Connecting the Dots

There have been a few major events in recent days that remind Americans racism is still around. Although there was some wishful thinking racism was over after a black American was elected President, it remains just wishful thinking.

It was not long ago this year that there was some discussion about the need for the 1964 Civil Rights Act as it seemed black Americans had made it to the top of the ladder. It was a wonderful thought that was entirely delusional. Before even the thought of that happening, more time must pass.

The thought of manually removing the 1964 Civil Rights Act is just ludicrous. What must happen is allow it to become invisible. What that means is the guidelines in the Act become second nature and not instructions to follow. At some point in the distant future it may become obsolete like some laws now that were written before cars. At that point it can be weighed again.

In reality racism is just repressed because of penalty of the law. It will not be until people born in the 1970’s have died of old age before Americans can consider touching the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The reason for this is the generation that was actively involved in racism taught their children who were born in the 1970’s. Those children that were born in the 1970’s still carry the seed of racism in them. Because racism was mostly suppressed in the final decades of last century, the seed was not allowed to grow very much. Because of that their children that were born in the 1990’s have a generation of insulation from full blown racism. So a little math says 2070 will be about when the 1964 Civil Rights Act can be reviewed safely.

The link must be broken, and in an upcoming story called “Taught to hate” we will cover other countries and why problems persist.

It is acknowledged and understood that each ethnic group has and does certain things that do not sit exactly well with other groups. They may be loosely called stereotype activities for lack of a better term. It is these activities that fuel racism because of lack of understanding of why they exist. So it is understanding and interaction not just on a professional level, but on a personal level that will be the water that finally puts out the fire of racism. As each ethnic group learns and understands each other, a wonderful harmony is naturally created. It is then the 1964 Civil Rights Act may be removed.

But then again why remove it, if it serves as a reminder and provides what parameters are acceptable, if it has become invisible, just let it rest.