For a long time, I was under the impression that I am white. My skin tone is a little on the olive side but, I am white. Every F.C.A.T., or S.A.T. test I have taken; every driver’s license or voters registration I filled out, I selected white (Caucasian). As if the pigment of my skin was going to affect my ability to take a standardized test, my driving, or the way I vote.

It wasn't till my mammy (grandma) started to do genealogy, that I learned I am not “white”. I descend from ancestors that were Dark Dutch (Spanish and Netherlands mix), Irish, German, Belgian, and a smidge of Native American. Therefore, to categorize myself as being “white” does not suffice in describing who I am.

However, many have Americanized people into racial categories: black, white, Chinese, Mexican, etc. To simply say this girl (meaning me) is light skinned therefore she is white, is insulting. My paleness is not a total sum of who I am. White and black are words that still bear negative connotation, because of their use during the times of slavery. Any and all words that originated from that era carry over a bitter taste in our mouths when we say them today.

No one is simply black just as no one is simply white, and calling people mixed is just lazy. Color has become so significant, that it is a part of the forefront of our minds. Yet we are more than our skin tone.

For instance, just because I descended from Germany does not mean that I feel any prejudice towards Jews. Similarly, if someone’s ancestry owned slaves, it does not automatically mean they agreed with those actions. Our history and ancestors do not depict who we are. They explain how we came to be and where we come from, but that is where the connection ends.

Sadly, racism is still in effect today. You would think that people would be past this by 2014. Unfortunately you can find racist acts around you, all it takes is a little digging. Nowadays there are more ways to receive discrimination. Whether it be someone attacking you in 140 characters or less on twitter, or posting negative comments on Facebook. The more advances in technology we make, the more ways we create to be attacked.

Recently on Oprah, there was an episode showing child star actress Tamera Mowry in a Where Are They Now special. Mowry revealed her experiences of numerous racial attacks on twitter after her marriage to Adam Housley. She explained the criticism towards her inter-racial marriage, and its negative effects on her and her husband. Mowry stated how “it’s hurtful, because my husband and I are so openly… showing love, but people choose to look past [it] and spew hate”.

Tamera grew up with an understanding of opposing views towards inter-racial marriage due to her own parent’s relationship. However, no amount of time or pre-exposure to racism could have prepared her for the comments she received.

There are all sorts of racism in the world today. Nasty comments, hate mail, vandalism, segregation… the list goes on. But I never thought about the fact of there being different kinds of racists out there.

For example, E. Nathaniel Gates describes racists in his book:The Concept of “race” in Natural and Social Science which enlightens readers with his ideas on racism and how there are people who can be classified as “kind” racists. A section specifically mentioned that:

“racism resembles a gun. While mean racists use it to coerce or kill, kind racists help keep it loaded by supporting the underlying racial concepts.” (pg. 101)

I was intrigued by the idea of a “kind racist”. People who “limit their tolerance to exclude intimate international relationships”. (pg.95, Gates) I was particularly interested in this description because I think I know these type people. They will be cordial, but want little to no interaction with the opposed race. These are the type racists you meet the most in your lifetime.

After further reading, Gates talked about people “benefiting” from discrimination. Whether it be “businesses” owned by whites or blacks, or politics dictated by black or white “constituencies”. It doesn't matter which color you are, if you seek to gain from any type of discrimination, you have become tolerant of it.

“Even kind racists are likely to balk at going beyond advocacy of racial tolerance [for fear of]… exposing their own racism.” It’s in their neglect to take action and try to expunge the world of racism, which reveals their acceptance.

“Kind racists” are passive aggressive type people. Their lack of action to stop discrimination, while holding bitter feelings towards other races is what gives them their name. Sometimes it truly is cruel to be kind.

On another note, most universities and businesses try to be as racially fair as possible; fair meaning no one receives special treatment or is counted as less capable due to their nationality. If I am going to give credit somewhere, it would be here. America does try to be unbiased when it comes to hiring or acceptance letters. But their efforts to be unbiased towards race has slowly affected their ability to hire or accept applicants fairly.

For instance, there was a case study conducted by John B. McConahay at Duke University which questioned the “fairness” of employer’s application processes: Eighty-one white males, with similar resumes applied for similar positions. Here’s the catch, some of the pictures that went along with their resumes were switched out with those of colored men. This experiments results showed, that the majority of rejected resumes belonged to the “colored males”.

One could try to argue that the applicants were chosen based on their capability to perform the required job. Yet, on a certain degree all the applicants were just as able as the next one. This experiment was based solidly on the results of what race preferences the employer liked best.

It is unfair for a business to hire based on nationality. Whether it be them meeting a quota for a number of each race they are to hire, or if they neglect to hire someone because of their racist views.

Plain and simple, people should be chosen because they are the best. Because they have what others don’t in skills or abilities for the job. What’s disappointing is that race comes into play at all. Hiring should not be about satisfying a racial demand. Nor should it exclude someone in spite of their nationality.

I know for myself, that I had recently applied to three different colleges. Who’s to say that a rejection was because they were making room for someone else; not because they were any smarter than I am, or more accomplished but because the admissions office had a racial quota to meet? Comparatively, how do I know I was accepted because I academically deserved it more?

Finally, the world as a whole needs to take the measures to prevent against racism. Yet at the same time, we have to be careful not to baby each race or individuals by making everything “fair”. Because if we are not cautious, “fair” will lose it’s significance.