Racism

This is a topic I have been wanting to write about for a long time, well since I had arrived here in Ecuador. It has taken me this long because to me the topic is sensitive, and because some things had happened to me here I had to wait until my mind was clear enough to write about such a thing. Let me first start off by saying that in the States most people believe racism is done, it is over. Let me say this, you are wrong! Racism still exist to this day in every country in every part of the world. So why I am I writing a blog about this? Well I feel that if you are maybe thinking about studying abroad you have to understand that in different countries not all ethics, morals, or values are the same. Everyone does not show respect nor do the give it or expect it. For me I have a few stories. For one I am African American and I am very proud of who I am not once had I ever looked down on myself, or wished I was a different race. Once I arrived here in Ecuador I was faced with many different views on me being black. I recall sitting at the bus stop with two of my friends and a guy sat down beside me. I turned to look and he was staring at me with so much disgust in his eyes. I felt so uncomfortable, I felt so targeted. I did not do anything to this man yet his staring increased and the tension grew. My friends and I finally got up and walked away as I did he jumped up and started yelling right at the bus stop. People were looking at him as he went into a fit only a toddler would do. I did not understand why nor did I want to. I felt targeted as a North American and I felt targeted as a black. So okay maybe you are saying to yourself it had nothing to do with the fact you were black or I can agree maybe it did not maybe it did. However, I do have another story. I was once going to this bar that all my friends were at waiting on me. I arrived to the door and was not allowed in. I did not understand why I could not enter the club my friends had just so shortly entered. I had to call a friend to come to the door and get me. Why did I have to go through that? Shortly after that I had been fed up. I was tired of the strange looks, the worried faces of people when I walked passed them, the little girl who seen me and started to scream and run away, the guy who seen me walking and stopped right in his tracks just so I could past. I wanted to explode. I wanted to hate Ecuador. I did not want to give it any other chance because I felt like Ecuador was not giving me a chance. I sat down and talk to some of my local friends about the problems I was faced with. I found what is even more annoying then being hated on because of your race, is people thinking you are crazy because you feel that way. My friends did not believe me, they said I was crazy, they said I did not know what I was talking about; This is so true because one night I was out at the club with some locals and we were sitting out side talking and having a good time. A little black boy walked up asking for money so I gave him my loose change. A while later another boy came up. This time it was like maybe six of them. I asked him if that was his family he told me yeah. I did not have any more change I, however, had five dollars on me, so I told him to eat to get something to drink to do what he can with what I was about to give him. As I reached into my purse one of the locals I was with said do not give that little boy money all he is going to do is buy drugs. I said why would you say that? He told me that is what statistics say. I responded and said that statistics are made by the government so therefore they are bias. This is your country and for that to be your first response is not right and unfair to those that actually need food, money, warm clothes. I cried because I tried explaining that the people here are not even aware of there ignorance towards their own people. I cried and I went to go sit by myself as I was doing that a little boy comes up to me crying but I had nothing else. My heart was hurting so bad inside I did not know what to do. One of my local friends came up and said oh you will get use to it. I was so mad how can you get use to seeing the people in your country struggle like this, how can you be use to this? I had a realization that night it change my life. People here may not ever realize how close minded they are but in the States we can be better people. How many times have you ever made the comment look at them packed like Mexicans, or oh the Mexicans will work for low. I have witnessed it I have said it, we all have. So if anything needs to change it needs to start with us and maybe one day it can spread. I am glad I can maybe change the view of somebody mind here. I may not be able to make them think differently when they see a black person, but I can represent for my race.