first step to a multi-cultural society, which is not the same as a colorblind society, Mr. Wah said. We will be stuck debating terms and labels, language and education, even within our own ethnic groups, if we don't talk about the truth. And the truth is discrimination is being fought because the majority is afraid of being a minority.

What will it take, some might ask? It will take the acceptance of history, bad or good, fair or unfair, accepting the responsibility by acknowledging that racism does exist, even today. Ask yourself these questions and answer them honestly:

How many of us have failed to see whites as Irish, German and Italian, but are adamant that we be seen as Mexicanos, Puerto Rican or Asian? How many of you blame the lack of opportunities on other ethnic groups? How many of us actively and personally seek people of color to join our clubs, groups or organizations? Can we tell the difference between a person who is Chinese and one who is Japanese? Do we care about the difference between a Chicano and a Hispanic? How many are secretly impressed by how well a non-American speaks English? How many times have we referred to an ethnic group as "those people" or "your people"?

Yet, as a way for white people to understand, I ask: If white people were to experience the obstacles that face people of color, would whites accept that not everyone has had the same chances? Or will they continue to believe that with hard work and perseverance, everyone can succeed?

Will white people ever understand why people of color are angry? Are you as a white person willing to accept that anger and work through it? Or do you feel that's not your responsibility? Will white people ever acknowledge that we, as people of color, can never be like them? That we are different? That we have had to work twice as hard and twice as long to get twice as little? How can anyone who is white look at my brown skin and dark eyes and tell me we are the same? How can a white person say we all have the same chances, if we have had different experiences, difference backgrounds, a different history altogether?

The truth is, we all patronize our ethnic differences. We use politically correct phrases to mask our real prejudice, instead of admitting the truth and learning about each other by asking the stupid questions:

Are Blacks biologically different? Do Mexicans think in Spanish when they're talking in English? What are the differences between a Chinese and a Japanese? Will Anglos ever know what it's like to be discriminated? Do I answer a question with a question?

So what is our responsibility as people of color? Our duty is to admit our own prejudice by admitting we too think along the lines of "you people" and "we people." More important, it's to continue talking about our people's history and ethnic culture, including teaching others about who we are and where we came from. I admit, sometimes it takes the form of insults and finger pointing, but that's an area even I'm willing to work on.

All in all, it's admitting the truth about ourselves.

Like ripples in the water, someone has too start. Many are too angry, others refuse to bend, but only when we find the balance, will we move toward getting along.

"He [she] who ignores history is ignorant of repeating it."

María del Sagrario Ramírez is a senior majoring in Mexican American studies and journalism.

She invites all Mechistas and non-Mechistas to attend the Nov. 7 M.E.Ch.A. reunion by contacting Ruben Reyes at 740-8126.