The beautiful woman that is pictured above was one of the most outstanding inspirational poet, author, actress, dancer and advocate of the human race, black, white and any human being walking on this earth. In her life, she guided and encouraged all of those that touched her soul in person and or in her writings.
In the presentations that I made to many, I always quoted Maya’s words and thoughts and I will begin this post, which will define the meaning of “racism”, with one of her quotations and end the post with yet another profound quote.
” We all should know that diversity makes for a rich tapestry,
and we must understand that all the threads of the tapestry
are equal in value no matter what their color.”
The following is an excerpt from my book, FAMILY SECRETS: A JOURNEY OF GOOD AND EVIL;
“In my research of the true definition of racism, there were so many versions of this word, this noun that does become a verb of hatred and violence. I will attempt to summarize an astute definition and a compilation of this term.
Racial prejudice is an insidious moral and social disease affecting peoples and populations all over the world. It is diagnosed by the cataloging of its various symptoms and manifestations, which include fear, intolerance, separation, segregation, discrimination, and hatred.
This incredible definition of racism so correlated with the clinical diagnosis of cancer and the progress it makes in the destruction of a body, a system, the world. The single underlying cause of racial prejudice is ignorance which is most comparable to cancer patients before a diagnosis is revealed.
While all humans belong to the same specie, Homo sapiens, races are distinguished from one another by such characteristics as hair color and texture, skin color and eye color. Scientists have concluded that these differences are superficial and have further agreed that all members of the specie, Homo sapiens, have more characteristics in common than any differences. Mankind views one another from the features that are outwardly perceived.The problem arises when the symptoms of the disease become evident–intolerance, separation and hatred. Such differences separate individuals into groups with one group being inferior to the other.
When we meet others for the first time, we fill in the blanks with such expectations that certain races are intellectually superior, others are full of avarice and another is more artistically or athletically inclined. These presumptions are formed by society, the media and most importantly by our own families. These ideas have been taught directly or indirectly by our parents.
The most profound answer to the eradication of this disease called racism is found in the Bible.
“Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the
first and greatest scripture. The second is “Love your neighbor
as yourself.”
It is hoped that prayer and the love of God will cure this disease and prevent it from spreading like the cancer demon.I hope and pray that the world will be a different place, not filled with evil but filled with good and love for our neighbors as we love ourselves.”
I would like to add at the end of this excerpt from my book and this post, another quotation from Maya Angelou;
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said.
People will forget what you did, but people will never
forget how you made them feel.”
It is hoped that you will let us all know “whatsyourfeeling” in response to this post.
My next post will begin a series on a new topic of the other social disease, bullying.
Dr. Fran White Wants to Know What You Are Feeling? 