An Open Discussion on Racism and Diversity

by Zipporah Jones

​One Friday, June 3, we had a workshop on racism and diversity. Many people were nervous going into this workshop because they had never had an open discussion on the subject. I was hit with hard questions that made me think, and while I would give one answer, another person would give a completely different answer. This experience became a learning process where in the end everyone knew more about a different person's situation. During this workshop, Youth Media Project members learned to be more sensitive and aware about the things they would say to each other and other people they may meet in life. 

Discussions like these help us to be better people, and make the society better as a whole. This discussion really helped me examine myself as a person; I never would have thought that the decisions I made would affect others. Some of the things I say may be offensive to others, and in order to preserve other people's feelings, I must think about what I say before I say it. Words are very powerful tools; you have to make sure you use them in positive ways. Using my words correctly and in the right manner can help me go far in the world.  

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During the workshop, I also learned that my actions also affect other people. If I can stop others from discriminating against or hurting people of a different background than them, then I will have made the world a better place for someone else to live in. Sometimes I must ask people why they say the hurtful things they say; these people saying the the things they say might not even understand why they are saying it. Often times people say offensive or derogatory things because they have been around others who use these terms. In their everyday home environments, saying these things may be acceptable. By sitting someone down and asking why they feel a certain way, that person has a chance to think about what they actually said. Maybe this person will have a new outlook and never say that thing again, or this person may tell you why they feel this way.  

This eye-opening experience taught me a valuable lesson—get to know people before you judge them just solely off of their outer appearance. This is a lesson that we all must learn if we want to be progressive in a world full of different people. ​​