The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

I can’t recall a memory of an incident when I experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression but turning on my television and watching the news or browsing the internet each day reminds me of the biases, prejudices and oppression that other people face.  I see people attacked because of their religion, color of their skin, gender, sexual preferences and the list can continue.  The sad part is that I cannot just pinpoint one incident because there have been so many.  Calling law enforcement on people of color for doing, normal everyday things like sitting in Starbucks and waiting for a friend to beating an innocent Sikh man are examples of things that have become common, and seemingly acceptable, in our nation.

These instances diminish equity because they are not by allowing those who are on the receiving end of the bias and prejudice no justice or reassurance that their lives are important or that they matter.  All of these incidents make me angry and to be honest, afraid.  If the climate in the country does not change, I wonder if the country will go back to the days of the Civil Rights movement. While I don’t believe things will be as bad as they were during that time, I do believe things may get worse before they actually get better.  In order for any of these incidents to change into opportunities for greater equity, conversations will have to happen and that allow people to discuss their differences and fears.  People all around will need to change their mindsets.