Are you prejudice?
I just finished reading the Washington Post story of the young man hurling racial slurs at Steve Crump, an African American reporter from Charlotte who was in Charleston reporting a story on Hurricane Matthew. The video and story prompted me to think about how this young man came to hate a total stranger.
Are you prejudice? What was your answer? Was it no? Really? We are all prejudice. We all pre-judge a situation or person the instant we are exposed to the situation, person, group or others. Ever heard your parents or mentor say "Make a great first impression"? Wikipedia says "In psychology, a first impression is the event when one person first encounters another person and forms a mental image of that person. Impression accuracy varies depending on the observer and the target (person, object, scene, etc.) being observed. First impressions are based on a wide range of characteristics: age, race, culture, language, gender, physical appearance, accent, posture, voice, number of people present, and time allowed to process. The first impressions individuals give to others could greatly influence how they are treated and viewed in many contexts of everyday life." So, I ask you again. Are you prejudice?
Is it truly hate? Or is it ignorance? In this case, I believe hate comes from ignorance, lack of respect for others, and the unwillingness to accept someone different. Or perhaps it is the fear of the unknown which caused this young man from Virginia to lash out at the reporter from WBTV. While I do not agree with this young man, we do have to look at his side or we would be just as guilty as he is, for not looking deeper into the factors that contributed to his mindset.
As CEO of the Charleston Hospitality Group, I have the pleasure and privilege of learning southern traditions and sayings. (I hope I use the next phrase correctly, please correct me if I am wrong.) I have one thing to say about that young man from Virginia.
Bless his heart.
Charleston has proven that love speaks louder than hate. A nation watched in stunned silence as we forgave, as we came together as a community, and most importantly, as we chose to break the cycle of hate with love.
I am proud to call Charleston home.
#CharlestonStrong
Sam Mustafa, Charleston SC
Sales and Marketing Coordinator at King's Homes
8 年By definition, I am prejudice. However, prejudice and "racist" are vastly different. I'm 100% prejudice my one and only grand baby is the most adorable 1-year old on the planet. I'm fairly prejudice that Charleston is one of the best places to live. Your well written article is profound. Are we as a society "prejudice?" Yes. First impressions mean everything. At that first moment we're going to form an affinity or a prejudice. Either we like someone or something or we don't... and that WILL stick in our brain. What you alluded to is key -- prejudice or hate? I think prejudice is more aligned with "opinion" these days. I believe hate, racism, sexism, any "ism," is tantamount to a severe mental disorder where all rationality is lost. Epidemiology of hate can stem from many origins... mostly some traumatic event usually in our young life. As newborn wee ones, we know nothing but love. Most of us... not all. Cycles of abuse in life harbor and perpetuate a distortion on how we view ourselves, others, and life in general. It's my "opinion" only that "Bless his heart," was overly generous. The racist individual seemed delusional enough to believe his hateful expressions were true... in his own mind.
Self-Employed Kosher Supervisor, Licensed Insurance Sales, Licensed Real Estate Sales
8 年Sam, you are so correct. Thank you for stating something that people feel guilty about when it is a natural human reaction. We do judge and discriminate when we first come into contact with a person. It's natural. It's built into what we are....humans. It's an initial reaction to danger or self preservation. However, as humans we have to accept our reaction as something to be validated and then quickly move on because we also have an obligation to accord dignity and respect to the other person. One of the things I grew to love instantaneously when I moved to Charleston was that people acknowledged your humanity with a simple "Good Morning", or other greeting, when they met you on the street. A simple greeting that made you feel happy that you were a part of civilized humanity with social niceties.