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Practices of intentional and unintentional racism

My interaction on this article has enabled me to get a wide view of racism that happens in a micro scale, concerning segregation by colour. It catches me unawares to learn that most of the time this small-scale racism has been perpetuated by people unknowingly. Also, I am a changed person in the way I have been viewing racism especially in the modern times. It is frightening to learn that the racism that was once thought to be ending is changing face in the modern world and is rampant in some places. This is very different compared to what I knew before concerning racism. I held the belief that racism ended with the enacting of laws refusing discrimination of people on the basis of colour. Also, interesting is the degree to which it is difficult to determine the dynamic nature of micro-aggressions, and the damaging effect unintentional micro-aggressions have on the victims.

From this article about micro-aggressions, it is evident that the changing face of racism as taught in the class is very real. One interesting aspect that connects very well with the literature learned in the lectures is the contribution of both the political conservatives, and the liberals, on the perpetuation of racism, in the modern forms. I personally expected one group to be an anti-racist group. However, from the lectures and also this article, it is evident that both the political liberal group and the conservative political group contribute to modern racism in one way or the other. Also in a good connection here, is the point that this small-scale racism happens everywhere, every day.

When I relate this to working with organizations or companies, I realize that these are potential areas of perpetuation of micro-aggression. The relation here comes in that these are communities of people who are from diverse backgrounds. They are characterized with diversity and differences between them. When working with these communities, application of the knowledge and life skills I have earned from this article will be very vital in my relations with these people. It will help in handling people to make sure they are not offended.

The knowledge and the concepts I learn from this class are very exciting. It is very exciting to learn the diversity of creation and the behaviors of people as relates to their struggles to cope with life. What even excites more is learning what motivates people to behave the way they behave, or to act in a particular manner to some situations. When I consider myself now and before I joined the class, I get to know that my perspective of looking at people is very different. At the present times, I critically interpret the behaviors of people. However, applying some concepts that I have learnt in this class appears difficult. For example, while I struggle very much not to harm people, I have realized that some people are very difficult to handle. Unfortunately, some people are only offended by the style I wear. Enhancing relations with such people can be a bit difficult. They make me feel that all through I will be offending people. This feeling does not auger well with me. On my part, I have not just repressed the feeling. In my value of good relations between people who are living together, I try my best not to offend them. With the fact that no human being can live or stay alone, I have learnt that life is a matter of compromise, with a view to enhancing relations with others. With this, I have learnt to live a life of compromise.