Racism is a symptom

Let’s start by a few definitions, as we need to call a spade a spade.

This should help a great deal in knowing what racism is all about. Literally, it’s a form of prejudice, discrimination, or antagonism directed against someone of a different race based on the belief that one's own race is superior. It doesn’t have to be just race though.

The India Cast system is pretty close to that definition too, even though most Indians look similar, or it also applies to what separates someone who lives in a wealthy enclave compared to someone living in a less affluent neighborhood, someone who can claim a superior social class or a different sex. There are therefore plenty of ways of expressing prejudices.

This said, just like CO2 emissions are one of the symptoms of overpopulation, racism or discrimination is the symptom of a bunch of conditions that include hypocrisy, jealousy, fear of the unknown and personal insecurity, among others. The dosage of these elements vary vastly by individuals.

Now, it would seem to me that if racism is indeed treatable, it is essential to successfully address the above tendencies in order to eliminating that terrible social plague.

As I expressed previously, I suspect that racism is universal and that, at different degrees, we’re all part of the problem, but the most egregious violations or displays or racism are where we the eradication should begin.

Like with any behavior change, it can only be done through systematic education and awareness, and both the parents and the schools are where most of the effort should happen. Any corrective action must also be continuously re-enforced so it becomes effective.

Next, I’ll try to expend on the means that could be implemented in helping us wipe out that outrageous behavior from our society.