Race/Racism

Here it is, the topic everyone avoids because at one point or another someone will be offended. I am here to offer my opinion, not to harm or upset anyone and any way, I am just here to speak, what I feel, is the truth.

Racism is a very sticky topic that no one likes to discuss and really can not discuss without being disliked by a group of people. I know that there are people who truly are racist and will say harmful things because of the way they grew up.

However, I think racism is more of an excuse for a person's actions than it is about a person's or groups race. Many people are quick to chose racism and discrimination as a reason for an individuals actions when in fact it has nothing at all to do about race. Or when people are offended by accusations and harmful sayings, they refuse to step foot in that place again because it is filled with people who discriminate certain races.

For example, when Serena and Venus Williams were at the Indian Wells Tennis Tournament the father and Venus were booed as they walked into the stadium while Serena and her opponent were preparing for the match. Once her father and Venus sat down the father was instantly on the phone and showed no support for Serena whatsoever. During a very trying time for Serena, her father should have been at her side right before the match started to try and clam her down and explain that she was not there for those people, but for the game. Even while the match was ongoing he could have pulled her aside and encouraged her that she was there for a reason and to prove to people that she belonged. Instead, of showing support and encouraging her to play her game, he sat on the sidelines on the phone, paying no attention to her and her feelings.

After that incident, the Williams refused to return and now boycott that tournament because of the things that were said and done. Now, i think it would be best to return each year to prove to those that they belong and a group of rude and ignorant fans would not hold them back from their performance. However, they do not return because of the treatment they received from the fans, fans that would most likely not be there again a second or third time. My feeling is to go somewhere and prove that you belong and can perform at a high level. In some ways I think it is more harmful to the girls that they do not return because they are letting the fans get the best of them.

A second example that pertains to race that was discussed in the article was that of racial segregation in sports according to an athletes position. If a person of a separate race has dreamed of being a quarterback, but instead is placed as a running back that is considered dissemination. This is something I strongly disagree with; if an athlete is successful in the position he is placed in and has the talent and ability to play in that position, how can it considered racism? The athlete was placed in that position because the coached saw that he could perform better and if he is getting the playing time and recognition for his work, how does on consider that to be discrimination? I understand that he wanted to play quarterback, but if he has the potential to perform better at another position then there is no reason to complain.

Now to be able to say that I understand how these people feel and empathize with them would not be appropriate because I am not of the same race; therefore, I do not have feelings. I am tired of people complaining how white people don't have problems and they don't feel the same others do because that is just another excuse. I have just as much feelings, if not more, than someone that is black or oriental. I may express my feelings in a different way, but it all hurts the same way.