Racism: A Learned Disease
A 14-Year-Old Expresses Her Thoughts On Racism

This essay was written by Corrine Nicole Kline, who was 14 years old when she wrote this article.

When my sister was three or four years old, she attended a daycare where my mom worked. I enjoyed going with my mom to pick her up every day. As I filled out her time card and gathered her belongings, I had fun pretending to be her mother. I saw all of the children playing together and smiled as I watched the boys play with the girls' toys and the girls play with the boys' toys. They played without paying attention to each other's skin color or race. No arguments involving religion were heard either. They were just children playing and having fun. It struck me that I noticed and paid attention to their differences while they did not.

Until I moved to South Carolina, I had never been in a
class with a non-Caucasion, non-Jewish student.

Racism is something we learn as we grow up. If we study history from one point of view, and live in a world where we interact with those only the same as ourselves, then our world views will be tainted and prejudice will be these teachings. Until I moved to South Carolina, I had never been in a class with a non-Caucasion, non-Jewish student. As open as I am to the dignity of all living things, I found it difficult to adapt to my new surroundings. I know that because of our limited experiences, we are all racists. Racism is not limited to evil people. Racism is found in ignorance. We do not recognize that we are children of the same God, entitled to equal dignity. While we discuss racism in young and adult circles, those of us who are interested in love for humanity always point to someone else as being the problem. However, as my father likes to quote from some character named Pogo, "We have met the enemy and he is us." This is as true for the youth of our schools as it is for the adults who run our government.

Throughout my Jewish education, I have always been taught that my mission in life as a Jew was "Tikkum Olam," to repair the world. While studying for my Bat Mitzvah, it became clear to me what exactly this meant. While none of us can fix the world single-handedly, we can definitely come together to do our part in fixing the the world in which we live. There are so many broken pieces that need attention. In this essay, I have only mentioned one of the biggest problems that we face today in our own backyard —in every backyard: racism.

Talmud teaches us that we must begin somewhere. We do not have to finish the work, but we are not allowed to refrain from the task either. My tradition teaches me that I should not complain without being ready to say, "Hineini (Here I am)." So, having addressed the problem, I would like to offer a path that will hopefully lead to a solution. Ultimately, our goal must be to get to know each other better. As we learn more about one another, we will learn to better respect those qualities in each of us that are worthy of such respect.

We need to challenge ourselves to expand our limiting boundaries. We can start by participating in our community's efforts along these lines. Whether it is dining with someone of a different ethnicity with the hope of opening a dialogue, joining in discussion groups to talk about the issues that divide us, or just taking a lesson from our children, blind to each other's differences. We need to start somewhere. We should start by becoming more aware of our surroundings. If we paid more attention to the shape of the flower petals that we see every day, the spider's web, or even the natural order that keeps our world working, we would find it easier to accept everything living within it. It must begin with you and me.

This essay was written by Corrine Nicole Kline, 15, Florence, South Carolina. Cory writes, "As part of my religion, I am committed to Tikkun Olam. I participate in many different projects to help repair my local world, but this is only one town. The world is made of many towns like Florence. My vision for tomorrow is that this world will at least try to understand the need to grow together. Many people hope for immediate peace. The dream cannot become real, though, if we do not do the work for peace. If people have to work towards peace, they'll have to learn about each other and themselves. My dream is that one day, we can look at each other without prejudice and without fear. I hope to see the day when our world is whole and we, as brothers and sisters--are one. One day, we will be there.

Reprinted with permission from Skipping Stones Magazine (www.efn.org/~skipping), Vol 12, no. 4.

This website: Copyright © 2002 Dream World Media, LLC. / Urban Mozaik Magazine. All rights reserved. The opinions expressed in Urban Mozaik Magazine are not necessarily those of Urban Mozaik Magazine and the publisher cannot be held responsible for them. This website/publication, in whole or in part, may not be reproduced without written permission from the publisher and/or original publisher.