The House of Peace Teen Leaders

talk about Racism

Today, many people choose to ignore the problem of racism, but unfortunately, racism is still a prevalent part of our society.  Racial prejudice comes in many forms, sometimes subtle. But it affects people of color every day.

Here’s a family example –

my friend’s mother will not let her date anyone outside of her race. Racism is still a problem that must be addressed in our families and in our communities.

Racism is ignorance.

One person forming opinions based on the color of another person’s skin.  It is not logical.

It can never be justified. 

It’s a serious problem, and the only way to fix it is to teach children today that

it is always wrong to be racist.

Racism is a small word for a big thing that has hurt so many people for so many years

in so many countries.

Every person gets a little taste of the rotten milk that racism is. It affects me as a Hispanic. When I say I am Hispanic, people assume I speak Spanish.  People assume things about others based on what race they are. It’s disappointing to me that even youth at school can judge each other.

Racism and

Racial Prejudice are different.

Racial prejudice happens when a person has an uninformed opinion about someone, based on nothing but the person’s skin color. Racism is a universal system of attitudes and behaviors that makes racial prejudice acceptable. Racism is like a cancer spreading throughout our entire society.We must stop it from spreading before it’s too late.

Being a white kid and living mostly with white people, I didn’t understand how much racism impacted people.  Since I’ve been involved with the House of Peace and I get to hang out with youth who are African American and Hispanic, I have come to better understand how much racism affects their lives, and I see the huge injustices that many people of color face every day.

Racism is a somewhat uncomfortable subject, especially for teens. The House of Peace has made it easier to understand and pass on the information to other teens while taking it seriously.  Racism is displayed everywhere you go. At school lunchrooms, racism is what makes it difficult to sit at a table with a group of another race. Each group stays separated, and that’s not funny. It’s a serious subject that needs to be discussed and addressed.

Racism affects us all,

not just the victim. When we make decisions based on racial prejudice, because of skin color, we limit our interactions with others,

and that limits our growth as individuals. Every decision

we make creates

the person we become.

The idea of racism is based on ignorance. To judge someone because of the color of their skin is unnecessary and ridiculous.

R  = Racism

A  = Against

C  = Children of God

I   = Is

S   = So

M = Malicious.

Racism is a serious problem

in our society, yet we are afraid to talk about it. The only way to end racism is make more people aware of it,

and talk about it openly.

We are all human, with the same essence. Humans are like ice cream – the same substance, but in different flavors. No flavor is better than the other.  Would we only want to have one flavor all the time? That would be boring!

Ice cream is so great because of all the different flavors!

I believe racism is what causes certain stereotypes.  It comes from pride and arrogance and it lowers the self-esteem of many worthy people. I am affected by racism every day. Here’s one example: Very often, when African Americans drive into a white neighborhood, we are pulled over by police and asked questions. We aren’t doing anything wrong. But it happens with great frequency. Sometimes it feels as if a type of slavery is still intact…

Racism is unacceptable.

There is no reason for someone to disrespect someone else, just because of the color of their skin. 

I go to Marquette University High School, and the majority of the school is white.

At the House of Peace, I am one of two Hispanics. I feel equal to everyone else, not less than, or superior to. We all see each other as equals.