Racism and Why

As children, most of us were given a playground definition of racism. Racism meant assuming bad things about someone just because of the color of his/her skin. Think about this definition. Its apparent simplicity actually contains three separate components. First, a racist has "bad intent." Second, a racist makes prima facie assumptions. And third, a racist targets an immutable characteristic; in other words, something we cannot change and which we did not choose. Let's …

…us." Acquiring a liberal education involves much more than saying "I FEEL this was racist, so I do not have to PROVE anything." When anyone, even a "leader" of the Asian community, uses the term "racist," they must PROVE their usage is warranted, and their proof must withstand criticism. If we are to continue seeking an understanding of racism, the meaning of racism must be accessible to all, regardless of the color of one's skin.