MEWES-DUNN: Racism cannot be overcome but we should show respect

In today's society some people use the "n" word without even thinking about what it means. We may not intend to be supporting racism, but are we? Decades ago the same word was used to refer to African Americans . They did not have the same rights or privileges as white people. Racism was very prevalent and obvious.

During winter break I had the opportunity to travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., with other UNL students to aid in disaster relief. On the way down we stopped in Memphis, Tenn., to visit the Lorraine Motel, the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination. The National Civil Rights Museum is also at that location.

As I walked past the pictures and displays I couldn't help but wonder what it must have been like to live in those days. Evidence of racism was seen in the pictures of "colored" people hanging from trees with nooses around their necks, as well as the pictures of signs designating "white" and "colored" restrooms. A video showed "colored" people sitting at the counter in a diner. The area was designated for white people, so they were beaten and asked to leave.

Even though racism in America has evolved during the years it still exists and always will.

Imagine you're waiting at the airport, standing in a group of about 15 people, all are Caucasian. A man walks up and stands with the group as well. Instantly — almost subconsciously — you clutch your purse and hold it against your stomach.

Why? Why would you make this move when this one man joined the group? The answer: He appears to be of Middle Eastern descent. Because of the Sept. 11,2011, attacks, Americans will forever fear other people who resemble the attackers.

There are many other incidents of racism still occurring every day in America. The difference is we try to cover up our feelings to prove that we are open to everyone. Also, the acts are not as extreme as they once were. More individuals are subjected to racism rather than the "colored" population — or any other race — as a whole.

The truth is, many of us believe we aren't racist. However, you'd be surprised to find that subconsciously, you probably are. Implicit Association Tests can measure racism levels in people through a simple classification of pictures. If you are interested in your own results, I encourage you to take the test for yourself [https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/demo/selectatest.html] which will show whether you have a preference for white over black.

So why will we Americans never overcome racism? Because if the word is present and America is aware of it, someone will believe in it. It doesn't matter if people are told it's wrong or even illegal. Rules against racism will not help, since we all know "rules are meant to be broken."

More than that, however, many people go against the rules just to be a rebel.

Beyond the legality and morality of the situation, there will ultimately always be people who believe their race is superior to others. America is a diverse place full of every race, color, religion and way of thinking. There are always two sides to every story, and so there will also be supporters for each side.

There are ways to overcome racism, but America will not follow through with what must be done in order to achieve a racism-free country. In order to overcome racism, America needs to make it non-existent, meaning nobody knows of it. It would have to be removed from dictionaries and encyclopedias.

Every aspect of racism and its counterparts would need to be eliminated from history, including books and museums. History would have to be forgotten. This will never happen, as most people believe the past must be remembered, and people today need to know what their ancestors have been through and done. People are too afraid of the risk involved in losing history. Furthermore, it would be nearly impossible to achieve this feat. The government would have to use its power to override all of American society. A dystopian society would have to be formed similar to the one in "The Giver" or "Brave New World." The eccentrics of life in these novels seem unreal or unachievable. So how would we ever expect America to reach that standard?

So yes, racism will always exist in America. Is that a bad thing? It doesn't have to be. I'm not supporting racism here, but there are ways to deal with it. And since it will always be around, that's what we must do. Racism is a belief, a way of thinking that your race is better than all the others. Racism isn't the act. We as individuals can choose if we act upon our beliefs.

We can still have racism without the violence, either physical or psychological. I'm going to take it back to grade school and bring up the golden rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." Keep this in mind as you choose which of your beliefs to put into action.

Tiffany Mewes-Dunn is a senior international business and psychology major. Reach her at tiffanymewes-dunn@dailynebraskan.com.