SHORT ESSAYS

• Winner from Mathieu Martin
  • Renee Boucher
• Winner from Moncton High
  • Lindsey Murray
  • Greg Doucette
• Winner from Riverview High
  • Charlene Davis

Lindsey Murray
Grade 11
Moncton High School

Racism

Racism is a word that pertains to many causes of hate, inequality, and even death in or world. Although the past few decades have seen an improvement in dealing with racism situations, our modern education and superior knowledge should have eliminated it.

Educating younger children is extremely important because you are not born with racism; it is something that you learn. We have to prevent racist ideas from entering children's minds and direct them toward good, strong morals and beliefs. Having them grow up with the idea that we are all one human race with different qualities is one way to begin. If everyone looked and acted the same, we would have nothing to set ourselves apart. Cultures and differences are what make our world an interesting and exciting place to live in.

Another way to approach racism education would be to ask children why race matters. Do you like someone due to their looks or due to their personality, and which of these things makes up a good friend? It is not fair to judge someone by their appearance, as it is something they have no control over. I once heard someone say the only thing you should choose by colours is your socks, and how true that is!

When preventing racism, you should talk about race, however, I believe that you should also discuss personality and life values. When you think someone is of lesser value because of their race, it really makes you the person of lesser value. Leo Rosten said, "I learned that it is the weak who are cruel and that gentleness is to be expected only from the strong." Both of these ideas are things that should be taught at an early age.

If we promote these beliefs and ideas to children at a young age, then I believe we will be able to prevent many cases of racism and create harmony in the future. Martin Luther King Jr. summed it up completely when he spoke, "If you want to make beautiful music, you must play the black and the white keys together."

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